Editor's Picks: 7 favorite Houston Innovator Podcast episodes of 2024

year in review

The ultimate who's who of 2024 — these are our favorite Houston Innovators Podcast guests of last year. Photos courtesy

Editor's note: This year, recorded over 40 episodes of the Houston Innovators Podcast — a weekly discussion with a Houston innovator, startup founder, investor, and more. I've rounded up seven podcast episodes that stood out for me looking back at the year of recordings. Scroll through to see whom I selected and stream their individual episodes, and tune into the last episode of the year where I explain why I enjoyed each conversation.



Episode 220 - Better than just 'inclusive' - Denise Hamilton of WatchHerWork

Houstonian Denise Hamilton is coming out with a book she hopes helps leaders reach beyond inclusivity. Photo courtesy of WatchHerWork

Denise Hamilton says she's been used to looking around and realizing she's the only woman or African American in the room, and for the past nine years, she's been providing resources and education to trailblazing women like her. Now, she wants to prepare current and future leaders on how to go beyond inclusivity and work toward indivisibility.

Hamilton's book, "Indivisible: How to Forge Our Differences into a Stronger Future," publishes February 6 from Countryman Press. She explains that the book comes from years of her on personal experiences, as well as inspiration from the women she's met with her company, WatchHerWork, multimedia digital platform providing advice and resources for professional women.

"I've learned a lot of lessons about what skills work, what behaviors are not intuitive, and built WatchHerWork with the intention of creating a space where people can get all of that advice — and juicy goodness — so that they can learn what they needed to do to be authentically successful," Hamilton says on the Houston Innovators Podcast.

"This led to me being brought in as a speaker, and ultimately has led to me becoming an author," she continues. "It's always shocking when people want to listen to what you want to say. It's unbelievable." Continue reading the original article.

Episode 231 - Fostering a collaborative energy transition ecosystem - Barbara Burger

Houston energy leader Barbara Burger joins the Houston Innovators Podcast to discuss the energy transition's biggest challenges and her key takeaways from CERAWeek. Photo courtesy

When Barbara Burger moved to Houston a little over a decade ago to lead Chevron Technology Ventures, she wondered why the corporate venture group didn't have much representation from the so-called energy capital of the world.

“I had no companies in my portfolio in CTV from Houston, and I wondered why,” Burger says on the Houston Innovators Podcast.

Much has changed in the ecosystem since then, she says, including growth and development to what the community looks like now.

“There are a few things I’m proud of in the ecosystem here, and one of theme is that it’s a very inclusive ecosystem,” she explains, adding that she means the types of founders — from universities or corporate roles — and the incumbent energy companies. “The worst way to get people to not join a party is to not invite them.”

“No one company or organization is going to solve this. We have to get along,” she continues. “We have to stop thinking that the mode is to compete with each other because the pie is so big and the opportunity is so big to work together — and by and large I do see that happening.”Continue reading the original article.

Episode 233 - How a Houston angel earns their wings - Mitra Miller of Houston Angel Network

Mitra Miller, vice president and board member of the Houston Angel Network, joins the Houston Innovators Podcast to share her passion for growing angel investors in Houston. Photo via LinkedIn

One of the biggest components of a well-functioning startup ecosystem is inarguably access to capital, and Mitra Miller is dedicated to enhancing education around investment and growing Houston's investor base.

As vice president and board member of the Houston Angel Network, the oldest angel network in Texas and one of the most active angel networks in the country, Miller strives to provide guidance to new and emerging angel investors as well as founders seeking to raise money from them.

"Most founders have no idea or understanding of how investors think — we are not an ATM," Miller says on the Houston Innovators Podcast. "We are really partners you are getting married to for the next 5, 8, 10 years — sometimes longer. We need to bring your allies in every sense of the word." Continue reading the original article.


Episode 237 - Gearing up for 100x growth - Tim Latimer of Fervo Energy

Tim Latimer, CEO and co-founder of Fervo Energy, joins the Houston Innovators Podcast. Photo courtesy of Fervo Energy

Geothermal energy has been growing in recognition as a major player in the clean energy mix, and while many might think of it as a new climatetech solution, Tim Latimer, co-founder and CEO of Fervo Energy, knows better.

"Every overnight success is a decade in the making, and I think Fervo, fortunately — and geothermal as a whole — has become much more high profile recently as people realize that it can be a tremendous solution to the challenges that our energy sector and climate are facing," he says on the Houston Innovators Podcast.

In fact, Latimer has been bullish on geothermal as a clean energy source since he quit his job as a drilling engineer in oil and gas to pursue a dual degree program — MBA and master's in earth sciences — at Stanford University. He had decided that, with the reluctance of incumbent energy companies to try new technologies, he was going to figure out how to start his own company. Through the Stanford program and Activate, a nonprofit hardtech program that funded two years of Fervo's research and development, Latimer did just that. Continue reading the original article.

Episode 248 - Houston's beating heart - Dr. William Cohn of The Texas Heart Institute

Dr. William Cohn is the chief medical officer for BiVACOR, a medical device company creating the first total artificial heart. Photo via TMC

It's hard to understate the impact Dr. William Cohn has had on cardiovascular health as a surgeon at the Texas Heart Institute or on health care innovation as the director of the Center for Device Innovation at the Texas Medical Center. However, his role as chief medical officer of BiVACOR might be his most significant contribution to health care yet.

