SCORE Houston's Podcast

 How to start a childcare center from scratch and grow it from 3 students to more than 350 children. Kaye Boehning opened Tomorrow's Promise Montessori in Huntsville, Texas, in 1997, two weeks after completing her Montessori teacher certification. 

      On this episode of Small Business Success Stories, Dr. Jeffrey Ricken talks with Kaye Boehning, M.Ed., Founder and CEO of Tomorrow's Promise Montessori Schools, a nonprofit organization based in Huntsville, Texas, in Walker County. The organization now operates three campuses serving children from birth through age 12. Kaye received the SBA Houston District's 2023 Rural Small Business Owner of the Year award. Kaye explains how she launched an early childhood education business with $10,000 in savings and $3,500 in classroom materials. She priced Montessori for middle-class families and built demand in a rural market unfamiliar with Montessori by presenting to local Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions clubs. 

      Opening at 5:00 AM year-round to serve correctional facility shift workers gave the school a clear competitive position. She also covers how the school stayed open and expanded during COVID-19, why she bought a second childcare center after its price dropped by $50,000, and how she built a third campus. The third campus required owner-financed land, $180,000 of soil remediation, a 22-foot sewer connection, and a state license issued on deadline day, which secured a $375,000 grant. 

      Kaye's advice for new small business owners: plan to go without a salary in year one; know your own numbers (payroll runs 55–65% of revenue in childcare); never stop learning; and build the mindset to handle setbacks and online criticism. As a nonprofit, the school also administers the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Walker County and has mailed more than 70,000 free books to children under five. 

• 0:00 — Intro, SCORE Houston welcome
• 0:41 — Subscribe prompt
• 0:59 — Guest intro: Kay Berning, Montessori founder
• 1:43 — Starting with 3 students in 1997
• 2:09 — Montessori vs. traditional education
• 3:13 — Early SCORE connection in Oklahoma
• 3:29 — Commuting 70 miles for training
• 5:00 — $10K savings, $3.5K in materials
• 5:15 — Pitching service clubs
• 5:40 — Educating a rural town about Montessori
• 6:10 — Pricing & longer hours strategy
• 7:15 — Daycare vs. childcare distinction
• 8:14 — COVID: childcare as essential
• 9:04 — Expanding during COVID — the Pink House
• 12:02 — 70 children enrolled in 4 months
• 13:56 — Buying Children's House — second campus
• 16:22 — Third campus property search
• 17:33 — $180K "bad dirt" problem
• 18:46 — Race to meet licensing deadline for $375K grant
• 20:50 — License secured Feb 1st
• 21:15 — Nonprofit transition (2000)
• 22:24 — Dolly Parton Imagination Library
• 23:26 — 70,000 books delivered locally
• 25:10 — SBA Rural Business Owner of the Year (2023)
• 25:55 — Advice: margins, learning, mindset
• 29:25 — Closing & thanks
• 29:33 — Subscribe prompt
• 30:10 — SCORE Houston contact info & outro

 Links Tomorrow's Promise Montessori Schools: https://tomorrowspromise.info/. Free SCORE Houston mentoring and workshops: https://www.score.org/houston Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwYwZdflYjHJeI8oTA_fRJw 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/score-houstons-podcast/id1845697492 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3DTCZlNpp4FWgp1xdgrhQb 

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b4ac4d74-acb2-43cc-b5f0-433ad259fccb 

Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@SCOREHouston/shorts 

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more. 

 SBA loans explained by the SBA's Houston Deputy District Director. You borrow from an approved bank, credit union, or lender, not the SBA, and the SBA guarantees 75% to 90% of the loan. 

In Episode 46 of the SCORE Houston Podcast SBA Series, host PV Bala talks with Winston Labbé, Deputy District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration's Houston District Office. A Houston native and U.S. Army veteran, Winston spent more than 25 years in commercial lending, including senior roles at JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Amegy Bank, PrimeWay Federal Credit Union, and Unity National Bank of Texas, where he served as Chief Lending Officer. He has evaluated small business loan applications from both sides of the desk. 

