Nancy and Rich Kinder gifted $50M to their eponymous center. Photo courtesy

Houston’s most generous couple has once again gifted a massive sum to a local institution. Rich and Nancy Kinder’s Kinder Foundation has donated $50 million to Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, the organization announced.

The Kinder's generous grant will assist the institute’s focus on what it dubs “inclusive prosperity” — that is, “ensuring that everyone can contribute to Houston's success and share in its opportunities.”

This new grant follows the approximately $30 million he Kinder Foundation previously gifted Rice’s Kinder Institute and its affiliates to facilitate its headquarters.

“Over the past decade, the Kinder Institute has played an integral role in shaping Houston,” said Rich Kinder, chairman of the Kinder Foundation. “However, we can do more to inform and more directly address the challenges our communities face, particularly in the areas of housing, education, economic mobility, health and population research.”

To that end, the Kinders’ funds will ensure the institute can assist its partners regardless of their ability to pay for research. Funds will also help the institute respond to community research needs quickly during times of crisis — such as a catastrophic storm or pandemic — when funds aren’t readily available.

Kinder Institute director Ruth López Turley calls the grant “a gift to all of Houston,” speaking to the institute’s work to improve lives through data, research, engagement and action.

“Inclusive prosperity doesn’t just happen spontaneously,” she noted in a statement. “It requires an explicit effort informed by research. Lots of organizations are working hard to make things better, but most of them have very limited research capacity, and that’s what the Kinder Institute is primed to do.”

Founded in 2010, the institute has evolved into a leader in research, data, and policy analysis of critical issues such as housing, transportation, and education. The institute also releases the familiar Kinder Houston Area Survey, which charts significant changes in the way area residents perceive and understand Houston’s ongoing challenges and opportunities.

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This article originally ran on CultureMap.

The annual survey revealed that the percentage of Houston-area residents who had a positive view of the local job market dropped slightly. Photo via Getty Images

Major new Rice study reveals what Houstonians care about most in 2021

Hou cares

Few studies gauge the barometric pressure of the Bayou City like the Kinder Houston Area Survey.

Designed to take the temperature of the general population, the study — now in its 40th year — reveals a Houston citizenry optimistic about its personal futures, per the report.

A little about the study before delving in: The report was conducted by the esteemed Stephen Klineberg, founding director of Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research and emeritus professor of sociology; and Robert Bozick, senior research fellow at the Kinder Institute.

This new survey was unveiled at the Kinder Institute's "Lunch-Out" recent virtual event. Interviews of some 1,051 Harris County adults were conducted between January 18 and March 29 by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.

The full report is available online.

The No. 1 concern

Public health concerns, while rarely registering in previous surveys, were cited as the biggest problem facing Houstonians this year, according to a press release. Some 25 percent of respondents cited the pandemic or health-related issues.

Others — 20 percent — pointed to the economy as the biggest problem, that's up from 13 percent last year. Only 14 percent cited crime, and traffic dropped to 13 percent, down from 30 percent last year.

Highlighting a national socioeconomic disparity, 58 percent of Blacks and 66 percent of Hispanics said they had to risk exposure to the coronavirus to keep their jobs during the past year, per the report. That's compared to 41 percent of Asians and only 36 percent of whites.

Additionally, the report notes that Blacks and Hispanics were more likely (at 73 percent and 67 percent, respectively) to know someone who was hospitalized with or died as a result of having COVID-19, compared with whites (57 percent) and Asians (40 percent).

Mental health issues have arisen as a serious problem in equal numbers across ethnic communities. More than 50 percent of respondents — in all four groups — reported feeling more stress and experiencing more emotional problems during the past year, compared with 2020.

Jobs and the economy

Though Houston is an opportunity city, the Kinder Survey revealed that the percentage of Houston-area residents who had a positive view of the local job market dropped slightly, to 61 percent this year from 68 percent in 2020.

A mere 21 percent reported their economic situations were getting better, down from 34 percent in 2020. Notably — for the first time in the 40 years — of the survey, more respondents (25 percent) said their financial situations were getting worse than getting better.

Blacks and Hispanics were also more likely than Asians and whites to have experienced a loss of income and to have received help from government programs in the past year.

Race relations, immigration, and inequity

Positive ratings of relations among ethnic groups in the Houston area declined across the board, especially among Blacks. Whites and Hispanics were significantly more likely than in previous years to agree that Blacks are still a long way from having the same opportunities in life as whites.

The number of people who said the criminal justice system is biased against Blacks increased to 54 percent from 32 percent in 2015, when the question was last asked, per a release.

Weather, religion, and politics

Area residents were less likely than in previous surveys to say it's virtually certain the region will experience more severe storms in coming years (59 percent in 2021, compared with 81 percent in 2018 and 2020).

The number of religious Houstonians continues to decline, with more people than ever indicating they are not part of any faith tradition (22 percent today, compared with 8 percent in 2008) and do not consider religion to be an important part of their lives (26 percent, compared with 10 percent in 2008), per the study.

Meanwhile, 45 percent of those surveyed said they felt closer to the Democratic Party this year, while only 25 percent voiced support for the Republican Party.

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This article originally ran on CultureMap.

Houstonians gained valuable time on the road in 2020. Photo by LUNAMARINA/Getty Images

New study drives home how drastically Houston traffic dropped in 2020

data-driven

Houstonians are still gauging all that they have lost during the pandemic, but one thing they gained in 2020 was time — specifically, in traffic.

Drivers who noticed less cars on the roads were witnessing a 33 percent drop in traffic in 2020, compared to 2019. That data comes courtesy of a new study by Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research.

