Here's your one-stop shop for innovation events in Houston this month. Photo via Getty Images

It's fully summer here in Houston, and the city's business community is mixing in networking and conference events with family vacations and time off. Here's a rundown of what all to throw on your calendar for June when it comes to innovation-related events.

This article will be updated as more business and tech events are announced.

June 1 — Houston Veterans In Residence Showcase

Bunker Labs’ Veterans in Residence Showcase is a nationwide event spanning across 23 cities and 3 virtual cohorts, celebrating over 400 veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs launching their startups and businesses from our recent cohort. It gives you a chance to network with local participants. Become part of your local business community and learn how you can get involved by patronizing, investing in, or partnering up with our veterans and military spouse entrepreneurs.

The event is Wednesday, June 1, 6 to 8 pm, at WeWork Jones Hall. Click here to register.

June 1 — SportsTech Meetup + Happy Hour

Join us for a meetup and happy hour to socialize with fellow entrepreneurs and business owners in SportsTech. The event is hosted by Pokatok, a new sports tech startup focused on elevating sports innovation in Houston.

The event is Wednesday, June 1, 4 to 6 pm, at The Cannon Sports. Click here to register.

June 2 — Building a Talent Strong Texas, a Special UpSkill Works forum 

Dr. Harrison Keller, Commissioner of Higher Education, is fresh off the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's release of its Building a Talent Strong Texas plan, which elevates the critical importance of post-secondary education and continued skills development.

The event is Thursday, June 2, noon to 1 pm, online. Click here to register.

June 8 — Carbon to Value Initiative Year 2 Kickoff

Year 2 of the C2V Initiative builds on its successful first year in 2021 that led to partnerships, technology advancement, and industry growth. Join us, together with Fluor Corporation, a leading global engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company, as we kick off year 2 of this exciting program, which will connect the selected startups with experts, resources, and programming to help them achieve their commercial and technical milestones!

The event is Wednesday, June 8, 6 to 8 pm, at Greentown Houston. Click here to register.

June 8 — Illuminate Houston: An Innovation Conversation

Illuminate Houston is an event series highlighting business leaders who challenge the way we think about the future. Illuminate Houston features dynamic formats where speakers and attendees discuss trends, technologies and issues that define how we do business. The Partnership welcomes Gaurab Chakrabarti, CEO and Co-founder of Solugen on Wednesday, June 8.

The event is Wednesday, June 8, noon to 1 pm, online. Click here to register.

June 8 — High Performance Institute Information Session

Join The Ion as we hear from High Performance Institute and how we are working to build a partnership for the community.

The event is Wednesday, June 8, 4 to 6 pm, at the Ion. Click here to register.

June 9 — Sip & Socialize, brought to you by partner of The Cannon, Dell for Startups

Enjoy some cocktails from partner of The Cannon, Dell for Startups, and learn more about the upcoming pitch competition on June 29th.

The event is Thursday, June 9, 4:30 to 6:30 pm, at The Powder Keg (1300 Brittmoore Rd). Click here to register.

June 16 — Transition On Tap: In Partnership with The Veterans Advanced Energy Project

Greentown Houston is hosting a special Transition On Tap in partnership with The Veterans Advanced Energy Project. Some of America's best talent joined the military to serve and deploy to combat in a time of national crisis. Now those same veterans are entering the energy transition for their next tour of duty. While the climate crisis is a call to serve, the energy transition is also a massive economic opportunity these young leaders are running towards. Learn from the panel of experienced professionals and meet other like-minded individuals passionate about the energy transition.

The event is Thursday, June 16, 5 to 8 pm, at Greentown Labs Houston (4200 San Jacinto St). Click here to register.

June 20-22 — 6th Annual Energy Drone & Robotics Summit

The Energy Drone & Robotics Summit is the largest event in the world for UAVs, Robotics & Data/AI/ML, exclusively focused on the business and technology of unmanned systems, automation and data/AI in energy & industrial operations. Over the last 5 years, it has grown to the most influential gathering of industrial, energy and engineering leaders from around the globe where the key challenges & solutions are addressed for operating drones, satellites, and robotics successfully and managing/making data actionable, from the stars to the sea floor.

The event is Monday-Wednesday, June 20-22, at the Woodlands Marriott. Click here to register.

June 22 — Houston Startup Showcase

The Houston Startup Showcase is a year-long series of monthly pitch competitions. Founders will pitch LIVE AT THE ION and compete for the grand prize package. Watch the startups pitch their company and see who the judges will name the champion of Houston Startup Showcase 2022.

The event is Wednesday, June 22, 2:45 to 5:30 pm, at the Ion. Click here to register.

June 28 — Future of Global Energy: Innovation District Reception and Tour

Day one of the Future of Global Energy Conference Presented by Chevron begins offers a special tour and reception in the heart of Houston's innovation district highlighting some of the key venues that are propelling energy transition forward here in Houston. Attendees will tour Greentown Labs and The Ion.