The company's Total Artificial Heart is unlike any cardiovascular device that's existed, Cohn explains on the Houston Innovators Podcast. While most devices are used temporarily for patients awaiting a heart transplant, BiVACOR's TAH has the potential to be a permanent solution for the 200,000 patients who die of heart failure annually. Last year, only around 4,000 patients were able to receive heart transplants.

"Artificial hearts historically have had bladders that ejected and filled 144,000 times a day. They work great for temporary support, but no one is suggesting they are permanent devices," Cohn says on the show. Continue reading the original article.

Episode 251 - Building enduring innovation ecosystems - Jon Norby of Anthropy Partners and EconWerx

Jon Nordby's career has been focused on cultivating a culture for innovation, and now he's focused on human potential technology opportunities. Photo courtesy

In his role overseeing startup accelerators for MassChallenge, Jon Nordby started noticing one industry vertical stood out in terms of success and opportunities: Human potential. Now, Nordby is a founding member of an investment firm looking for those opportunities.

Nordby, who served in various leadership roles at MassChallenge — including managing director and head of ecosystems — said he started realizing the opportunities within the organization's space and sports tech programs.

"What we realized over a couple of years running the program was that sports tech as a theme was too limiting," Nordby says on the Houston Innovators Podcast. "We were finding really great technologies, but we were limited at the market size of teams and leagues to deploy those technologies."

"Over the course of that program, we found that the things that were related more to human health and performance tended to out perform all of the other things related to sports tech — like media, entertainment, gambling," Nordby continues. "Still really great markets for those technologies, but we found a lot more traction for human performance." Continue reading the original article.

Episode 263 - Maintaining a legacy of innovation - Reginald DesRoches of Rice University

Rice University President Reginald DesRoches joins the Houston Innovators Podcast to discuss balancing tradition with growth, innovation, and global impact in education. Photo courtesy Tommy LaVergne/Rice University

How does a historic university maintain its legacy while still making room for growth and increased opportunities? That's what Rice University President Reginald DesRoches considers with every decision he makes.

"It's this idea of preserving what's special about the university, while also knowing we need to adapt to a new time, a new Rice, a new time in higher ed, and a new time in society," DesRoches says on the Houston Innovators Podcast. "There's a healthy tension between preserving what Rice is known for — the culture of care, the close-knit community — while knowing that we need to grow, have a global impact, and position Rice on a global scale. It's something that's constantly in my mind to make sure we do both." Continue reading the original article.


Get to know the Houston Innovation Awards Community Champion Organization finalists. Photo via Getty Images

These are 6 of the organizations best supporting Houston's innovation community

houston innovation awards

It takes a village to launch, run, and grow an innovative startup.

And from helping founders gain access to capital to promoting diversity, offering mentorship and hosting pitch events, demo days and more, this year's six Community Champion Organization finalists are part of that village. Learn about each of the finalists and what drives them to support the Houston innovation ecosystem in the interviews below.

Click here to secure your tickets to the Houston Innovation Awards this Thursday, November 14, where we will announce the winner.

Energy Tech Nexus

Describe your company's work within the Houston innovation ecosystem.

Energy Tech Nexus is a new global energy and carbon tech hub focusing on hard tech solutions that started January 1, 2024, when Jason Ethier and Juliana Garaizar left Greentown Labs to create a Houston-headquartered climate hub serving as a global landing pad for energy and carbon tech stakeholders. Since then, 90 entrepreneurs have joined, of which 70 percent are underrepresented and 20 are international. Our ETN Grand Opening on September 10 showcased 50 of its companies as well as programs from Canada with TechNL, Australia with Austrade, and MassChallenge with 521 attendees total. Energy Tech Nexus provides mentor, accelerator and educational programs for entrepreneurs and underserved communities, partnering with entities like Houston Community College and Econwerx, plus national networks such as VentureWell, the LatinX Startup Alliance, and Browning the Green Space and global networks Impact Hub and U.S. Spain Executive Committee (USEC).

Why has your company decided to support the Houston innovation ecosystem?

Energy Tech Nexus was specifically created to support the evolving Houston innovation ecosystem in energy transition with a more Houston-centric and inclusive approach regarding the oil and gas industry. ETN's hands-on approach is very data-driven and results-oriented with a customized approach for every entrepreneur, depending on the stage of their startup/scaleup. ETN also extensively uses peer learning from key expert entrepreneurs or Fellow members who are in charge of creating events and animating the ecosystem.

Describe your company's impact on the Houston innovation ecosystem.

Since ETN's inception, its members have secured over $200 million in funding, given pilot demonstrations, and five grants. ETN has also become a landing pad for international companies from Latin America, Canada, Europe, Israel and Australia and will soon be expanding in Chile and Spain. Even before its soft-opening at the old EDPR offices at the Esperson Building downtown, ETN had already onboarded 30 members and organized a mission with 18 of them to Spain for the Energy Tech Summit, fully sponsored by the Basque Government, where they all met with the key Spanish players in the global energy transition. ETN was also granted an SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Competition Stage 1 award with ImpactHub Houston to develop the Houston Equitable Energy Transition Alliance that successfully launched on July 1 and had its Pilothon Pitch event during ETN's Grand Opening.

Who is the person/people leading your company's innovation team?

Jason Ethier has been leading ETN's innovation team with very novel approaches in data management and insights generation.

Greentown Labs Houston

Describe your company's work within the Houston innovation ecosystem.

