3 Houston innovators to know this week

who's who

This week's roundup of Houston innovators includes Erica Sinner of DanceKard, Angela Wilkins of Rice University, and Gina Luna of GP Capital Partners. Courtesy photos

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

Erica Sinner, founder of DanceKard

Houston-based DanceKard is focused on getting singles off the endless swiping in order to make lasting connections and relationships. Photo courtesy of DanceKard

A proud Houstonian, Erica Sinner, whose background is in commercial real estate, was interested in creating a dating app that brought in local businesses. She launched DanceKard with several different offerings — all geared at driving in-person connections. Users can join the app to find events — not necessarily singles-specific events, although those are an option, but meetups where you know a certain number of singles will be in attendance.

"We focus a lot on group dating," Sinner explains. "That's something nobody does."

Singles, along with their single friends, can indicate on the app that they are interested in four, six, or eight-person dates, and see if their are other groups of friends looking to connect. Click here to read more.

Angela Wilkins, executive director of the Ken Kennedy Institute at Rice University

"Better and personalized healthcare through AI is still a hugely challenging problem that will take an army of scientists and engineers." Photo courtesy

Angela Wilkins, executive director of the Ken Kennedy Institute at Rice University, knows data and artificial intelligence can hold bias. It is, after all, designed by humans who have biases whether they know it or not. An issue with this is when these biases affect health care.

"AI presents the opportunity to bring greater personalization to healthcare, but it equally presents the risk of entrenching existing inequalities. We have the opportunity in front of us to take a considered approach to data collection, regulation, and use that will provide a fuller and fairer picture and enable the next steps for AI in healthcare," Wilkins writes in her guest column. Click here to read more.

Gina Luna, partner at GP Capital Partners

Gina Luna joins the Houston Innovators Podcast this week. Photo courtesy of Gina Luna

For most of Gina Luna's career, which includes two decades at JP Morgan before running her own strategic consulting firm, her bread and butter has been working with privately held, lower-middle market companies. Her latest endeavor is no different.

Luna — along with Paul Hobby, and Peter Shaper at Genesis Park — have joined forces to create GP Capital Partners, a new $275 million fund structured as a Small Business Investment Company. The fund will deploy funding into 20 to 25 companies within the region.

"The four of us just thought there was a real opportunity to bring this kind of capital to middle market companies in Houston, Texas, an the Gulf Coast region," Luna says on this week's episode of the Houston Innovators Podcast. "We have already seen, even in the relatively early days, there is a need an an opportunity to invest in great companies, and we are really excited to be doing that." Click here to read more and stream the podcast.

Houston-based DanceKard is focused on getting singles off the endless swiping in order to make lasting connections and relationships. Photo courtesy of DanceKard

Houston entrepreneur is flipping the switch on online dating with new app

so over swiping

Like most people who are single and looking for a relationship, Erica Sinner is familiar with the dating apps. She's swiped and messaged with men in her area, but has little to show for it other than comically lazy responses from not-so potential soulmates.

Then Sinner had an idea. What if there was a platform that encouraged meetups and group dates and limited in-app conversations? An anti-dating app platform that took users off their phones, paused endless swiping, and also gave local businesses — bars, restaurants, etc. — a chance to host events or generate new business?

Then she thought, why not create it herself? Sinner started DanceKard to fill this need within the dating app landscape. After a soft launch a couple months ago, the app has over 170 users on the platform and recently joined gBETA's early-stage accelerator program.

"I think people forgot how great an in-person meeting is whenever you're getting to know someone," Sinner tells InnovationMap. "I love the fact that dating apps have made it easier to meet people, but at the end of the day, after you spend three days or a week talking to someone and then you meet them in person, and there's just something you don't like."

Sinner explains it like reading the book before seeing the movie — everyone is going to seem better when you build them up in your head.

"I've found, personally, there are guys who I met in person who are amazing, and I just wouldn't have thought that if I saw them online first," she says.

The name is a callback to when women connected with their suitors at a local dance. Women penciled in dances with their gentlemen callers, and that's how they got to know them — through a spin around the dancefloor.

