Calling all Houston innovators — now is your time to shine.

InnovationMap and its partner, Houston-based Techwave, a global IT services and solutions provider, are pleased to present an inaugural set of awards honoring Houston's innovators and their breakthrough technologies across industries. The program and hybrid event — which will take place September 8 — will shine a spotlight on the movers and shakers within Houston's burgeoning innovation community.

Nominations for the InnovationMap Awards are open now online, and nominees will receive an application to submit in late July. A group of industry experts and Houston innovation leaders will review submissions and determine finalists and winners across 10 categories. The categories for the awards are:

• BIPOC-Owned Business honoring an innovative tech company founded or co-founded by BIPOC representation
• Female-Owned Business honoring an innovative tech company founded or co-founded by a woman
• Health Care Business honoring a health care business with an innovative solution within life sciences
• Energy Transition Business honoring an energy business with an innovative solution within renewables, climatetech, clean energy, and beyond
• Space Tech Business honoring an aerospace business with an innovative solution within space exploration
• Sports Tech Business honoring a tech business with an innovative solution within sports
• Top Founder Under 40 honoring an innovative founder younger than 40 by Sept. 8, 2021
• Lifetime Achievement Award honoring an innovator who's made a lasting impact on the Houston innovation community
• People's Choice: Startup of the Year selected via an internet voting portal ahead of the event
• Techwave's Texas Advocate Awards honoring two non-Houston based companies selected by our presenting sponsor, Techwave

Follow along on InnovationMap as we learn more about the program's inaugural nominees. Then, on September 8, we will host the finalists and a group of special guests at The Cannon for a celebration of the city's top innovators. A livestream of the event will be open to everyone on the night of the awards — tune in to find out who takes home the big win across all 10 categories.

Click here to RSVP for what will surely be a can't-miss event in Houston innovation.