Exploring Joint Ventures
The Prep Institute is proud to partner with Black Tech Link for an important workshop in the Grow Up series. Joint ventures and teaming agreements can be powerful tools for small businesses looking to scale, secure larger contracts, and expand their market reach. This in-person workshop will provide small business owners with a comprehensive understanding of how these strategic partnerships work, the benefits they offer, and how to structure them effectively. Participants will learn how joint ventures allow businesses to pool resources, share risks, and leverage each other’s strengths to compete for opportunities they might not qualify for independently. Additionally, the session will cover teaming agreements, which enable businesses to collaborate on government and private-sector contracts without forming a separate legal entity. Presenter will discuss best practices for identifying the right partners, drafting agreements that protect all parties involved, and ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Attendees will also hear real-world case studies demonstrating how successful joint ventures and teaming agreements have helped small businesses accelerate growth and increase their competitive edge. Whether you’re looking to enter new markets, pursue larger contracts, or strengthen your business partnerships, this workshop will equip you with the knowledge and strategies needed to navigate and leverage these collaboration models effectively.
As a key component of the Project Minority-Owned Support and Technical Assistance (Project MOST) program, Grow Up is funded by the County of San Diego’s Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) and the Office of Equitable Communities,
Meet our Speaker
De’Schzunell “DJ” Catlin is a seasoned entrepreneur, engineer, and respected leader specializing in business development and engineering consulting. With a strong passion for innovation and growth, he is the co-founder of The Equity Space Alliance and the founder of The San Diego Black Investors Group Inc. De’Schzunell’s impressive career includes invaluable contributions to Aerospace Research and Development at NASA,as an Aerospace Engineer. His educational background includes a study of Applied Physics at the esteemed Morehouse College, followed by a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Antelope Valley. Furthermore, De’Schzunell’s pursuit of professional development led him to complete a Masters Degree in Global Management, specializing in Space Leadership, Business, and Policy from ASU’s Thunderbird School of Global Management. He further honed his business skills by earning a Venture Finance Certification from UC Berkeley School of Law.