Greentown Labs Houston opened on Earth Day 2021 as the city's first-ever climatetech startup incubator. With 30 members from the onset and anchoring supporters from the community, such as Greater Houston Partnership and 17 strategic corporations as founding partners—including Shell, Engie and Chevron—we've played a key convener for the energy transition and climatetech community ever since. Now, with three years of deep community engagement in the Houston area and many more partners and startups supported through local Greentown Houston programming, we've proudly supported more than 160 startups at Greentown Houston and have welcomed 22 new startups in 2024 alone. We recently played a key, anchor role in the city's first-ever Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week. We can't wait to see how the week-long event series will grow next year.

Why has your company decided to support the Houston innovation ecosystem?

Greentown Labs opened its second location in Houston because we believe it is the best place to broaden our impact and help accelerate the energy transition through climatetech entrepreneurship in partnership with the nation’s fourth largest city and the world-leading energy organizations headquartered there. We want to be an on-the-ground catalyst for the energy transition in Houston—for the entrepreneurs and innovators, organizations and communities that have already begun the transition and to spark new change for those who have yet to engage. Greentown Labs believes we can not solve climate change from the coasts—it’s critical to engage the talent and energy of all other major ecosystems around the country, especially in the middle of the country. We need all hands on deck at this time. We aim for Greentown Houston to be a place for convening climatetech startups, investors, corporate partners, partners, students and other stakeholders working in climatetech and energy transition innovation in Houston.

Describe your company's impact on the Houston innovation ecosystem.

Most recently, Greentown Houston was proud to serve as an anchoring partner on the first-ever Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week alongside Halliburton Labs and Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship. But on an ongoing basis, Greentown Houston serves as a convener of the ecosystem—regularly hosting events. Our Transition on Tap networking event has become a regular event on many innovators' calendars. We run the Houston Ion District Investor Activation Program in partnership with the Ion to bring more early-stage investors in the Houston region into the climatetech ecosystem. We've successfully run two years of our ACCEL accelerator program, which supports underrepresented founders developing climatetech solutions—many of the participants are Houston-based startups. We regularly publish a Pilot Digest, which highlights our startup member companies that are actively seeking pilot partners in Houston and beyond. And we regularly host fundraising training sessions for our startups.

Who is the person/people leading your company's innovation team?

Timmeko Moore Love leads Greentown Houston as Greentown Labs’ first Houston general manager and senior vice president. She previously served as the first Black woman in the Fortune 500 to lead a venture capital program and ... brings deep industry and venture expertise.

Houston Angel Network

Describe your company's work within the Houston innovation ecosystem.

For over two decades, HAN has supported the innovation ecosystem of Houston with capital, connections, and counsel for startups and founders. Through our events and active involvement in early-stage incubators, accelerators, and mentoring programs, we educate Houstonians about the role that early-stage capital plays in fueling innovation. We also give accredited investors access to startup deals in which they can invest, both locally and nationally.

Why has your company decided to support the Houston innovation ecosystem?

Following in the footsteps of one of our founders, Paul Frison, HAN members love innovation and want to support it. Some HAN members are entrepreneurs with successful exits, whereas others are intrapreneurs who helped bring innovation to Fortune 500 companies. We have a shared passion for “the future,” and as investors believe we can use a portion of our capital to support meaningful change.

Describe your company's impact on the Houston innovation ecosystem.

HAN is one of the best sources for startup capital in Houston, with a diverse group of 100 members across many specialties. We hold monthly pitch meetings, quarterly educational socials, and other events where founders and funders can connect. HAN was the launch pad for some of the most talented investors in Houston. The learning and connections made at HAN (both by members and staff) led to the funding and/or founding of Mercury Fund, Artemis Fund, Texas HALO Fund, GOOSE Capital, and others. This year, HAN launched a strategic relationship with the University of Houston so that more UH alumni can become early-stage investors, mentors, and advisors. HAN also hosts educational events that are open to the public, including Aerospace Investing, Energy Investing, Women on Boards and multiple Angel 101 programs. HAN actively collaborates with other angel groups in Texas to help get more deals funded in Texas. In addition to investing, many HAN members have become advisors, board members, and CEOs of early-stage companies, both in Houston and beyond.

Who is the person/people leading your company's innovation team?

Our leadership team includes Eric Schneider, Eric Alfuth, Mitra Miller, and Rezwan Mirza as officers, and Samia Ahsan as managing director.

Impact Hub Houston

Describe your company's work within the Houston innovation ecosystem.

We provide a platform for collaboration, networking, and knowledge sharing. This community-centric approach fosters a supportive environment where ideas can flourish and partnerships can thrive. We are dedicated to supporting early-stage ventures at various stages of development. Our programs cater to entrepreneurs from ideation to scaling stages, equipping them with the resources, mentorship and networks needed to succeed. Impact Hub Houston designs and implements innovative programs that address pressing societal issues. From tackling healthcare disparities to promoting sustainable practices, our programs aim to create positive social change through entrepreneurship and innovation. These initiatives not only drive economic growth but also enhance the quality of life for Houstonians. Impact Hub Houston also serves as a catalyst for advocacy and thought leadership in the innovation space. We advocate for policies that support entrepreneurship and social impact, amplifying the voices of our community members on critical issues. Our thought leadership initiatives, including editorial content and public engagements, contribute to shaping the future of innovation in Houston and beyond.

Why has your company decided to support the Houston innovation ecosystem?