"We're the modern day version of that type of dating," Sinner says, with less dancing but right in line with generating in-person conenctions.

A proud Houstonian, Sinner, whose background is in commercial real estate, was interested in bringing in local businesses from the start. DanceKard has several different offerings — all geared at driving in-person connections. Users can join the app to find events — not necessarily singles-specific events, although those are an option, but meetups where you know a certain number of singles will be in attendance.

"We focus a lot on group dating," Sinner explains. "That's something nobody does."

Singles, along with their single friends, can indicate on the app that they are interested in four, six, or eight-person dates, and see if their are other groups of friends looking to connect.

DanceKard also provides discounts and deals at its business partners' establishments. This drives business while also making deciding where to meet up a lot easier — and affordable.

"Everyone knows dating can get expensive — especially for the guys," Sinner says. "So, daters can go out on these dates and use a discount."

At the end of the day, DanceKard and Sinner are laser focused on creating relationships for their users. Modern dating has been defined by swiping on apps or drinking in bars, but that doesn't have to be your only options. DanceKard's events and opportunities will be more than just at bars — users can meet at the museum or the zoo and have an activity to connect with others over.

"People are looking for things other than drinking," she says. "They're realizing that if they are going to a bar where there are singles, that doesn't equate to a relationship."

For now, she's also focused on her hometown of Houston and is really being intentional about supporting local businesses and Houstonians themselves.

"Houston is a great opportunity," she says. "It's not about me, it's about this town. We have great people and great businesses."

Here's what companies are in the latest cohort for gBETA. Photo courtesy of gBETA

Early-stage accelerator announces 5 startups to its fall 2021 Houston cohort

ready to grow

An early-stage accelerator has picked its latest cohort of five Houston companies.

The Fall 2020 cohort of gBETA Houston includes:

     
  • AllIDoIsCook is founded by Tobi Smith and focused on exposing the world to Africa's cuisine by manufacturing gourmet food products delivered directly to customer doors and available at grocers. Since launching, AllIDoIsCook has built out a manufacturing facility, shipped over 8,000 boxes and generated $1.1 million in revenue all without outside funding.
  • Chasing Watts makes it easy for cyclists to coordinate or find rides with fellow riders in their area with its web-based and native application. The company has over 3,000 users and grew 135 percent from Q2 to Q3 in new ride views.
  • DanceKard, founded by Erica Sinner, is a new dating platform that connects individuals and groups with one another by bringing the date to the forefront of the conversation and making scheduling faster and easier with special promotions featuring local establishments. Since launching in August of 2021, DanceKard has over 170 users on the platform.
  • Dollarito is a digital lending platform that helps the low-income Hispanic population with no credit history or low FICO score access fair credit. Founded by Carmen Roman, Dollarito applies AI into banking, transactional and behavioral data to evaluate the repayment capability more accurately than using FICO scores. The company has1,000 users on their waitlist and plans to beta test with 100 or more customers in early 2022.
  • SeekerPitch, founded by Samantha Hepler, operates with the idea that jobseekers' past job titles and resumes are not always indicative of their true capabilities. Launched last month, SeekerPitch empowers companies to see who jobseekers are as people, and get to know them through comprehensive profiles and virtual speed interviews, and the company already has 215 jobseekers and 20 companies on the platform, with one pilot at University of Houston and three more in the pipeline.

The companies kicked off their cohort in person on October 18, and the program concludes on December 14 with the gBETA Houston Fall 2021 Pitch Night. At this event, each company will present their five-minute pitch to an audience of mentors, investors, and community members.

"The five founding teams selected for our gBETA Houston Fall 2021 cohort are tackling unique problems they have each experienced personally, from finding access to cultural foods, fitness communities and authentic dating experiences to challenges with non-inclusive financing and hiring practices," says Kate Evinger, director of gBETA Houston, in the release. "The grit and passion these individuals bring to their roles as founders will undoubtedly have a tremendous impact in the Houston community and beyond."

The accelerator has supported 15 Houston startups since it launched in Houston in early 2020. The program, which is free and hosted out of the Downtown Launchpad, is under the umbrella of Madison, Wisconsin-based international accelerator, gener8tor.