Winston walks through the main SBA loan programs in plain language: the 7(a) loan (up to $5 million for working capital, equipment, inventory, and owner-occupied real estate), the 504 loan for owner-occupied real estate and major equipment, and microloans of up to $50,000 through community development financial institutions (CDFIs). He also covers the Working Capital Pilot revolving line of credit, the new MARC loan (Manufacturers' Access to Revolving Credit) for small manufacturers, and current guarantee fee relief for manufacturing and food supply chain loans. 

For anyone preparing a small business loan application, Winston explains what lenders actually review: three years of business and personal tax returns, a personal financial statement, bank statements, a specific loan amount, and, for startups, a business plan with monthly cash flow projections for year one. He discusses why credit score minimums vary by lender, how the SBA guarantee offsets limited collateral, the 10% minimum equity injection for startups and business acquisitions, why startup lenders look for a secondary source of income, and how a seller note on full standby can count toward the down payment when buying a business. 

The episode closes with guidance on finding an SBA-approved lender in Houston, choosing between a national bank, community bank, or credit union, and the first steps to take before applying. 

Chapters 

00:00 How SBA loans really work 

02:23 SBA loan programs: 7(a), 504, microloan, Working Capital Pilot 

06:58 What lenders look for: business plan and cash flow projections 

11:16 Credit score, collateral, and equity requirements 

14:18 Startup financing, CDFIs, and finding an SBA lender 

20:33 MARC loan, fee relief, and buying a business with an SBA loan 

Resources 

Free SCORE Houston mentoring: https://www.score.org/houston | 713-487-6565 

SBA Houston District Office: https://www.sba.gov/district/houston 

SBA Lender Match: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/lender-match 

Subscribe on: 

 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwYwZdflYjHJeI8oTA_fRJw 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/score-houstons-podcast/id1845697492 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3DTCZlNpp4FWgp1xdgrhQb 

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b4ac4d74-acb2-43cc-b5f0-433ad259fccb 

Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@SCOREHouston/shorts 

The SCORE Houston Podcast features practical conversations with small business owners, SCORE mentors, and SBA leaders. SCORE Houston, a nonprofit SBA resource partner, offers free, confidential one-on-one business mentoring. 

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more. 

 How to grow a pharmacy business from one location to four, from the pharmacist who built it. Dr. Bessem Oben opened Gold Star Pharmacy in College Station, Texas in 2013, six miles from the Walmart pharmacy she once managed. 

In Episode 45 of Small Business Success Stories, SCORE Houston mentor Dr. Jeffrey Ricken talks with Dr. Oben, a board-certified geriatric pharmacist who co-founded Gold Star Pharmacy with her husband, AJ Oben. Gold Star serves senior patients across long-term care, hospice, and home healthcare settings. The SBA Houston District named the company's founders Minority Business Owner of the Year. 

The business idea came from a personal experience. After a C-section in 2008, Dr. Oben was left alone with a newborn while her husband went to the pharmacy for her post-surgery prescriptions. That moment led to an independent pharmacy built around free home delivery, a service the large chains did not offer. CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart began referring their delivery requests to Gold Star. 

Dr. Oben explains how the company set itself apart further with the Gold Star Pack, a color-coded, multi-dose packaging system that helps seniors on multiple prescriptions take the right medication at the right time. Rising demand led to an early investment in pharmacy automation. She also covers how the delivery model carried the business through COVID-19, how profit sharing and a family-first culture support employee retention, and how a partnership with the Texas A&M School of Pharmacy strengthens the hiring pipeline. 

Her top advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is to buy an existing business rather than start from scratch. All three of Gold Star's additional locations came through acquisitions, supported by SBA resources and SCORE mentoring. 