Impact Hub Houston's decision to support the Houston innovation ecosystem is deeply rooted in our mission to empower and connect change-makers, entrepreneurs and social innovators who are committed to solving the most pressing challenges facing our communities. Houston, as one of the most diverse and rapidly growing cities in the U.S., provides a fertile ground for innovation across multiple sectors, and we believe that an inclusive, collaborative ecosystem is key to unlocking its full potential. Our commitment stems from several core reasons, including but not limited to:

  1. Leveraging Houston’s diversity for innovation: We see this diversity as an asset to the innovation ecosystem, fostering creativity and inclusive problem-solving. Impact Hub Houston’s work centers around ensuring that innovators from all backgrounds, especially those from historically underrepresented communities, have the resources, support, and connections they need to thrive.
  2. Addressing Local and Global Challenges: Houston is a city of significant opportunity but also faces challenges in areas like health care, climate resilience, social justice, and education. We believe that the innovation ecosystem here has the potential to develop solutions that not only address local challenges but also have global implications.
  3. Closing the Gaps in Access and Opportunity: Despite its opportunities, Houston’s innovation ecosystem still reflects gaps in access to capital, mentorship, and resources, particularly for entrepreneurs of color, women, and other marginalized groups. Impact Hub Houston exists to level the playing field and provide equitable access to the innovation pipeline.

Describe your company's impact on the Houston innovation ecosystem.

We mobilize problem solvers to use their knowledge, skills and technology to address community challenges, demonstrating our commitment to local impact while also providing a global reach for Houston innovators. Our work extends to supporting underrepresented communities, and we work with public and private stakeholders to promote sustainable business practices that prioritize economic development, environmental stewardship and social equity.

Who is the person/people leading your company's innovation team?

Grace Rodriguez, CEO and executive director of Impact Hub Houston, leads a team that consists of Deputy Director and Co-founder of Impact Hub Houston Michelle Avalos and Community Catalyst Akeel Bernard.

Microsoft

Describe your company's work within the Houston innovation ecosystem.

Microsoft's day-to-day work is innovation, so it is only natural that we want to support the local innovation ecosystem in the cities where we operate. Our work in fostering innovation begins in middle school and continues to entrepreneurship and corporate innovation. We focus heavily on innovation in underserved communities and support for underrepresented founders. And we also have been working hard to bolster the climate tech and sustainability sectors in Houston.

Why has your company decided to support the Houston innovation ecosystem?

Our presence in Houston empowers us to better serve our customers, give employees the choice of staying close to personal networks and family, establish strong civic engagement programs that are aligned with Microsoft’s core values and more. Houston is a vibrant city where many of our consumer and business customers live and conduct business. Having a finger on the pulse of innovation where they are helping us support their needs. The Ion and the collaborative work environment we aim to foster will help us build deeper ties with Houston and the university systems, as well as others driving transformational initiatives locally. Furthermore, Houston has also been described as the most racially and ethnically diverse major metropolis in the U.S. All this makes Houston the perfect place to find and develop talent for Microsoft in a place where we can be close to our customers. The Ion itself is focused on tapping into this diversity, which is one of the reasons we chose to locate there.

Describe your company's impact on the Houston innovation ecosystem.

Microsoft is a Terrawatt sponsor of Greentown Labs and we have a separate sponsorship for the Accel program for BIPOC founders. We are a sponsor of the Ion and Rice Alliance. We also sponsor local innovation events like Climate Tech Startup Week, Tech Fest Live, and AfroTech. We seek to promote and empower founders. As an example, we invited 9 startups with underrepresented founders or CEOs to join us for CERAWeek and present in our Agora House. These founders made incredible connections throughout the week. We bring our employees into all of the programs we sponsor. Whether it is office hours for founders, one-on-one mentoring, or making industry connections, our people are helping. We take this all the way back to school, where we support organizations like SuperGirls Shine Foundation and Prairie View A&M. We also have Minority Student Day at the Ion, a summer program for students, and more. Microsoft also hosts or is involved in hundreds of local events. It's impossible to list them all, but our people are involved and doing their best to grow the ecosystem.

Who is the person/people leading your company's innovation team?

Rob Schapiro leads the office and he and his team work closely with our local Employee Resource Groups, our venture teams, and Microsoft for Startups. Amy Mueller Reynolds is our business manager who leads a lot of this work. Success has come from having a clear mission and focusing on a few programs where we could make an impact.

University of Houston Technology Bridge

Describe your company's work within the Houston innovation ecosystem.

The University of Houston has made significant strides in supporting and nurturing the startup ecosystem, both within the university and across the broader Houston region. Its efforts are designed to foster entrepreneurship, innovation and commercialization of new technologies, with a particular focus on leveraging its research capabilities and diverse student body. The Tech Bridge is a major hub for startup support and innovation. This 70-acre research park, located near the university campus, is designed to be a collaborative space for researchers, entrepreneurs and industry leaders. The Tech Bridge offers incubation and acceleration programs, commercialization support and industry collaboration.

Why has your company decided to support the Houston innovation ecosystem?

UH has made a strategic decision to support innovation and entrepreneurship for several key reasons that align with its mission to serve its students, the Houston community, and society at large. The primary motivations include but are not limited to:

  1. Economic Impact and Regional Growth: By supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, UH contributes to the city’s economic diversification and growth. Promoting startups and new ventures helps drive job creation, attracts investment, and strengthens Houston’s position as a center for innovation.
  2. Aligning with Houston’s Transition to a Knowledge Economy: As the global economy shifts towards knowledge-based industries, cities like Houston are diversifying beyond traditional sectors like oil and gas. UH recognizes that fostering innovation and entrepreneurship is critical to Houston's economic transition. UH plays a crucial role in helping the city remain competitive in emerging industries.
  3. Leveraging Research and Commercialization: UH is a research-intensive institution, with significant investments in areas like energy, healthcare, advanced materials, and data science. Supporting innovation and entrepreneurship enables the university to translate its cutting-edge research into real-world applications.

