3 Houston innovators to know this week

who's who

This week's roundup of Houston innovators includes Jason Bock of CTMC, Barbara Burger, and Mario Amaro of Ease. Photos courtesy

Editor's note: In this week's roundup of Houston innovators to know, I'm introducing you to three local innovators across industries — from cell therapy to energy transition — recently making headlines in Houston innovation.

Jason Bock, founder and CEO of CTMC

Jason Bock, founder and CEO of the Cell Therapy Manufacturing Center, joins the Houston Innovators Podcast to explain the complicated — yet necessary — process of scaling cell therapies. Photo courtesy

Last year, a project out of MD Anderson spun out to create a new joint venture, CTMC — Cell Therapy Manufacturing Center, with National Resilience, a company that was founded to help advance life-saving therapeutics. The JV is based in the Texas Medical Center and led by CEO Jason Bock, who says the entity's location is critical.

"Houston has a chance to play a role in all aspects of cell therapy," he says, from discovery to the clinical side. "Some really interesting cell therapies that are in development were discovered here in Houston."

Bock shares more on how the impact CTMC is making on cell therapy advancement on the podcast. Read more.

Barbara J. Burger, startup adviser and mentor

Energy innovation expert, Barbara Burger, shares how she sees the future of energy playing out as a dance between mice — the startups — and elephants — the incumbent corporations. Photo courtesy

The way Barbara Burger sees it, the energy transition depends on a dance between startups, or the mice, and corporates, aka the elephants. In a guest column for InnovationMap, she explains what questions each side needs to address.

"There are lots of questions here and the why is often an iterative journey for both sides," she explains. "It is as much mindset, influence, strategy, champions, and risk tolerance at individual levels as it about technology and economics." Read more.

Mario Amaro, CEO and founder of Ease

Mario Amaro, founder of Ease, was selected for one of Amazon's accelerator programs. Photo courtesy of Amazon

Amazon's AWS Impact Accelerator Latino Founders Cohort named the 20 startups joining its accelerator that will connect Latinx founders to its network of mentors, provide programming, and even dole out funding.

A Houston company has joined a new Amazon program focused on Latin American founders. Photo courtesy of Amazon

Houston startup named to Amazon's Latinx-focused cohort

ready to grow

Amazon named the 20 startups joining its accelerator that will connect Latinx founders to its network of mentors, provide programming, and even dole out funding.

The AWS Impact Accelerator Latino Founders Cohort is a part of Amazon's $30 million commitment to supporting underrepresented startup founders. The eight-week program started this week in Amazon's Seattle headquarters.

“This cohort of the AWS Impact Accelerator aims to highlight the viability and ingenuity of Latino-led startups, so the VC community can increase support to these founders,” says Howard Wright, vice president and global head of startups at AWS, in the news release. “We’re looking forward to playing an active role in helping these companies turbocharge their growth through access to capital, experts, and all of the innovations that the AWS tech stack has to offer.”

Houston-based Ease, founded by Mario Amaro in 2018, the health care fintech platform allows for medical professionals to start, grow, and manage their private practices with bookkeeping tools and other software infrastructure. So far, the company has worked with more than 300 practices. Per Cruncbase data, the company has raised $2.8 million in pre-seed and grant funding. According to Amazon, the company's investors include Slauson & Co. and Precursor Ventures.

Mario Amaro, founder of Ease, was selected for one of Amazon's accelerator programs. Photo courtesy of Amazon

Last year, Ease was named among the 50 companies in the inaugural cohort of the Google for Startups Latino Founders Fund. In that program, each company received an equity-free $100,000 investment, as well as programming and support from Google, mentorship from technical and business experts, access to free mental health therapy, and more.

Ease stood out among the nearly 1,100 submissions to the program, according to the release, and joins 19 other companies from across the country and even Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico. Each of the cohort companies will receive up to $225,000 in cash and AWS Activate credits, alongside a training curriculum, networking opportunities with Amazon staff and potential investors, and ongoing advisory support.