"Downtown Launchpad is an innovation hub like no other, and I am so proud of what it is already and what it will become," says Robert Pieroni, director of economic development at Central Houston Inc., in the release. "The five startups selected for the gBETA Houston Fall 2021 cohort are exploring new challenges that can become high-impact Houston businesses."

gBETA announced its plan to launch in Houston in September 2019. The program's inaugural cohort premiered in May and conducted the first program this summer completely virtually. The second cohort took place last fall, and the third ran earlier this year.

"These founders are building their companies and benefiting from the resources Downtown Launchpad provides," Pieroni continues, "and the proof is in the data – companies in these programs are creating jobs, growing their revenues and exponentially increasing their funding, which means these small starts up of today, working in Downtown Launchpad, are growing into the successful companies of tomorrow."

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Digital Health Institute's new exec director aims to lead innovation and commercialization efforts

new hire

Though our existences have become deeply entangled with technology, our health has been slower to catch up. The creation late last year of the Digital Health Institute was a major step into the future for both Rice University and Houston Methodist, for whom the institute is a joint venture.

The latest news for the Digital Health Institute is the appointment of Pothik Chatterjee to the role of executive director.

“The Digital Health Institute’s collaborative model is uniquely powerful,” Chatterjee told Rice University’s office of media relations. “By bringing together clinicians, engineers and entrepreneurs, we’re building an ecosystem designed to transform how care is delivered and experienced.”

Chatterjee’s role is to help grow the collaboration between the institutions, but the Digital Health Institute already boasts more than 20 active projects, each of which pairs Rice faculty and Methodist clinicians.

“Research is great, but what we really want at the Digital Health Institute is to translate those research findings into products and services that can be used at the patient's bedside,” Chatterjee explained to InnovationMap.

Once the research is in place, it’s up to Chatterjee to find commercial opportunities within the research portfolio. Those include everything from hospital-grade medical imaging wearables to the creation of digital twins for patients to help better treat them.

“As we move from vision to execution, Pothik’s expertise will be essential in helping us strengthen the institutional alignment needed to deliver at scale,” Dr. Khurram Nasir, Methodist’s William A. Zoghbi Centennial Chair in Cardiovascular Medicine and division chief of cardiovascular prevention and wellness, told Rice. “From my vantage point of a health system, the real value lies not just in innovation, but in implementation.”

Nasir’s co-founder is Ashutosh Sabharwal, Rice’s Ernest Dell Butcher Professor of Engineering and professor of electrical and computer engineering.

“The Digital Health Institute is a key step toward advancing health and health care for the benefit of humanity,” Sabharwal said. “We’re thrilled to welcome Pothik to our growing team. His background in health care innovation, research administration and venture investing will be instrumental in translating cutting-edge research into impactful digital health solutions. From leading innovation strategy and forging strong partnerships to driving fundraising and grant development, his leadership will help shape the institute’s long-term success.”

Though Chatterjee has previously worked around the country, including in Boston and Baltimore, he says he believes Houston is uniquely positioned to thrive in the digital health space.

“Houston is the best place to do it, because we have Rice and Houston Methodist,” he told InnovationMap. “[People] want to help keep that innovation in Houston, not just send it off to Silicon Valley or New York or Boston. There seems to be a lot of appetite from the philanthropic community to have homegrown Houston digital health innovation.”

Reliant’s smart new bundle puts energy savings + insights into one app

Two companies known for innovation in energy and home automation, Reliant and Vivint, have teamed up to launch the Smarter Home Bundle: a powerful new offering that simplifies home energy management and enhances everyday living for Texans.

With smart technology, seamless app integration, and added energy savings, this bundle marks a major leap forward in how homeowners manage their comfort, security, and electricity usage.

What’s included in the Smarter Home Bundle?
Qualifying current and new Reliant electricity customers can take advantage of this premium bundle, which includes:

  • A free Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro with Smart Deter™ technology that detects deliveries and deters theft
  • A free Vivint Smart Thermostat, designed to integrate with HVAC systems for efficient temperature control
  • White-glove professional installation from Vivint Smart Home Pros
  • Access to an exclusive Vivint app experience, combining smart device controls and personalized energy insights powered by Reliant

All this is included at no additional cost with enrollment in the Smarter Home Bundle.