Describe your company's impact on the Houston innovation ecosystem.

The UH Technology Bridge has had a profound impact on Houston's innovation ecosystem by providing a dynamic environment where startups, researchers, and industry can collaborate, grow, and bring new technologies to market. The UH Technology Bridge hosts incubator and accelerator programs designed to help early-stage startups and research-based companies commercialize their innovations. These programs provide access to office and lab spaces, investment opportunities, networking and pilot and testing opportunities, commercialization support, collaborations and partnerships. Energy startups can collaborate with the university's energy research institutes, test prototypes, and pilot new technologies in UH’s specialized labs. The Technology Bridge’s proximity to the Texas Medical Center provides biotech and health tech startups with opportunities to develop, prototype, and pilot medical devices, diagnostics, and healthcare software.

Who is the person/people leading your company's innovation team?

Ramanan Krishnamoorti has successfully advanced UH innovation by providing a strategic vision, expanding key programs like the UH Technology Bridge, and fostering strong industry partnerships. Tanu Chatterji has been successful in leading the UH Technology Bridge through her strategic vision and leadership in fostering innovation and collaboration.

Aileen Allen joined Mercury as venture partner and is on the board of the Houston Angel Network. Photo courtesy of Mercury

Houston innovator makes leap into VC to boost representation in the boardroom

Houston innovators Podcast episode 260

When Aileen Allen was contemplating a big career move — swapping sides of the table from tech company to venture investor — she was motivated by driving gender and experience diversity amongst decision makers.

"I've worked for VC-backed companies for most of my career and had the opportunity as an executive to be in the boardroom during that time," she says on the Houston Innovators Podcast. "One of my takeaways was that very few of my board members looked like me. I had one or two women on any of my boards at a time in totality, and very few of my board members had been operators."

"I'd really like to change that, and I'd like there to be better representation and diversification in the boardroom," she adds.

But Allen didn't just jump feet first into the career change. She did her homework first, spending months talking to mentors, meeting investors for over 30 informational interviews, and compiling everything she learned. She says she learned how different the world of VC is compared to her time as an operator — from the unstructured workflow at a VC firm to hustle mentality you have as an operator.

This summer, she made the jump and joined Mercury as venture partner. She just recently closed her first deal for the Houston VC firm that focuses on B2B SaaS startups. She also is on the board of the Houston Angel Network and is working with leadership to grow and expand membership.

A native Houstonian, Allen spent a large chunk of her career in the Bay Area, which her most significant role at Atlassian where she oversaw product marketing as the company scaled. When she relocated back to Houston — by way of a few years in Austin's tech scene — she says she struggled at first to find Houston's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

"I think my first impression (of Houston's tech ecosystem) was, 'where is it?'" she says, adding for context that that she did relocate in 2020 when the pandemic greatly affected events and activity. "It feels like there's something that's happening in Houston, but it's smaller or maybe a bit more fragmented, and I think there's an opportunity for a lot of us on the investing side and founders who have had successful exits or are running companies at scale to do more and give back in more meaningful ways to create the presence that Austin and the Bay Area is really known for."

The partnership between UH and HAN will bolster accredited early-stage investors and accelerate opportunities for aspiring startup investors. Photo via Getty Images

Houston university teams up with angel group to reach, upskill future investors

group effort

Through a new partnership with the Houston Angel Network and Houston Exponential, the University of Houston will help cultivate startup investors among UH alumni.

The partnership will bolster accredited early-stage investors and accelerate opportunities for aspiring startup investors, the university says in a news release.

“Investors play a vital role in the startup ecosystem and this initiative gives our alumni a rapid path to becoming angels. Our vision is to activate more investors with deep connections to UH who support world-class innovation in our community and beyond,” says Ramanan Krishnamoorti, the university’s vice president for energy and innovation.

The partnership is based at UH’s Technology Bridge. Tech Bridge promotes tech commercialization, industrial partnerships, and startup development.

“Our founders are launching many exciting new companies, but they need better access to capital,” says Tanu Chatterji, associate director of startup development at UH. “This partnership will help us mobilize angel investors who want to support these innovators with knowledge and financial resources.”

UH alumni interested in participating in the new partnership should contact Chatterji at tchatte@uh.edu.

The angel network will lend its investing expertise to early-stage businesses in tech, energy, life sciences, consumer, and aerospace sectors. Meanwhile, tech startup incubator Houston Exponential will provide support for entrepreneurs and the startup ecosystem.

“This relationship is a testament to the collaborative spirit of Greater Houston’s business and academic communities,” says Mitra Miller, vice president of the Houston Angel Network, an organization for early-stage investors. “By leveraging the combined expertise and resources of our three organizations, we can increase the flow of early-stage capital in our region in support of great innovators and high-growth enterprises.”

Natara Branch, CEO of Houston Exponential, says the new initiative “promises to be a roadmap for investment education, and support for aspiring investors and entrepreneurs alike.”

“An active and educated investor base is an essential component of a thriving startup ecosystem,” says Branch.

A Houston investor and leader at Houston Angel Network weighs in on the importance of angel investors in growing startup communities. Photo via Getty Images

Houston expert examines the importance of early-stage investors in the innovation ecosystem

guest column

In a flourishing startup ecosystem, the roles of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, startup development organizations, policymakers, research institutions, and universities are well documented and understood. Less obvious, however, is the role of early-stage investors, aka, “angel investors.”

