HOUSTON – Some Houston ISD students will take over NRG Arena Wednesday night — not for sports or concerts — but to pitch businesses they built from the ground up.
The “Hustle Tank” competition is part of the G-Unity Business Lab, a partnership between HISD and rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s foundation.
Students from six HISD high schools will step into the “Shark Tank”-style event, hoping their business ideas would win over a panel of judges — all while picking up life skills along the way.
For months, students studied everything from financial literacy to marketing, then built full business concepts with guidance from mentors. Organizers say the experience opened doors many students had never even imagined.
“So many of our students say that they had never thought about how to even open a bank account, let alone how to open a business checking account, and that’s huge,” said Elizabeth Martin, G-Unity executive director.
The G-Unity Business Lab collaboration launched in 2021 with three schools and has since expanded to six. More than 800 students applied this year to be part of the competition.
HISD Director of Special Programs Patrice Allen says the program is about closing a gap that exists in the communities these schools serve.
“There’s an equity gap that exists in the neighborhoods that these campuses are in,” Allen said. “It’s that whole idea that if you give a man to fish, he eats today but if you teach a man to fish, he eats for life.”
Among the competitors was 11th grader Irmani Garcia, whose team — “The Reading Rose” — paired personalized books with custom flower bouquets.
“Certain people like me won’t get this chance ever,” Garcia said. “I have been in some rooms where people say to leave, some rooms where I don’t belong. This is teaching me how to find my spot in the world.”
Tonight’s judging panel includes Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, along with leaders from the Astros Foundation, Metro, CenterPoint, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and more.
Winners will receive seed money and resources to help turn their ideas into real companies. But for organizers, the biggest takeaway extends well beyond the competition floor.
“There’s talent everywhere, talent is universal. We have amazing students here that are going to go far and do amazing things in life.”