The event is Thursday, June 2, 2:45 to 5:30 pm, at the Houston Innovation District. Click here to register.

June 28-30 — The Future of Global Energy: Houston’s Role in Leading the Energy Transition Presented by Chevron

To highlight Houston's role in the global energy transition, the Greater Houston Partnership and Center for Houston's Future will host a dynamic three-day conference providing global and national context on the changing energy landscape and highlight Houston's leadership in the global energy transition.

The event is Tuesday-Thursday, June 28-30, and is a hybrid event. Click here to register.

June 29 — Alumni Napier Rice Launch Challenge 2022

Join Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and support Rice University alumni startups at the H. Albert Napier Rice Launch Challenge (NRLC) virtual Championships on Wednesday, June 29. Six alumni finalists will pitch their ventures for the chance to win equity-free funding.

The event is Wednesday, June 29, 6 to 8 pm, online. Click here to register.

June 29 — Panel & Pitch Competition, Sponsored by Dell for Startups

As part of the tour, the Dell for Startups team will be stopping by Houston in partnership with The Cannon to host a Houston Founder Pitch Competition. Eight startups from all across the city will compete for $25,000 worth of prizes is taking place at The Cannon.

The event is Wednesday, June 29, 4 to 7:30 pm, at the Cannon West Houston. Click here to register.

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CultureMap Emails are Awesome

Report: These 10 jobs earn the biggest salary premiums in Texas

A move to Texas bolsters earnings for some, and a new SmartAsset study has revealed the top professions where the median annual earnings in the Lone Star State exceed the national median.

The report, "When it Pays to Work in Texas — and When It Doesn’t," published in April, analyzed over 700 occupations to determine which have the biggest "Texas premium" — meaning jobs where the price-adjusted median annual pay in Texas most exceeds the national median for the same occupation — and which jobs have the biggest “Texas penalty,” where the statewide median annual pay falls furthest below the national median. Salaries were sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and adjusted for regional price parity.

According to the report's findings, geoscientists have the biggest "Texas premium" and make a $159,903 median annual salary. Texas' salary for geoscientists is 61 percent higher than the national median for the same position (after adjusting for regional price parity).

"Texas’s large petroleum industry helps explain why employers in the state retain so many geoscientists," the report's author wrote. "In fact, the Lone Star State is home to more geoscientists than any other state except California."

There are more than 3,600 geoscientists working in Texas, SmartAsset said.

These are the remaining top 10 occupations with the biggest "Texas premiums" (salaries are price-adjusted):

  • No. 2 – Commercial pilots: $167,727 median Texas earnings; 37 percent higher than the national median
  • No. 3 – Sailors: $67,614 median Texas earnings; 36 percent higher than the national median
  • No. 4 – Aircraft structure assemblers: $83,519 median Texas earnings; 35 percent higher than the national median
  • No. 5 – Ship captains: $108,905 median Texas earnings; 27 percent higher than the national median
  • No. 6 – Nursing instructors (postsecondary): $100,484 median Texas earnings; 26 percent higher than the national median
  • No. 7 – Tax preparers: $63,321 median Texas earnings; 25 percent higher than the national median
  • No. 8 – Chemists: $104,241 median Texas earnings; 24 percent higher than the national median
  • No. 9 – Health instructors (postsecondary): $128,680 median Texas earnings; 22 percent higher than the national median
  • No. 10 – Engineering instructors (postsecondary): $129,030 median Texas earnings; 22 percent higher than the national media

The careers where Texas workers earn less

SmartAsset said an editor is the Texas profession where workers earn the furthest below the median for the same occupation elsewhere in the U.S. Not to be confused with film and video editors, BLS defines editors as those who "plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material" and "may review proposals and drafts for possible publication."

The study found editors make a price-adjusted median wage of $29,710, which is 61 percent lower than the national median for the same position, and there are nearly 8,200 editors in Texas.

It's worth noting that the salaries for editors may be skewed by the fact that there are not major publications in rural areas of Texas, and other professions may also have financial deviations for similar reasons.

Several healthcare jobs also appear to have the worst penalties in Texas compared to elsewhere in the country. Home health aides are the second-worst paying professions in the state, making a median wage of $24,161.

"More home health aides work in Texas than in nearly any other state, with only California and New York employing more," the report said. "However, the more than 300,000 Texans in this occupation earn median annual pay that is about 31 percent below the national median, after adjusting for regional price parity.

SmartAsset clarified that pay penalties are not consistent "across the board" for other healthcare occupations in Texas.

"For physical therapy assistants, occupational therapy assistants, and postsecondary nursing instructors, Texas may be an especially strong place to work, with these occupations offering 'Texas premiums' of between 17 percent and 26 percent," the study said.