These unique people are often the first non-family money to invest in a young company, often while it is still refining its business model, completing its minimum viable product (MVP), or finding product-market fit. Excellent angel investors, however, provide value to the ecosystem far beyond their ability to write a check.

Most angel investors bring deep expertise within their domain. These can be 20- or 30-year industry veterans with invaluable been-there-done-that experience in a particular technology, discipline, vertical, or regulatory environment. They can share insights learned from various industry trends that have succeeded and failed, which often save startups significant time and effort. Or they may bring complementary business expertise such as legal, accounting, technology, financing, or startup strategy. Many angels have launched or worked in multiple startups themselves, which gives them an ability to quickly understand and assist with the unique challenges of early-stage business.

Additionally, good investors are aggregators of knowledge. They constantly read about the sectors in which they invest, learn the latest trends, and watch for innovations that they believe will change industries. As forward thinkers, they know how to look past buzzwords to find what is truly unique or different. They often ask the “hard questions” that cut to the heart of the matter. Wise founders learn how to listen and use this feedback to improve their company and strategy.

Many angel investors serve as mentors to startups and share their hard-won knowledge. Most start with informal or unpaid relationships either through an SDO or personal referral. If they form a meaningful connection with a particular startup, this could turn into an official role as a compensated advisor. The best of these relationships are mutually beneficial and ultimately profitable if the company has a successful exit. Similarly, angels may become advisors to venture capital funds that want to bring their insights to their portfolio companies.

Investors are natural connectors in an ecosystem. As they search for, invest in, and mentor great startups, they foster connections across the innovation community. Relationship-building is key to all business success, and a wise angel knows how to respectfully leverage connections for mutual benefit. However, be careful not to ask an investor to share connections too soon. One of the fastest turn-offs is someone who asks me to open my rolodex before earning my trust and respect.

The most obvious benefit that investors bring to the innovation ecosystem is fundingfor early-stage businesses. This infusion of capital enables young businesses to identify, create, and grow value, which is the ultimate point of innovation. I mention it last, however, because savvy entrepreneurs know the difference between “smart money” and “dumb money.” Dumb money is not a pejorative but a label for money that has no voice or utility beyond its monetary value (which makes it silent or “dumb”).

Smart money, on the other hand, brings many or all of the other attributes discussed above: knowledge, expertise, mentoring, and connections. In terms of value, smart money is worth many times more than its cash value.

As the Houston innovation ecosystem grows, we need more accredited investors with a passion for innovation to learn about angel investing and determine if it is a fit for them. Given its very high-risk profile, it certainly isn’t appropriate for everyone. However, angel investing is a powerful way that investors can help solve society’s biggest challenges and contribute to a thriving innovation community.

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Mitra Miller is the vice president and board member of Houston Angel Network.

This week's roundup of Houston innovators includes Mitra Miller of Houston Angel Network, Richard Baraniuk of OpenStax, and Carlos Estrada of BioWell. Photos courtesy

3 Houston innovators to know this week

who's who

Editor's note: Every week, I introduce you to three Houston innovators to know recently making headlines with news of innovative technology, investment activity, and more. This week's batch includes a podcast with an angel investment evangelist, an academic-turned-startup-founder celebrating a big win, and a leader of a brand new accelerator.

Mitra Miller, vice president and board member of the Houston Angel Network

Mitra Miller, vice president and board member of the Houston Angel Network, joins the Houston Innovators Podcast to share her passion for growing angel investors in Houston. Photo via LinkedIn

One of the biggest components of a well-functioning startup ecosystem is inarguably access to capital, and Mitra Miller is dedicated to enhancing education around investment and growing Houston's investor base.

As vice president and board member of the Houston Angel Network, the oldest angel network in Texas and one of the most active angel networks in the country, Miller strives to provide guidance to new and emerging angel investors as well as founders seeking to raise money from them.

"Most founders have no idea or understanding of how investors think — we are not an ATM," Miller says on the Houston Innovators Podcast. "We are really partners you are getting married to for the next 5, 8, 10 years — sometimes longer. We need to bring your allies in every sense of the word." Continue reading.

Richard Baraniuk, Rice University professor and founder of OpenStax

At an event at the Ion, OpenStax and Rice University announced a $90 million NSF-backed initiative. Photo by Jeff Fitlow/Rice

An educational technology company based out of Rice University has received $90 million to create and lead a research and development hub for inclusive learning and education research. It's the largest research award in the history of the university.

OpenStax received the grant funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation for a five-year project create the R&D hub called SafeInsights. Richard Baraniuk, who founded OpenStax and is a Rice professor, will lead SafeInsights. He says he hopes the initiative will allow progress to be made for students learning in various contexts.

“Learning is complex," Baraniuk says in the release. "Research can tackle this complexity and help get the right tools into the hands of educators and students, but to do so, we need reliable information on how students learn. Just as progress in health care research sparked stunning advances in personalized medicine, we need similar precision in education to support all students, particularly those from underrepresented and low-income backgrounds.” Continue reading.

Carlos Estrada, head of venture acceleration at BioWell

Calling all biotechnology startups. Photo via LinkedIn

A Houston organization — freshly funded by a $700,000 U.S. Economic Development Administration’s “Build to Scale” grant — is seeking its first accelerator cohort of industrial biology startups.

Founded by Houston-based First Bight Ventures, the BioWell has launched a virtual accelerator program that will provide programming, networking, mentorship, and financial resources to its inaugural cohort of 10 bioindustrial startups. The selected companies will also have access to specialized pilot bioproduction infrastructure throughout the nine-month program.

