<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-08-13</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001368147</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BTHC VII Inc</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BTVI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001356837</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PHILLIPS CHARLES</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PRENTICE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>623 FIFTH AVENUE, 32ND FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>(See Note 1)</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>No securities are beneficially owned.</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <remarks>(1) Charles Phillips is the Chief Operating Officer of Prentice Capital Management, LP, the manager of PWJ Lending LLC and
 PWJ Funding LLC (collectively, the &quot;PWJ Entities&quot;). The PWJ Entities own 25,941,928 shares of the Issuer's common stock and
 warrants to purchase 3,567,471 shares of the Issuer's common stock. Prentice Capital Management, LP has voting and
 investment discretion over the Issuer's securities held by the PWJ Entities.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Charles Phillips</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-08-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
