Top stories: Startup moves HQ to Houston, innovation leaders sound off, People's Choice voting opens
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Editor's note:Let's roundup the most-read Houston innovation news from the week. Trending Houston tech and startup articles from InnovationMap and its daily newsletter included the the Houston Innovation Awards People's Choice voting opening, a hardtech company moving into its new Houston-area HQ, and more.
People's Choice: Pick your startup of the year for the 2024 Houston Innovation Awards
Calling all Houstonians — help InnovationMap decide on this year's People's Choice: Startup of the Year winner. Graphic via Gow Media
It's firmly voting season in Houston, and in addition to deciding the nation's next political leaders, the local innovation ecosystem is being called to weigh in on one category for the Houston Innovation Awards.
This year's People's Choice: Startup of the Year voting is officially open online. Read about each company below, then click here to cast your vote. You may vote once per day up until Nov. 8 when the portal closes. The winner will be named at the Nov. 14 event — click here to secure your ticketto see who wins in this and the other dozen categories. Continue reading.
Pick your 2024 Houston Startup of the Year.
Hardtech startup moves into Houston area with new Conroe facility, eyes tests in space
FluxWorks, a hardtech startup, opened its new home-base in Conroe, Texas. Photo courtesy FluxWorks
FluxWorks, a hardtech startup, recently opened its new base of operations in Workhub Developments’ Conroe location.
Founded in College Station by CEO Bryton Praslicka, FluxWorks specializes in making contactless magnetic gears for use in extreme conditions. At 9,000 square feet, the new Conroe facility is a result of discussions with Governor Greg Abbott's office and the Greater Houston Partnership, who introduced the company’s leadership to the Conroe Economic Development Council, encouraging their move, Praslicka tells InnovationMap.
“The pieces of the puzzle were all there, and with the support of the local, state, and federal government, we were thrilled to move to Conroe,” Paslicka says. Continue reading.
Houston sports tech startup aims to optimize unsold resale ticket market with new platform
Looking to score the best deal on your next game ticket? A new Houston-founded app promises to revolutionize the resale market. Photo via Getty Images
Online platforms have long simplified the process of buying, selling, and trading event tickets. But what happens when your tickets don’t sell or when you’re stuck with costly season tickets you can’t use? You might end up giving them away or leaving them unused, leading to a financial loss either way.
This is the challenge that Houstonian Jerin Varkey is willing to address with Offer Approved, a new platform that empowers sellers and buyers, guaranteeing that no seat goes unused.
The idea took root around two years ago when Varkey, a passionate sports fan and season ticket holder, faced a new challenge. After becoming a parent, he found himself unable to attend every game. Frustrated with traditional resale platforms, he quickly realized that high fees and limited time made it difficult to sell all his tickets, causing him to lose money each time. Continue reading.
Top innovation leaders talk Houston's strengths, weaknesses
Clockwise from top left: Jesse Martinez, Adrianne Stone, Phillip Yates, Carlos Estrada, Atul Varadhachary, and Juliana Garaizar. Photos courtesy
The six finalists in this year's Ecosystem Builder category for the Houston Innovation Awards shared many reasons why Houston has been a great place for them to launch their startups.
Still, they've seen first-hand how Houston can grow and change to better support founders like themselves. We asked each to share their thoughts on the strengths and weaknesses of the local innovation ecosystem and about the roles they're playing in the scene's evolution. Scroll down to see what each finalist had to say. Continue reading.
Cancer-fighting Houston lab led by Nobel laureate receives $5M grant at annual event
MD Anderson's lab led by Nobel laureate James Allison has secured a $5 million donation. Photo courtesy of MD Anderson Cancer Center
The James P. Allison Institute at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center scored a $5 million gift at its second annual symposium.
On behalf of Mayor John Whitmire, Oct. 10, 2024 was named “James P. Allison Institute Day,” and it was also the day that the TMC3 Collaborative Building in the Texas Medical Center’s Helix Park greeted 900 attendees for the scientific symposium, entitled “Immunotherapy in Space and Time: The Tumor Microenvironment.”
Allison, who won the Nobel Prize in 2018, leads his namesake institute that was founded in 2022 to advance translational and clinical within cancer to create new, synergetic therapies. In addition to his role as director of the institute, he is regental professor and chair of Immunology at MD Anderson. Continue reading.