“BioWell equips startups with more than just capital. We provide a foundation for breakthrough innovations by combining access to cutting-edge bioproduction facilities with expertise that nurtures scalability. This comprehensive support is crucial for transforming pioneering ideas into market-ready solutions that can address pressing global challenges,” Carlos Estrada, head of venture acceleration at BioWell, says in a news release. Continue reading.

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2 Houston space tech cos. celebrate major tech milestones

big wins

Two Houston aerospace companies — Intuitive Machines and Venus Aerospace — have reached testing milestones for equipment they’re developing.

Intuitive Machines recently completed the first round of “human in the loop” testing for its Moon RACER (Reusable Autonomous Crewed Exploration Rover) lunar terrain vehicle. The company conducted the test at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

RACER is one of three lunar terrain vehicles being considered by NASA for the space agency’s Artemis initiative, which will send astronauts to the moon.

NASA says human-in-the-loop testing can reveal design flaws and technical problems, and can lead to cost-efficient improvements. In addition, it can elevate the design process from 2D to 3D modeling.

Intuitive Machines says the testing “proved invaluable.” NASA astronauts served as test subjects who provided feedback about the Moon RACER’s functionality.

The Moon RACER, featuring a rechargeable electric battery and a robotic arm, will be able to accommodate two astronauts and more than 880 pounds of cargo. It’s being designed to pull a trailer loaded with more than 1,760 pounds of cargo.

Another Houston company, Venus Aerospace, recently achieved ignition of its VDR2 rocket engine. The engine, being developed in tandem with Ohio-based Velontra — which aims to produce hypersonic planes — combines the functions of a rotating detonation rocket engine with those of a ramjet.

A rotating detonation rocket engine, which isn’t equipped with moving parts, rapidly burns fuel via a supersonic detonation wave, according to the Air Force Research Laboratory. In turn, the engine delivers high performance in a small volume, the lab says. This savings in volume can offer range, speed, and affordability benefits compared with ramjets, rockets, and gas turbines.

A ramjet is a type of “air breathing” jet engine that does not include a rotary engine, according to the SKYbrary electronic database. Instead, it uses the forward motion of the engine to compress incoming air.

A ramjet can’t function at zero airspeed, so it can’t power an aircraft during all phases of flight, according to SKYbrary. Therefore, it must be paired with another kind of propulsion, such as a rotating detonation rocket engine, to enable acceleration at a speed where the ramjet can produce thrust.

“With this successful test and ignition, Venus Aerospace has demonstrated the exceptional ability to start a [ramjet] at takeoff speed, which is revolutionary,” the company says.

Venus Aerospace plans further testing of its engine in 2025.

Venus Aerospace, recently achieved ignition of its VDR2 rocket engine. Photo courtesy of Venus Aerospace

METRO rolls out electric shuttles for downtown Houston commuters

on a roll

The innovative METRO microtransit program will be expanding to the downtown area, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County announced on Monday.

“Microtransit is a proven solution to get more people where they need to go safely and efficiently,” Houston Mayor John Whitmire said in a statement. “Connected communities are safer communities, and bringing microtransit to Houston builds on my promise for smart, fiscally-sound infrastructure growth.”

The program started in June 2023 when the city’s nonprofit Evolve Houston partnered with the for-profit Ryde company to offer free shuttle service to residents of Second and Third Ward. The shuttles are all-electric and take riders to bus stops, medical buildings, and grocery stores. Essentially, it works as a traditional ride-share service but focuses on multiple passengers in areas where bus access may involve hazards or other obstacles. Riders access the system through the Ride Circuit app.

So far, the microtransit system has made a positive impact in the wards according to METRO. This has led to the current expansion into the downtown area. The system is not designed to replace the standard bus service, but to help riders navigate to it through areas where bus service is more difficult.

“Integrating microtransit into METRO’s public transit system demonstrates a commitment to finding innovative solutions that meet our customers where they are,” said METRO Board Chair Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock. “This on-demand service provides a flexible, easier way to reach METRO buses and rail lines and will grow ridership by solving the first- and last-mile challenges that have hindered people’s ability to choose METRO.”

The City of Houston approved a renewal of the microtransit program in July, authorizing Evolve Houston to spend $1.3 million on it. Some, like council member Letitia Plummer, have questioned whether microtransit is really the future for METRO as the service cuts lines such as the University Corridor.

However, the microtransit system serves clear and longstanding needs in Houston. Getting to and from bus stops in the city with its long blocks, spread-out communities, and fickle pedestrian ways can be difficult, especially for poor or disabled riders. While the bus and rail work fine for longer distances, shorter ones can be underserved.

Even in places like downtown where stops are plentiful, movement between them can still involve walks of a mile or more, and may not serve for short trips.

“Our microtransit service is a game-changer for connecting people, and we are thrilled to launch it in downtown Houston,” said Evolve executive director Casey Brown. “The all-electric, on-demand service complements METRO’s existing fixed-route systems while offering a new solution for short trips. This launch marks an important milestone for our service, and we look forward to introducing additional zones in the new year — improving access to public transit and local destinations.”

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This article originally ran on CultureMap.

Cart.com's M&A move, energy innovators recognized, and more top articles from the week

trending news

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 a new health tech grant for Houston researchers, Cart.com's latest acquisition, and more.