The other startups in the program include:

Alvva, a, immigrant-focused fintech platform from California
Cogniflow, a personal AI platform founded in Colombia with a New York US HQ
Deskfy, a marketing portal from Brazil with its US HQ in Delaware
DivySci Software, an edtech organization founded in New York
EducUp, an edtech company from Florida
Fielder, a Mexico-founded enterprise software-as-a-service with US-based operations in Delaware
GamerSafer, a security tech company within gaming from California
Kigüi, a Mexican money-saving grocery app
Kuentro, a Venezuelan affordable hiring platform that caters to middle- and working-class job seekers
Lazo Fintech Inc, a Florida-based fintech and legal platform
Leantime, a developer tool from North Carolina
Monadd, a Florida-founded personal finance platform
PilotoMail, a remote work platform founded in Puerto Rico
Sign-Speak, a New York startup with an American Sign Language device
STIGMA, a mental health mobile app from Illinois
Outtrip, a Argentina-founded tourism platform with US operations in Delaware
Panda Salud, a Mexico-based platform connecting health care small businesses with diagnostic test providers
Tienditapp, a Mexico-based app with a last-mile delivery model
TuCuota, a payment collections tool from Argentina

Google has named its first class of Latino entrepreneurs for its inclusive fund. Photo via Getty Images

Google taps 3 Houston Latino-led startups for inaugural non-equity cash awards

Money moves

Google announced today that it has selected 50 companies for the inaugural cohort of the Google for Startups Latino Founders Fund.

Nine startups in Texas have been selected — and three of them are bases in Houston. Each company will receive an equity-free $100,000 investment, as well as programming and support from Google, mentorship from technical and business experts, access to free mental health therapy, and more.

The Houston companies selected were:

AnswerBite, which supports marketing enterprise teams with social proof videos and customer insights in minutes and has over 300 clients
Boxes, which creates devices that combine physical and digital technology to democratize convenient, affordable, and sustainable retail
Ease, financial practice operations platform that helps clinicians build new practices from the ground up

“Being selected to attend the inaugural cohort of Google for Startups Latino Founders Fund gets us one step closer towards completing our mission of increasing healthcare access for Black and Latino communities,” says Dr. Mario Amaro, founder and CEO of Ease, in a news release. “The support and excitement that Google continues to have for small business gives us so much confidence in the future of private practice and clinician entrepreneurship.”

The program was founded to shrink the gap in opportunities and wealth for Latinos in the business community who are disproportionately affected by a lack of access to funding.

“We are excited to support these talented Latino entrepreneurs as they build innovative solutions and solve tough problems,” says Daniel Navarro, US marketing lead for Google for Startups, in the release. “I hope the launch of our inaugural Google for Startups Latino Founders Fund not only catalyzes the growth of these incredible Latino-led startups, but also inspires other Latino entrepreneurs, and ultimately generates wealth within the community."

Ad Placement 300x100

Ad Placement 300x600

CultureMap Emails are Awesome

Property Showcase

Houstonian Dr. Bernard Harris named to Astronaut Hall of Fame

out of this world

University of Houston alumnus Dr. Bernard Harris, who was the first Black astronaut to walk in space, is being inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame.

The induction ceremony will be held May 31 at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

“Being inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame is a tremendous honor, made even more special by the fact that it comes from my peers,” Harris says in a UH news release. “This recognition isn’t just about my accomplishments. It is also a testament to the teamwork and dedication of everyone who shared this amazing journey with me along the way.”

Harris and former astronaut Peggy Whitson, who spent more time in space than any other woman, will join 109 other astronauts inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation selects the honorees.

Harris, a Texas native who spent much of his childhood in Houston and San Antonio, earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from UH in 1978 and went on to medical school. After completing his residency at the Mayo Clinic and a fellowship at NASA’s Ames Research Center, he joined NASA as a clinical scientist and flight surgeon. He was chosen for the astronaut training program in 1990 and became an astronaut a year later.

In 1993, Harris flew his first mission on Space Shuttle Columbia, during which he conducted research and experiments in physical and life sciences. During his second mission, on Space Shuttle Discovery in 1995, Harris became the first Black astronaut to walk in space. In total, Harris logged 437 hours in space and traveled over 7 million miles.

After leaving NASA, Harris founded the Houston-based investment firm Vesalius Ventures to support emerging medical technology and devices. He also focuses on philanthropy through The Harris Foundation, a Houston-based nonprofit that empowers socially and economically disadvantaged students and communities.

“Space exploration has always been about pushing boundaries, inspiring future generations and proving that the impossible is achievable,” Harris says. “I am grateful for the opportunities that I have been given, and I hope to continue empowering others to reach for the stars.”

Texas ranks as top U.S. manufacturing hub, behind only one state

By The Numbers

Texas ranks among the country’s biggest hubs for manufacturing, according to a new study.

The study, conducted by Chinese manufacturing components supplier YIJIN Hardware, puts Texas at No. 2 among the states when it comes to manufacturing-hub status. California holds the top spot.

YIJIN crunched data from the U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade Administration, and National Association of Manufacturers to analyze manufacturing activity in each state. The study weighed factors such as number of manufacturing establishments, number of manufacturing employees, total value of manufacturing output, total manufacturing exports and manufacturing’s share of a state’s gross domestic product.