 Reliant Smarter Home Bundle Let the pros handle installation.Photo courtesy of Reliant

A unified, smarter home

Reliant and Vivint, both NRG companies, are offering the Smarter Home Bundle as an all-in-one solution for customers looking to streamline home management. By combining smart home security features with advanced energy tools, users gain greater control, comfort, and peace of mind. With one app, customers can monitor their home, manage devices, and track energy use — anytime, anywhere.

According to recent NRG Consumer research, nearly 70% of people want a single platform to manage their smart homes. The Vivint app, which averages 16 daily interactions, delivers exactly that.

Designed for savings and simplicity
Energy efficiency isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a key feature of the Smarter Home Bundle. As more households adopt smart devices (45% in 2024, up from 10% a decade ago), this bundle gives users tools that help cut energy use and potentially lower bills. In fact, 72% of surveyed users cite savings as the top benefit of smart home technology after safety.

The Vivint Smart Thermostat plays a major role here. It not only learns users' habits but also integrates with Reliant’s Degrees of Difference program, adjusting temperatures slightly during peak electricity demand. These small changes can have a big impact on grid stability — especially in hot Texas summers — without sacrificing comfort. Customers remain in control at all times and can override temperature changes in the app or manually if needed.

 Reliant Smarter Home Bundle Manage everything with one app.Graphic courtesy of Reliant

Powering the future with virtual power plants
The Smarter Home Bundle also contributes to Reliant’s growing residential virtual power plant (VPP) network. VPPs are a forward-thinking approach to grid management that leverage small-scale energy resources — like smart thermostats, home batteries, and electric vehicles — to balance electricity demand across thousands of homes.

With Texas experiencing record-high energy loads (85 gigwatts in 2023), this kind of coordination is critical to ensuring a stable and reliable power grid, especially during extreme weather events.

“By bringing together innovative leaders like Reliant and Vivint, we are providing smarter, more efficient energy solutions for Texans,” says Mark Parsons, senior vice president, NRG Consumer. “The Reliant Smarter Home Bundle combines our electricity plans with advanced technology, empowering Texans to take control of their energy usage and simplify home management. We are excited to roll out additional features in the coming months at no cost, all designed to help our customers manage their home’s comfort, security, and energy usage, all in one place.”

Learn more and enroll here.

Houston startups win NASA funding for space tech projects

fresh funding

Three Houston startups were granted awards from NASA this month to develop new technologies for the space agency.

The companies are among nearly 300 recipients that received a total agency investment of $44.85 million through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I grant programs, according to NASA.

Each selected company will receive $150,000 and, based on their progress, will be eligible to submit proposals for up to $850,000 in Phase II funding to develop prototypes.

The SBIR program lasts for six months and contracts small businesses. The Houston NASA 2025 SBIR awardees include:

Solidec Inc.

  • Principal investigator: Yang Xia
  • Proposal: Highly reliable and energy-efficient electrosynthesis of high-purity hydrogen peroxide from air and water in a nanobubble facilitated porous solid electrolyte reactor

Rarefied Studios LLC

  • Principal investigator: Kyle Higdon
  • Proposal: Plume impingement module for autonomous proximity operations

The STTR program contracts small businesses in partnership with a research institution and lasts for 13 months. The Houston NASA 2025 STTR awardees include:

Affekta LLC

  • Principal investigator: Hedinn Steingrimsson
  • Proposal: Verifiable success in handling unknown unknowns in space habitat simulations and a cyber-physical system

Solidec and Affekta have ties to Rice University.

Solidec extracts molecules from water and air, then transforms them into pure chemicals and fuels that are free of carbon emissions. It was co-founded by Rice professor Haotian Wang and and was an Innovation Fellow at Rice’s Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. It was previouslt selected for Chevron Technology Ventures’ catalyst program, a Rice One Small Step grant, a U.S. Department of Energy grant, and the first cohort of the Activate Houston program.

Affekta, an AI course, AI assistance and e-learning platform, was a part of Rice's OwlSpark in 2023.

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