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PEP Barbed Wire to Business Accelerator event graphic with date location and program logo

CELEBRATING
SECOND-CHANCE
ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Group of five people holding an oversized $35,000 check awarded to Meraki Builder at a PEP Barbed Wire to Business Accelerator event.

Impact Investing for Social Change

The Barbed Wire to Business Accelerator is a tangible expression of PEP’s mission to unite executives and former inmates through entrepreneurial passion. Think “Shark Tank… PEP Style”! We will showcase our alumni and how PEP creates the opportunity for second-chance citizens to develop their own businesses.

For 20 years, Prison Entrepreneurship Program has been the national pioneering leader in innovative programming that assists incarcerated men in Texas prisons by developing the life skills and knowledge to be successful and productive citizens upon their return to society.”

LEARN MORE
Man in a blazer speaking into a microphone on stage at a PEP event, with an audience seated at round tables in a ballroom with chandeliers.
Group of six people in formal attire holding a large presentation check for $35,000 awarded to IronRod Steel Co. at a PEP Barbed Wire to Business Accelerator event.

Attend the 2026 North Texas Barbed Wire to Business Accelerator Event

Full Table

$5,000

  • Seating at Event (10)
COMING SOON
Half Table

$2,500

  • Seating at Event (5)
COMING SOON
Single Tickets

$500

  • Single Seats
COMING SOON

Meet the "Sharks"

PEP recruits difference-makers in our community who will evaluate business pitches
from our second-chance entrepreneurs

COMING SOON

Mayor John Whitmire

City of Houston

Chris
Staffel

Staffel Capital

William (Billy) Sullivan

Sullivan Brothers Family of Companies

Kimberly Williams

Proper Perspective 360

Sponsor the 2025 Barbed Wire to Business Accelerator Event

PLATINUM SPONSORSHIP

$50,000

  • (2) Corporate tables of ten (20 tickets)
    with Premium seating
  • Company profile on social media and website
  • (1) Full-page ad in event program
  • Company logo prominently displayed at corporate table
  • Access for four (4) sponsor guests to the exclusive "Founders Lounge" at the cocktail reception
SIGN-UP FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PLATINUM SPONSORSHIP
GOLD SPONSORSHIP

$30,000

  • (1) Corporate table of ten (10 tickets)
    with Premium seating
  • Company profile on social media and website
  • (1) Half-page ad in event program
  • Company logo prominently displayed at corporate table
  • Access for two (2) sponsor guests to the exclusive "Founders Lounge" at the cocktail reception
SIGN-UP FOR MORE INFORMATION ON GOLD SPONSORSHIP
SILVER SPONSORSHIP

$15,000

  • (1) Corporate table of
    ten (10 tickets)
  • Company profile on social media and website
  • (1) Quarter-page ad in event program
  • Company logo prominently displayed at corporate table
  • Access for one (1) sponsor guest to the exclusive "Founders Lounge" at the cocktail reception
SIGN-UP FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SILVER SPONSORSHIP

Please contact us if you are interested in attending the 2026 Barbed Wire to Business Accelerator event in North Texas.

Event Sponsors & Supporters

We are grateful to the following sponsors for their support of the Prison Entrepreneurship Program and Barbed Wire to Business Accelerator.

Sponsorship opportunities are now available for our upcoming Dallas Barbed Wire to Business Accelerator event.

Contact us if you are interested in supporting returned citizen entrepreneurs and joining a powerful movement for change.

PRESENTING SPONSOR

FRIEND OF PEP SPONSORS

Capital One logo with stylized red swoosh above the text "Capital One" in dark blue letters.
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas logo featuring the text "United Way" and an icon of a hand holding a person within a rainbow circle.

Meet the "Sharks"

PEP has recruited difference-makers in our community that will evaluate business pitches from our second-chance entrepreneurs

Fred Moses

Plano Community Forum

Harold (Hal) Rosser

Rosser Capital Partners

David R. Brooks

Independent Bank

OUR HISTORY

  • Founded in 2004, PEP offers volunteer opportunities at in-prison events at units in the Dallas and Houston areas.
  • Former AEI president Arthur Brooks and Harvard strategy professor Michael Porter both recognize PEP as the #1 reentry program in America.
  • In 20 years, PEP has graduated 3,200 transformed men with less than 10% experiencing recidivism and only 4% for our eSchool alumni.
  • Graduates are employed on average within 25 days after release with an average starting wage of $17 per hour growing to $29 in three years.
  • Our 3,200 graduates have started 600+ businesses with many having revenues of more than $1 million.
  • Entre Capital, PEP’s subsidiary CDFI, has originated $1.6 million to 2nd chance business.
  • Successful reentry saves Federal and Texas governments $4.3 million per year.
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