Chapters
00:00 Welcome to Small Business Success Stories
01:04 Meet Dr. Bessem Oben, Gold Star Pharmacy Co-Founder
06:30 The Pharmacy Business Idea: A New Parent's Problem
07:25 Free Home Delivery: Competing With CVS, Walgreens and Walmart
11:06 Medication Adherence Innovation: The Gold Star Pack
15:57 Scaling a Small Business From 1 to 4 Locations
17:05 How COVID-19 Affected an Independent Pharmacy
21:04 Employee Retention, Profit Sharing and Company Culture
24:32 Mentorship, Texas A&M School of Pharmacy and SCORE
26:48 Buy an Existing Business, Don't Start From Scratch
30:12 Closing and Free SCORE Houston Mentoring 

Links
 Gold Star Pharmacy: https://www.goldstarrx.com/ 

Free SCORE Houston mentoring: www.score.org/houston 

Subscribe: 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwYwZdflYjHJeI8oTA_fRJw 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/score-houstons-podcast/id1845697492 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3DTCZlNpp4FWgp1xdgrhQb 

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b4ac4d74-acb2-43cc-b5f0-433ad259fccb 

Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@SCOREHouston/shorts 

Episode notes: https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com 

About the show: The SCORE Houston Podcast shares practical lessons from successful small business owners and volunteer SCORE mentors. SCORE Houston provides free, confidential business mentoring and workshops to Houston entrepreneurs, supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Call 713-487-6565.
 Series: Small Business Success Stories | Episode 45 

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more. 

Skincare business success from a civil engineering career — Lyndsey Brantley did it without outside investors, starting with a PCOS diagnosis and ending up on Walmart shelves. 

She secured over $300,000 through pitch competitions, grants, and non-equity funding — and became the first African American woman to place a natural, alcohol-free unisex shaving solution with Walmart. 

In this episode, Lyndsey shares how she built Camellia Alise, LLC — a Leaping Bunny certified natural skincare line, full-service spa, and medical aesthetics training academy in Houston, TX. She covers how a personal health struggle turned into a product, how she kept the business alive during COVID-19 by pivoting to hand sanitizer, and how she went on to open one of the first Black-owned laser institutes in Texas. She was named the SBA Houston District Woman Business Owner of the Year in 2023. 

Topics covered: product launch, grant funding for small businesses, pitch competitions, medical aesthetics certification, Black-owned business, Houston entrepreneurship, and building multiple revenue streams under one brand. 

0:00 Intro & guest introduction 

2:07 Lyndsey welcomed to the show 

2:38 PCOS diagnosis and the launch of her skincare line 

6:14 Pivoting to hand sanitizer production during COVID-19 

7:00 Securing $300K+ in grants and pitch competitions 

15:02 Opening one of the first Black-owned laser institutes in Texas 

25:47 Her #1 piece of advice for aspiring entrepreneurs 

28:54 Closing thoughts and wrap-up 

 🔗 Learn more about Camellia Alise: https://www.camelliaalise.com/ 

📅 Book free mentoring with SCORE Houston: www.score.org/houston 

📺 Subscribe for new episodes every week 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwYwZdflYjHJeI8oTA_fRJw 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/score-houstons-podcast/id1845697492 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3DTCZlNpp4FWgp1xdgrhQb 

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b4ac4d74-acb2-43cc-b5f0-433ad259fccb 

Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@SCOREHouston/shorts 

 SCORE Houston Podcast — Small Business Success Stories, Episode 44. Free, confidential mentoring for entrepreneurs at every stage. Call 713-487-6565 or visit us at 8701 South Gessner, Suite 1200, Houston, TX 77074. 

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more. 

Episodes 22–41 of the SCORE Houston Podcast distilled into one masterclass: what these Houston entrepreneurs actually did to survive early chaos, price with confidence, build closed-loop systems, and create lasting businesses — not just survive, but scale.

Founders featured: Heather Lampert (Clear Hope Counseling), Brittany Vinson (Tomé Catering), Sarah Lieberman (Dandelion Cafe), Baha Elabassi (Texas Crown Towing), Felicia Hill (H5 Strategic Alliances), Samantha Snipes (Read 3D), and more.