Houston med school lands $3.5M grant to rollout genetic telehealth platform for underserved newborns

Baylor College of Medicine received $3.5 million to expand its telehealth platform to improve genomic diagnostics and care for critically ill newborns in underserved neonatal intensive care units in West and South Texas. Photo by Tim Bish on Unsplash

Baylor College of Medicine received $3.5 million to help hospitals in Texas better care for and diagnose some of the state's most vulnerable patients.

The funds come from the National Human Genome Research Institute for the Making Genomics Accessible to Newborns in Texas, or MAGNET, program. They'll be used to adapt BCM's Consultagene telehealth platform to be used in underserved neonatal intensive care units in West and South Texas, according to a statement.

Families in this region of the state currently can travel up to 300 miles to reach the nearest in-state geneticist, according to MAGNET. The program aims to help close that gap through BCM's established remote consultation service. Investigators also plan to create educational videos in English and Spanish to educate providers and patient caregivers on genetic diagnoses.

“Only 20 years ago, less than 3 percent of genetic conditions in newborns could be molecularly diagnosed,” Dr. Brendan Lee, co-principal investigator and professor and chair of the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics and Robert and Janice McNair Endowed Chair in Molecular and Human Genetics at BCM, says in a statement. Continue reading.

Houston e-commerce platform expands logistics network with acquisition of fulfillment operations arm

Cart.com has acquired OceanX, adding two new facilities and expanding its logistics network to enhance efficiency and support high-volume beauty, wellness, and lifestyle brands. Photo courtesy of Cart.com

A Houston e-commerce unicorn has made its latest strategic acquisition.

Cart.com, which operates a multichannel commerce platform, announced that it has acquired Guthy-Renker's wholly-owned fulfillment operations arm OceanX. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Around 200 OceanX employees will be assumed onto the Cart.com team, and the fast-growing company will add two new facilities totaling over 600,000 square feet to its network, expanding to include a West Coast distribution hub in Southern California and its third facility near Columbus, Ohio.

"Acquiring OceanX is part of Cart.com’s strategy to continue to scale our platform and capabilities across industries, leveraging our proprietary technology to improve efficiency and deliver superior results to our clients and their customers,” Omair Tariq, Cart.com founder and CEO, says in a news release. “By deploying our Constellation OMS and WMS software and seasoned operations team across these two new facilities, we will improve order visibility, labor efficiency, shipping costs and customer satisfaction for the benefit of our new clients.” Continue reading.

3 clean energy innovators make Forbes list of top young energy professionals

Three young professionals have made the cut for this year's Forbes Under 30 list in the Energy and Green Tech list for 2025. Photos via Forbes

A handful of Houstonians have been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Energy and Green Tech list for 2025.

Kip Daujotas is an investment associate at Aramco Ventures, a $7.5 billion venture capital arm of the world's largest energy company. Houston is the Americas headquarters for Saudi Aramco. Since its inception in 2012, Aramco Ventures has invested in more than 100 tech startups. Daujotas joined the team over two years ago after studying for an MBA at Yale University. He led Aramco’s first direct air capture (DAC) investment — in Los Alamos, New Mexico-based Spiritus.

Also representing the corporate side of the industry, Wenting Gao immigrated from Beijing to obtain an economics degree from Harvard University, then got a job at consulting giant McKinsey, where she recently became the firm’s youngest partner. Gao works on bringing sustainability strategies to energy and materials companies as well as investors. Her areas of expertise include battery materials, waste, biofuels, and low-carbon products.

Last but not least, Houston entrepreneur Rawand Rasheed is co-founder and CEO of Houston-based Helix Earth. He co-founded the startup after earning a doctoral degree from Rice University and co-inventing Helix’s core technology while at NASA, first as a graduate research fellow and then as an engineer. The core technology, a space capsule air filtration system, has been applied to retrofitting HVAC systems for commercial buildings. Continue reading.

Rice University, Houston Methodist launch new institute to revolutionize health care through AI, innovation

Rice University and Houston Methodist have partnered to create the Digital Health Institute, combining advanced technology, artificial intelligence, and interdisciplinary expertise to transform health care. Photos courtesy

Rice University and Houston Methodist have established through a multi-year joint effort the Digital Health Institute, which aims to transform healthcare through advanced technology and the collaborative expertises of the university and hospital.

Rice’s leadership in engineering, digital health and artificial intelligence will combine with Houston Methodist’s academic medicine and research infrastructure.

“This partnership embodies Rice’s bold vision to lead at the forefront of innovation in health and responsible AI,” Rice President Reginald DesRoches says in a news release. “By combining our strengths with Houston Methodist, we are creating a transformative platform to address critical challenges in healthcare with solutions that are ethical, accessible and impactful. This initiative exemplifies our commitment to driving interdisciplinary collaboration and advancing global health for the benefit of humanity.” Continue reading.

2 Houston professors named as fellows for prestigious group of inventors

Omid Veiseh from Rice University and Edward Ratner from the University of Houston have been named 2024 National Academy of Inventors fellows for their innovative contributions. Courtesy photos

The highest professional distinction awarded to academic inventors, the National Academy of Inventors, have elected two fellows from Rice University and the University of Houston for its 2024 class.

Edward Ratner, computer information systems lecturer in the Department of Information Science Technology at the University of Houston’s Cullen College of Engineering, and Omid Veiseh, bioengineer at Rice University and director of the Biotech Launch Pad, were two of the 170 honorees representing 39 states and 12 countries.

The 2024 class will be honored and presented their medals on June 26 in Atlanta, Georgia by a senior official of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Continue reading.

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