These are the remaining top 10 occupations where median annual earnings in Texas fall furthest below the national median for the same occupation:

  • No. 3 – Cardiovascular technicians: $49,382 median Texas earnings; 27 percent lower than the national median
  • No. 4 – Semiconductor processing technicians: $38,295 median Texas earnings; 25 percent lower than the national median
  • No. 5 – Tutors: $30,060 median Texas earnings; 25 percent lower than the national median
  • No. 6 – Control and valve installers: $56,496 median Texas earnings; 24 percent lower than the national median
  • No. 7 – Mental health social workers: $46,109 median Texas earnings; 23 percent lower than the national median
  • No. 8 – Clinical psychologists: $74,449 median Texas earnings; 22 percent lower than the national median
  • No. 9 – Producers/directors: $65,267 median Texas earnings; 22 percent lower than the national median
  • No. 10 – Interpreters/translators: $46,953 median Texas earnings; 21 percent lower than the national median

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This article originally appeared on CultureMap.com.

Houston rises in 2026 ranking of best U.S. cities to start a business

Best for Biz

Houston has reaffirmed its commitment to a business-friendly environment and now ranks as the 26th best large U.S. city for starting a business in 2026. The city jumped up eight places after ranking 34th last year.

WalletHub's annual report compared 100 U.S. cities based on 19 relevant metrics across three key dimensions: business environment, access to resources, and costs. Factors that were analyzed include five-year business survival rates, job growth comparisons from 2020 and 2024, population growth of working-age individuals aged 16-64, office space affordability, and more.

Florida cities locked out the top five best places in America for starting a new business: Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Hialeah, and St. Petersburg.

Houston's business environment ranked as the 19th best in the country, and the city ranked 51st in the "business costs" category. However, the city lagged behind in the "access to resources" ranking, coming in at No. 72 overall. This category examined metrics such as Houston's working-age population growth, the share of college-educated individuals, financing accessibility, the prevalence of investors, venture investment amounts per capita, and more.

"From the Gold Rush and the Industrial Revolution to the Internet Age, periods of innovation have shaped our economy and driven major societal progress," the report's author wrote. "However, the past few years have been particularly challenging for business owners in the U.S., due to factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Great Resignation and high inflation."

Earlier this year, WalletHub declared Texas the third-best state for starting a business in 2026, and several Houston-area cities have seen robust growth after being recognized among the best career hotspots in the U.S. Entrepreneurial praise has also been extended to five local companies that were named the most innovative companies in the world, and six powerhouse female innovators that made Inc. Magazine's 2026 Female Founders 500 list.

Texas cities with strong environments for new businesses
Multiple cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex can claim bragging rights as the best Texas locales for starting a new business. Dallas ranked highest overall — appearing 11th nationally — and Irving landed a few spots behind in the 16th spot. Arlington (No. 23), Fort Worth (No. 30), Plano, (No. 35), and Garland (No. 65) followed behind.

Only six other Texas cities earned spots in the report: Austin (No. 24), Lubbock (No. 36), Corpus Christi (No. 39), San Antonio (No. 64), El Paso (No. 67), and Laredo (No. 76).

Austin tied with Boise, Idaho and Fresno, California for the highest average growth in the number of small businesses nationally, while Corpus Christi and Laredo topped a separate list of the U.S. cities with the most accessible financing.

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This article originally appeared on CultureMap.com.

Houston humanoid robotics startup taps Amazon veteran to lead manufacturing

new hire

Persona AI, a Houston-based startup that’s developing AI-powered humanoid robots for manufacturers and other businesses, has hired Brian Davis as head of global manufacturing.

Davis previously guided teams at Amazon Robotics and Dell Technologies. During his tenure at Amazon Robotics and Dell, both companies saw major increases in manufacturing volumes within a four-year period. Davis oversaw manufacturing, supply chain, logistics, quality assurance and real estate.

“Davis steps into this role [at Persona AI] as industrial enterprises face an urgent and accelerating challenge: a structural shortage of capacity for welding, fabrication, and heavy maintenance in dynamic environments, precisely the high-value, high-risk tasks where humanoid robots can deliver the greatest impact,” according to a company news release.

Davis comes aboard as Persona AI, founded in 2024, seeks to meet demand generated by deals with HD Hyundai and POSCO Group to make humanoids for shipyards and steel plants, and by a pilot program with the State of Louisiana.

“Now is the perfect time to accelerate our production capabilities as we rapidly close the gap between what’s possible in the lab versus what’s driving real commercial value,” Davis says.

“Building industrial-rated humanoid robots and production-deployable AI is only one piece of the puzzle,” he adds. “Producing humanoids at scale will require systematic supply chain management, stringent quality control, and building the playbook for safe, high-volume manufacturing. That’s what I’m here to build.”

Last year, Persona AI raised more than more than $10 million in pre-seed funding. The company also named a new head of commercial strategy in March.