Timestamps: 0:00 – The origin story: from a church closet to a business empire 2:26 – Starting small: businesses born in closets and tiny kitchens 5:36 – Naivety as a superpower (and its limits) 9:42 – Why grit alone can't scale a business 11:01 – Building closed-loop systems (Texas Crown Towing) 14:17 – The psychology of pricing (and why underpricing is dangerous) 16:34 – Digital marketing survival tactics 18:21 – The guerrilla research hack every founder should try 19:31 – Why mentorship is the ultimate unfair advantage 21:11 – From an earning mindset to a creating mindset

🔗 Free business mentoring — SCORE Houston: www.score.org/houston

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwYwZdflYjHJeI8oTA_fRJw

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/score-houstons-podcast/id1845697492

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3DTCZlNpp4FWgp1xdgrhQb

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b4ac4d74-acb2-43cc-b5f0-433ad259fccb

Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@SCOREHouston/shorts

The SCORE Houston Podcast features real entrepreneurs and SCORE mentors sharing practical, experience-based advice for small business owners. SCORE Houston is an SBA resource partner offering free, confidential mentoring — 150+ volunteer mentors, no cost.

Series: Small Business Success Stories | Compilation — Episodes 22–41

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more. 

 Federal contracting for small businesses: how to register on SAM.gov, qualify for set-asides, and get certified through SBA — explained by two Business Opportunity Specialists from the SBA Houston District Office. 

 The federal government awarded $179 billion in prime contracts to small businesses in FY 2025 — nearly 28% of all federal spending. In this episode of the SCORE Houston Podcast's SBA Series, host PV Bala sits down with Ida Benson and Jesus Gomez to turn that opportunity into a practical action plan. 

 What you'll learn: 

— What products and services federal agencies buy from small businesses 

— Business readiness: cash flow requirements, market research, and SAM.gov registration 

— Set-aside contracts and the 23% small business spending goal 

— SBA certifications: HUBZone, Women-Owned (WOSB), Veteran-Owned (VOSB/SDVOSB), and Small Disadvantaged Business (8a) 

— How to get your UEI number, complete your SAM registration, and identify NAICS codes 

— Building past performance from zero — including subcontracting as an entry strategy 

— How Apex Accelerators provide free registration, market research, and proposal support 

— Where to research contract opportunities: SAM.gov, USAspending.gov, and Acquisition.gov 

 0:00 – Intro & Welcome to SCORE Houston SBA Series 0:00 

0:51 – Meet the Guests: Ida Benson & Jesus Gomez 0:51 

2:45 – The Opportunity: $179B in Federal Contracts 2:45 

4:08 – Business Readiness Checklist & Cash Flow 4:08 

5:51 – Common Reasons Small Businesses Fail 5:51 

8:22 – What Are Set-Aside Contracts? 8:22 

13:51 – Local vs National Bidding Advantage 13:51 

15:01 – Set-Aside Categories: WOSB, VOSB, HUBZone & More 15:01 

17:18 – SAM.gov Registration Explained 17:18 

20:14 – NAICS Codes: What They Are & Why They Matter 20:14 

23:02 – Finding Opportunities & SAM Notifications 23:02 

23:40 – Certifications: HUBZone, WOSB, VOSB Benefits 23:40 

26:16 – Building Past Performance From Zero 26:16 

29:11 – What Is Apex Accelerators? (Free Help) 29:11 

32:38 – Capability Statements Explained 32:38 

34:04 – Recap: Key Resources & Advice 34:04 

38:29 – Action Plan: How to Get Started Today 38:29 

40:29 – Closing & Where to Get Free SCORE Mentoring 40:29 

 Guests: 

Ida Benson — Business Opportunity Specialist, SBA Houston District Office 

Jesus Gomez — Business Opportunity Specialist, SBA Houston District Office 

 Host: PV Bala — Certified SCORE Mentor 

 Free small business mentoring: www.score.org/houston 

 🔗 SCORE Houston Podcast — 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwYwZdflYjHJeI8oTA_fRJw 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/score-houstons-podcast/id1845697492 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3DTCZlNpp4FWgp1xdgrhQb 

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b4ac4d74-acb2-43cc-b5f0-433ad259fccb 

Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@SCOREHouston/shorts 

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more. 

