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10+ can't-miss Houston business and innovation events for April
From pitching competitions to expert speaker summits, April is filled with opportunities for Houston innovators.
Here's a roundup of events you won't want to miss out on so mark your calendars and register accordingly.
Note: This post may be updated to add more events.
April 4 — Mission Control: Texas’ Leadership in Space, Technology, and Innovation
Since its inception, the space industry has expanded across Texas and grown beyond scientific exploration into a tableau on which the terrestrial set have placed bets related to tourism, mining, communications, healthcare, food science, national security, technical innovations across all industries, and even human habitation beyond earth. The Texas Lyceum’s 2024 Public Conference (PubCon) will explore these opportunities and the journey to realize the promise of space and beyond for Texas and the nation.
Throughout the event, an expected 300 industry leaders and Texas legislators and staffers will participate in thought provoking discussions to inform our stakeholders and state leaders on the trajectory, challenges and opportunities in the Space Economy.
This event starts Thursday, April 4, from 2:30 to 9:30 pm at the Thompson Hotel. Click here to register.
April 4-6 — 2024 Rice Business Plan Competition
Hosted and organized by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, which is Rice University's internationally-recognized initiative devoted to the support of entrepreneurship, and Rice Business, the Rice Business Plan Competition offers an educational program mirroring real-world experience through this multi-day event for student startups from across the world.
In total, more than $1 million in investment and cash prizes are expected to be awarded at the 2024 Rice Business Plan Competition. Every single startup will walk away with at least $950 in cash prizes, no matter where they place in the competition.
The Elevator Pitch event is open to the public and on Thursday, April 4, from 6 to 9 pm at Jones Graduate School of Business. Click here to register.
April 6 — 12th Annual Houston Global Health Collaborative Conference
This meeting is an annual gathering of interdisciplinary professionals and students with a passion for global health innovation and advancement. This year's Conference Theme is Global Health Diplomacy: Shaping Policies for Health Impact and will feature subthemes of vaccine diplomacy, global surgery, the prevalence of non-communicable diseases, and the global nutrition crisis. Clinicians, researchers, healthcare workers, policymakers, and students across any field who are interested in global health are especially encouraged to attend.
This event is Saturday, April 6, from 7:45 am to 7 pm at the University of Houston College of Medicine. Click here to register.
April 10 — Bayou City Bio Pulse
Check out a showcase of life sciences in The Woodlands. This event will feature a vendor exhibition, presentations from business, academic and community development leaders, and a panel discussion on The Woodlands’ life sciences ecosystem. Spanning across five sites totaling over 80 acres, The Woodlands Innovation District is positioned to meet the needs of companies focused on in-house manufacturing (from biopharma to industrial biology), as well as contract development manufacturing organizations (CDMOs).
This event is Wednesday, April 10, from 8 am to 12 pm at the Woodlands Towers. Click here to register.
April 18 — Energy Underground: All Things Hydrogen
The Energy Underground is a group of professionals in the Greater Houston area that are accelerating the Energy Transition. Come together to learn and support each other's work in advancing the Energy Transition: make industry contacts, secure financing, share deals, recommend talent looking to enter the energy workforce, and anything else that leads to bigger, better energy companies.
This event is Thursday, April 18, from 12 to 1:30 pm at the Cannon West Houston. Click here to register.
April 19 — TEX-E Conference
The inaugural, student-led TEX-E Conference's mission is to empower budding student entrepreneurs to advance their climatetech ventures and inspire industry leaders to support these groundbreaking startups coming out of Texas’ universities.
This event is Friday, April 19, at 7:30 am to 6:30 pm, at TMC Helix Park. Click here to register.
April 19 — Build Day x Tour: Houston Hackathon
A partnership between ACT House, a human analytics leader, and Tech Equity Collective, a Google Initiative driving black innovation in tech formed an exciting new accelerator. Participants will build their own startup team, collaborate on ideas, and sprint on real work. The first place winning team will receive $10,000, the second place team will recieve $5,000 and the third place team will get $2,500.
This event is Friday, April 19, at 4 pm until April 20 at 4 pm. Click here to register.
April 20 — Veterans Business Battle Gala
Attend the Rice Veteran Business Battle’s 10th Anniversary Gala and celebrate the winners of the 2024 Veterans Business Battle as well as the accomplishments of the previous 10 years. A portion of the proceeds from this event will be used to support Veterans Entrepreneurs at the Jones Graduate School of Business.
This event is Saturday, April 20, at 7 pm, at Cohen House. Click here to register.
April 21 — The Energy Corridor District's Earth Day Celebration
Come out for a day of fun and environmental awareness. Get hands-on and contribute to a communal art piece that symbolizes a collective commitment to Mother Earth. Pick up a brush or a marker and add your creativity to the canvas.
Take a moment to learn how the world's top energy companies are contributing to a more sustainable future. Get inspired and pick up some tips for your own eco-journey
This event is Sunday, April 21, from 1 to 4 pm at Terry Hershey Park. Click here to register.
April 22 — EO4Energy Workshop
The Geological Remote Sensing Group (GRSG) Americas, in partnership with the University of Houston, invites you to a workshop focusing on the role of Earth Observation (EO) and remote sensing in the Energy Industry.
As the industry moves towards sustainability, driven by Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations, the significance of EO and remote sensing continues to grow. This workshop will encompass insightful case studies, introduce emerging technologies, and present advanced methodologies. Participants will engage with a diverse group of professionals from the energy, space, academic, and government sectors.
This event begins Monday, April 22, at 8 am at Hilton University of Houston. Click here to register.
April 25 — 2024 PIDX International US Spring Conference
In this industry event, explore the intersection of AI and Digital Standards. All experienced speakers across industries are invited to contribute articles, share use cases and theories, and connect with attendees from the Energy Industry.
The accumulated knowledge shared at the event will guide the forthcoming phase of PIDX Standards Development tailored for the Energy Industry.
This event begins Thursday, April 25, at 8 am at 501 Westlake Park. Click here to register.
April 26 — StartupLaunch USA: Ignite Your Entrepreneurial Journey
This is an immersive online learning experience tailored for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to kickstart their startup ventures in the United States. This event provides participants with the essential knowledge, skills, and resources needed to navigate the complexities of launching and scaling a successful business.
Through a series of interactive workshops, expert-led seminars, and practical case studies. Participants will learn how to develop innovative business ideas, validate market opportunities, and create viable business models that resonate with target audiences.
This event is Friday, April 26, from 1 to 6 pm at Museum of Natural Science. Click here to register.
April 27 — World Youth Foundation: STEAM Innovation Incubator
WYF's STEAM Innovation Industry Pathways, or SIIP, is a youth out-of-school-time monthly program designed to bridge the gap between academic learning, industry, and digital skilling.
Open to youth ages 6 to 24, SIIP is not your typical program—it's a gateway to a world of metaskilling, offering a dynamic range of skills from design thinking, strategic project management, soft skills development, digital skills development, and industry application.
This event is Saturday, April 27, from 10 am to 1:30 pm at Sunnyside Health and Multi-Service Center. Click here to register.