Here are Texas’ figures for those categories:

19,526 manufacturing establishments
847,470 manufacturing employees
Total manufacturing output of $292.6 billion
Total manufacturing exports of $291.9 billion
11.3 percent share of state GDP

According to Texas Economic Development & Tourism, the state’s largest manufacturing sectors include automotive, tech, petroleum, chemicals, and food and beverage.

“The Lone Star State is truly a manufacturing powerhouse,” the state agency says.

In an October speech, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott praised the state’s robust manufacturing industry.

“We are proud that Texas is home to a booming manufacturing sector,” he said. “Thanks to our strong manufacturing sector, ‘Made in Texas’ has never been a bigger brand.”

Houston is a cornerstone of Texas’ manufacturing industry. The region produces more than $75 billion worth of goods each year, according to the Greater Houston Partnership. That makes Houston the second-ranked U.S. metro area for manufacturing GDP. The more than 7,000 manufacturing establishments in the area employ over 223,000 people.

“As one of the most important industrial bases in the world, Houston has access to many global markets thanks to its central location within the U.S. and the Americas,” the partnership says.

---

This story originally appeared on our sister site, EnergyCapitalHTX.

Houston's top 25 business and civic leaders named by local organization

HTown leaders

As part of its 25th anniversary celebrations, the Center for Houston’s Future has named its first-ever group of Top 25 Business/Civic Leadership Forum Alumni, including energy transition CEOs and legendary craft brewery founders.

The group was selected from among 1,400 alumni of the Center for Houston's Future's Leadership Forum, which hosts two cohorts per year, bringing together leaders from across industries to focus on issues critical to the long-term success of Greater Houston.

The individuals will be honored throughout the year, starting with an event this Thursday, March 20, at the Junior League of Houston called Leaders for Houston’s Future: Women Who Stand Apart, and culminating in the signature Dinner & Conversation event this fall.

Earlier this year, the organization selected an honor roll of 75 Leaders Who Stand Apart before naming the list of 25. See the honor roll here.

“Both our Top 25 and the honor roll of 75 Leaders are a testament to the amazing group of leaders working for the good of our region every day,” David Gow, the center’s CEO and president, said in a statement. “They are also a reflection of the Center’s historical and ongoing commitment to develop, inspire and connect leaders across all facets of our region.

Gow is the founder and chairman of Gow Media, InnovationMap's parent company.

The Top 25 Business/Civic Leadership Forum Alumni list includes:

Laura Bellows, president and board chairman, W.S. Bellows Construction
Richard Campo, chairman and CEO, Camden Property Trust
Anne Chao, co-founder, Houston Asian American Archive
Donna Cole, founder, president and CEO, Cole Chemical & Distributing
Suzan Deison, CEO, president and founder, Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce
Amanda Edwards, principal, The Community Based Solutions Firm
Bob Eury, retired president and CEO, Central Houston, Inc.
Sidney Evans II, senior advisor, business affairs, Reliant Energy
Roland Garcia, shareholder, Greenberg Traurig LLP
Cullen Geiselman, board chair, Houston Parks Board
Bernard Harris Jr., former NASA astronaut
Winell Herron, senior vice president of public affairs, diversity and environmental affairs, H-E-B
Paul Hobby, founder and managing director, Genesis Park
Laura Jaramillo, executive director, LISC
Melanie Johnson, president and CEO, Collaborative for Children
Laura Murillo, president and CEO, Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Wilhelmina "Beth" Robertson, president, Cockspur, Inc. and Westview Development Inc.
Judson Robinson III, president and CEO, Houston Area Urban League
Kimberly Sterling, principal, Sterling for Good
Y. Ping Sun, of counsel, Yetter Coleman LLP
Bobby Tudor, founder and CEO, Artemis Energy Partners
Brock Wagner, founder, Saint Arnold Brewing Company
Barron Wallace, public finance partner and practice group co-Head, Bracewell LLP
Marc Watts, president, The Friedkin Group
Beth Wolff, founder and chairman, Beth Wolff Realtors

Eury, Sun and Wolff serve on the center’s board of directors.

“I’m grateful to be included on the Top 25,” Wolff said in the release. “I cannot stress enough what an extraordinary opportunity it is to participate in the Leadership Forum and focus on Houston’s future. Fellow cohort members become friends and colleagues working together in service of the community.”

This week's panel will feature Cole, Geiselman and Herron. They will be joined by Lharissa Jacobs, executive director of Fit Houston, who made the top 75 list. Frances Castañeda Dyess, president of the Houston East End Chamber of Commerce, will moderate.

View All Listings

INNOVATIONMAP EMAILS ARE AWESOME