How Estée Lauder built a global beauty business with zero marketing budget, no business degree, no formal advertising — and what small business owners can learn from her playbook today. Starting from a backyard stable in Queens, New York, she grew a $150 bath oil into a product line generating $150 million a year.

Who was Estée Lauder? Born Josephine Esther Mentzer in 1908, she built The Estée Lauder Companies from a kitchen-formula skincare business into one of the world's largest prestige beauty empires — a publicly traded company with revenues exceeding $10 billion. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest self-made entrepreneurs of the 20th century.

This episode covers her sales psychology, the "gift with purchase" tactic that permanently changed retail, her word-of-mouth networking strategy that scaled a local brand nationally, the London expansion that proved her international instincts, and the Youth Dew reframe that turned a bath oil into a $150M product line.

Part of the Lessons from the Greats series on the SCORE Houston Podcast — practical business lessons drawn from iconic founders, for small business owners building today.

Free business mentoring from SCORE Houston: www.score.org/houston

Subscribe for weekly episodes: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwYwZdflYjHJeI8oTA_fRJw

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: Cohesion's Lessons from the Greats 00:42 – The stable where it all started 03:07 – Why passion is the foundation of every business 07:38 – The Florence Morris salon: the power of demonstration 08:47 – Inventing the "gift with purchase" 12:19 – Scaling loyalty into a national brand 15:38 – The London expansion masterclass 16:54 – Youth Dew: reframing perfume into a $150M product 18:42 – Trusting your "louder inner voice" 21:55 – Final thoughts: the future of human connection in business 

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more. 

Veteran entrepreneur Jason Burleson bought an abandoned lake in rural Texas that no bank would touch and no investor would fund. Today, Mammoth Lake Dive Academy in Clute, Texas is the largest dedicated scuba park in the United States.

He launched during COVID with no outside capital. Hurricane Beryl destroyed his home and much of what he'd built. He kept going — bootstrapped, debt-free, and now certifying thousands of divers annually including police, firefighters, and military veterans.

In this episode of Small Business Success Stories from SCORE Houston, Dr. Jeffrey Ricken sits down with Jason Burleson — 2026 SBA Houston District Rural Small Business Owner of the Year — to walk through the decisions, setbacks, and mentorship that turned a part-time dive instructor into the founder of a Gulf Coast institution.

Topics covered:

- Buying the lake: what due diligence looked like when there was no playbook

- Launching a business during COVID with zero outside funding

- Rebuilding after Hurricane Beryl — the mindset shift that made it possible

- SBA loan strategy, bootstrapping, and reaching debt-free status

- Building a student pipeline from open-water certification to NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Lab

- What the U.S. Air Force taught him about running a small business

- AI tools, mentorship, and the gaps his formal education left behind

If you run a small business, are considering a career pivot, or want to understand how veteran-owned businesses scale without traditional funding — this episode delivers a clear, practical picture of how it's done.

 Chapters

0:00 – Welcome

0:45 – The Lake Nobody Wanted

3:00 – Launching During COVID

6:30 – Building Partnerships That Matter

10:00 – From Air Force to the Ocean Floor

14:00 – Hurricane Beryl: Losing Everything, Starting Over

19:00 – Bootstrapping, SBA, and the Road to Debt-Free

22:00 – Mentorship, AI Tools & What School Doesn't Teach You

26:00 – What the Military Taught Him About Business

28:00 – Final Words

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more. 

Charlie Munger's 14 mental models, applied specifically to small business owners navigating real-world entrepreneurial chaos. Most businesses don't fail from bad products or lack of funding — they fail because founders are running the wrong cognitive operating system.

In this episode of the SCORE Houston Podcast's Lessons from the Greats series, we unpack Munger's mental model framework — built around what he called a "cognitive lattice” and translate each model into concrete, actionable strategy for entrepreneurs in Houston and across the USA.

