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Houston innovators: Don't miss these SXSW 2023 events

Natalie Harms
Mar 9, 2023, 3:36 pm
Just a few of the many SXSW events you should add to your agenda. Photo via SXSW

Editor's note: SXSW has officially taken over Austin, and it can be a bit chaotic to try to make the most of the goings on. Here are a few things for Houston innovators to check out — panels, houses, happy hours, and more.

Friday, March 10, to Monday, March 13 — Funded House

Funded House, is on a mission to help funded startup leaders navigate the difficult task of growing their business; through an integrated series of meetups, lounges, panels and parties.

The house is open from Friday, March 10, to Monday, March 13, at 201 E 5th St. Startups and VCs need to apply for entry. Badges aren't required. Learn more.

Friday, March 10, to Tuesday, March 14 — Capital Factory House

Capital Factory is again hosting tons of events at its office. Don't miss the annual startup crawl on Friday, March 10, starting at 5 pm.

The events are happening from Friday, March 10, to Monday, March 13, at Capital Factory (701 Brazos St). Badges aren't required, but the crawl asks for RSVPs. Learn more.Learn more.

Friday, March 10 — DivInc presents "Just Us"

Join DivInc for an engaging conversation with leading BIPOC venture capitalists in the tech space as we have a frank discussion revolving around how its BIPOC VC community is helping founders reach their goals, and get real about how we can do better.

The event is from 5:30 to 8:30 at Brown Advisory (200 W 6th St.) Badges aren't required, but RSVPs are. Learn more.

Saturday, March 11, and Sunday, March 12 — The 15th Annual SXSW Pitch Competition

Announcing 40 finalists for the 15th annual SXSW Pitch competition, presented by ZenBusiness and supported by Collins Aerospace, representing the most cutting-edge technologies from across the globe at SXSW 2023.

The pitch competition is taking place Saturday, March 11, and Sunday, March 12, at the Hilton Hotel (fourth floor). Badges are required to attend. Learn more.

The SXSW Pitch Showcase is from 10 am to noon on Monday, March 13, at the Hilton Hotel (fourth floor). Badges are required to attend. Learn more.

Saturday, March 11, and Sunday, March 12 — Energizing Health

Energizing Health @ SXSW 2023 brings together an historic digital gathering of passionate health advocates to work on innovation problems. Energizing Health creates opportunities and connects partners to make health more fair and equitable for everyone, starting with people facing disproportional injury.

The programming takes place on Saturday, March 11, and Sunday, March 12, at The Line (111 E Cesar Chavez). Badges are required. Learn more.

Sunday, March 12, to Tuesday, March 14 — Shell House

Shell returns to SXSW this year with its three-day activation that focuses on thought leadership on reaching the goal of Net-Zero by 2050, plus entertainment, recharge stations, displays, and more.

The house is open from Sunday, March 12, to Tuesday, March 14, at Antone's (305 E 5th St.). Badges are required. Learn more.

Sunday, March 12 — Ground Zero: Creating Pathways from Research to Scale Deployment and HETI happy hour

The Greater Houston Partnership's Houston Energy Transition Initiative has organized a panel of Houston experts to discuss the energy transition.

Panelists:

  • Dr. Paul Cherukuri, Vice President for Innovation, Rice University
  • Juliana Garaizar, Chief Development & Investment Officer, Greentown Labs
  • Dr. Tara Karimi, Co-Founder and CTO, Cemvita Factory
  • Moderator: Jane Stricker, Executive Director, Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI)
The panel is Sunday, March 12, at 4 pm at the Austin Marriott Downtown (Waller Ballroom D). Badges are required.
Following the panel at 5 pm is the Energy Innovators Happy Hour at Moontower Hall Foyer. Learn more.

Monday, March 13 — Houston House

Join Houston industry leaders and startup founders for a series of thought provoking panels on today’s most prominent topics in tech. Relax in our lounge space, attend a session, and don't forget to stop by in the evening for the GHP's cocktail reception from 5:30 to 7 pm.

The programming takes place on Monday, March 13, at The Line (111 E Cesar Chavez), from 10 am to 5 pm. Badges are required. Learn more.

Monday, March 13 — Founded in Texas

Project W, The Artemis Fund, HearstLab, and Brown Advisory have joined forces to bring you Founded in Texas, an investor feedback session designed to support Texas-based female founders of B2B and B2B2C technology companies.

The programming takes place on Monday, March 13, at Brown Advisory (200 W 6th St., Suite 1700). Badges aren't required. Learn more.

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Houston health tech startup secures $16M series A, prepares for first U.S. clinical trials

A Houston startup based out of the TMC Innovation Factory has announced funding and upcoming trials. Photo courtesy of TMC

Fueled by fresh funding in the bank, a medical device startup has announced upcoming trials.

VenoStent, Inc., a company developing an innovative tool to improve outcomes for hemodialysis patients, has closed $16 million in a series A round of financing. Two Charleston, South Carolina-based firms — Good Growth Capital and IAG Capital Partners — led the round.

The company also announced it received Investigational Device Exemption from the FDA for its United States clinical trial, SAVE-FistulaS.

“Our mission at VenoStent is to improve the quality and length of life of dialysis patients. On the heels of our very promising results in several preclinical studies and a 20-patient feasibility study that led to our Breakthrough Designation last year, this recent IDE approval is perhaps our biggest milestone to date," Tim Boire, CEO of VenoStent, says in a news release. "We now enter an exciting new epoch in our company’s development that we believe will ultimately result in FDA Approval and vastly improve the quality and length of life for patients."

VenoStent's novel therapeutic medical device is a bioabsorbable wrap. Image courtesy of VenoStent

VenoStent's series A will fund the trial, expand manufacturing capabilities, and more. The company is targeting the more than 800,000 people in the U.S. with end-stage renal disease. Currently, more than half of the surgeries performed to initiate hemodialysis fail within a year. VenoStent's novel therapeutic medical device is a bioabsorbable wrap that reduces vein collapse by providing mechanical support and promoting outward vein growth.

“This trial is designed to provide the highest level of clinical evidence. We’re excited to be in this position to treat the first patients in the United States with this technology, and demonstrate the safety and efficacy of our device,” continues Boire in the release.

Per the release, the company is aiming for FDA Approval and be the first-to-market device to improve hemodialysis access surgery.

“We’re extremely pleased to be partnering with VenoStent on this critical mission. This company and technology are poised for commercial success to address a critical, unmet need,” says Bob Crutchfield, operating partner at Good Growth Capital, in the release.

The TMC Venture Fund also contributed to the series A investment round, along with SNR, Baylor Angel Network / Affinity Fund, Creative Ventures, Cowtown Angels, Alumni Ventures, and other notable angel investors. Past investors in VenoStent include KidneyX, National Science Foundation, National Institute of Health, Y Combinator, Health Wildcatters, and the Texas Halo Fund.

“VenoStent’s data and traction to date is impressive and gives us a lot of confidence in their continued success. We look forward to helping them get this Breakthrough product to market and help patients that are in dire need of this innovative technology,” says Joel Whitley, partner at IAG Capital Partners, in the release.

Tim Boire is the CEO of VenoStent. Photo via LinkedIn

From Your Site Articles
FDA ApprovalMedical DeviceNational Science FoundationTMC Venture FundTexas Halo FundVenoStent Inc.VenoStent WrapY CombinatorGood Growth Capitalseries atim boirevenostent

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