The models covered include:

The Foundation Layer — Your deepest passion reshapes your perception through the reticular activating system. Taking a simple idea seriously beats adding complexity. Moving too fast accrues "friction debt" that costs exponentially more time and capital downstream.

The Human Element — Truth operates on a logarithmic scale: moving from 90% to 99% honesty generates a disproportionate trust advantage. Surrounding yourself with high-caliber people, and aligning incentives to your actual values, determines whether your culture scales or collapses.

The Strategy Layer — Shameless cloning caps downside risk by letting large competitors pay the "pioneer tax" before you enter. Segment and dominate a hyper-narrow niche for outsized pricing power. Ruthlessly value your own time and delegate everything below your strategic hourly rate.

The Customer Core — Business exists to remove friction from a customer's life; revenue is the output, not the goal. Let customers redesign your business through relentless listening. Extreme quality compounds into self-sustaining word-of-mouth.

The Lollapalooza Effect — When multiple mental models align simultaneously, business growth becomes nonlinear. This is the difference between a business that adds incrementally and one that multiplies exponentially.

Subscribe & Listen:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwYwZdflYjHJeI8oTA_fRJw
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/score-houstons-podcast/id1845697492
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3DTCZlNpp4FWgp1xdgrhQb
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b4ac4d74-acb2-43cc-b5f0-433ad259fccb/score-houstons-podcast

00:00 Introduction: The Wrong Cognitive Operating System

02:04 Your Deepest Desire Is Your Destiny

03:35 Take a Simple Idea Seriously & Fast Is Slow

05:18 Truth and Trust Are Not Binary

06:44 Surround Yourself with Better People & Incentives

08:16 Be a Shameless Cloner

09:37 Segment and Dominate Your Niche

10:48 Value Your Own Time Ruthlessly

11:48 The Purpose of Business Is to Serve

12:54 Your Customers Will Tell You the Business

14:28 The Lollapalooza Effect & Cascading Models

17:19 Applying the Models: Take Action

Photo by Nick - Charlie Munger, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75743370

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more. 

Aging in place is becoming a healthcare strategy, not a home improvement project. Cameron Carter, CEO and Co-Founder of Rosarium Health, explains why health plans and hospitals are now paying to modify homes, and how that fits into value-based care.

Cameron spent nearly a decade inside major healthcare organizations — including DaVita and Bright Health — before founding Rosarium Health, a company that partners with health plans and hospitals to fund in-home assessments and modifications so older adults and people with disabilities can safely age in place. Rosarium Health is now in-network for over one million Medicaid lives across 30+ states.

In this episode of the SCORE Houston Podcast — Small Business Success Stories — host PV Bala covers:

✅ What value-based care means and how it differs from fee-for-service healthcare

✅ Why the home is a critical, overlooked social determinant of health

✅ How Cameron pivoted from a direct-to-consumer model to health plan partnerships

✅ Lessons on raising venture capital for a healthcare startup

✅ How SCORE mentorship — including guidance from mentor Art O'Connor — shaped his path as a founder

✅ Scaling a mission-driven business to serve underserved communities

• 0:00 — Intro to SCORE Houston
• 1:02 — Guest introduction: Cameron Carter
• 2:15 — What is value-based care?
• 3:18 — Origin story: home modifications and healthcare
• 5:19 — Spotting the business opportunity
• 7:09 — Pivoting from direct-to-consumer to B2B
• 13:46 — Market maturity and industry landscape
• 25:57 — Vision for Rosarium's next five years
• 27:57 — Closing / subscribe reminder
• 28:15 — Outro and contact info

🔗 Learn more about Rosarium Health: https://www.rosariumhealth.com/

🔗 Connect with Cameron Carter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-carter-62117175/

🔗 Request free SCORE Houston mentoring: https://www.score.org/houston

Subscribe: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwYwZdflYjHJeI8oTA_fRJw

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3DTCZlN...
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b4a. 

Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@SCOREHouston/shorts

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.