Houston traffic congestion levels dropped from 24 percent to an impressive 16 percent during the pandemic. In April, during the peak of area stay-at-home efforts, Houston's congestion level plummeted to 6 percent, the lowest of the year. February saw the highest congestion level of 2020 at 26 percent.

For some perspective, in 2019, a 30-minute took an extra 37.5 minutes than a trip during less congested conditions, the study notes.

Further illustrating the headache of 2019 commuting, local drivers lost some 119 hours of extra travel time during peak hours. The study also found that in 2019, Houston drivers lost 119 hours of extra travel time driving during peak hours.

Compare that to 2020, where local drivers lost a mere 71 hours of travel time, which is two full days less than 2019. What can one do with an extra two days? Besides the obvious Netflix and chill option, that savings offers enough time to read 3,588 pages of Marcel Proust's 4,211-page whopper, In Search of Lost Time, the study notes.

Less cars on the road was extremely beneficial for the environment, the study adds. U.S. greenhouse gas emission from energy and industry dropped more than 10 percent in 2020 — the lowest recorded level in 30 years.

Thus, the good news is that with more Houstonians working from home, commute times and the local environment benefitted. However, the study notes that with the advent of COVD vaccinations, a subsequent return to work, and with no real policy changes planned, Houston's traffic headaches could soon return.

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This article originally ran on CultureMap.

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10+ can't-miss Houston business and innovation events for November

WHERE TO BE

From networking meetups to pitch competitions, November is filled with opportunities for Houston innovators. Here's a roundup of events you won't want to miss out on so mark your calendars and register accordingly.

Note: This post might be updated to add more events.

Featured event: November 14 — Houston Innovation Awards

Celebrate Houston innovation at InnovationMap's 2024 Houston Innovation Awards on November 14 at TMC Helix Park. Click here to read about the finalists. Secure your tickets below.


November 4 - 5 — In-Space Physical AI Workshop

The Rice University Office of Innovation, in partnership with NASA, Purdue University and the Ion District, will host the In-Space Physical AI Workshop. The event will bring together industry leaders, startups, government agencies and researchers to explore the cutting edge of AI in space exploration. Workshop sessions will cover a range of topics in physical AI ⎯ robots or systems that apply AI to autonomously sense, interact with and adapt to their environment using complex computational, sensory and motor abilities to perform challenging real-world tasks.

This event begins Monday, November 4, from 8 am to 8:30 pm at the Ion. Click here to register.

November 6 — Waste to Work: Transforming Waste into Valuable Resources

This event will delve into innovative strategies and technologies that transform waste materials into valuable resources, driving sustainability and economic growth. Topics will include innovative technologies in waste conversion, policy and regulation, economic opportunities in waste management, success stories from around the world, and trends and predictions.

This event is Wednesday, November 6, from 3 to 6 pm at the Cooley University Life Center at UTHealth Houston. Click here to register.

November 7 — Bots & Brews

This event is the fall meetup for the H-town robotics, drones, geospatial, data & AI crowd, hosted by the Energy Drone & Robotics Coalition. Leaders from energy/engineering asset owner/operators, service companies, tech solution providers, startups & investors in the energy and industrial robotics/drone/data & AI community come together to catch up and talk about real-world solutions, projects and deployments.

The event is Thursday, November 7, from 5:30 to 7:45 at The Cannon West. Click here to register.

November 8 — Tech Fest Live

The UH Technology Bridge will be buzzing with students, industry leaders, innovators, and tech enthusiasts as they come together to celebrate the future of technology and innovation. There will be exciting panel discussions, interactive exhibits, and networking opportunities in the fields of digital media, energy, AI and entrepreneurship.

This event is Friday, November 8, from 8 am to 4 pm at UH Technology Bridge. Click here to register.

November 12 — The New Majority Summit

1863 Ventures, a D.C.-based accelerator and venture capital firm, is focused on advancing New Majority entrepreneurs—those historically marginalized or underrepresented—towards greater wealth and success. This immersive program centers on the essential skills and insights needed to transition into becoming an effective CEO.

Throughout the event, registrants will delve into key topics, including the entrepreneurial mindset, understanding one's customer base, establishing scalable processes, financial management strategies, and effective fundraising techniques. Prepare to be inspired and empowered after hearing from 1863 CEO Melissa Bradley, founder & CEO of LAMIK Beauty Kim Roxie, co-founder of Donna's Recipe Gina Woods and more.

This event is Tuesday, November 12, from 8:30 am to 5 pm at the Ensemble Theatre. Click here to register.

November 12 — Software Day at the Ion: Blockchain 2.0: Innovating Across Industries

Software Day is a monthly series driving the support, inspiration, and connections needed to help startups on their path to rapid, sustainable growth. Each month, software day will include office hours (by application), a keynote session, and networking. This software day is moderated by Samantha Lewis, partner at Mercury. Panelists include the former CEO of BBVA Compass, Manolo Sanchez and Ian Epstein, co-CEO ProfitR, global head of capital markets and distribution at republic.

This event is Tuesday, November 12, from 3:30 to 7 pm at the Ion. Click here to register.

November 13 — Envision 2024

Learn how companies in the ecosystem of the largest medical center in the world are addressing challenges head-on, meet some of our entrepreneurs, and network. This event is presented in partnership with Innovate UK and BioInnovation Institute.

This event is Wednesday, November 13, from 1 to 5 pm at TMC Innovation Factory. Click here to register.

November 14 — State of the Texas Medical Center

The Greater Houston Partnership's State of the Texas Medical Center returns. William F. McKeon, President and CEO of the Texas Medical Center, will deliver an annual address, discussing the tremendous progress in discovery and life sciences at the world's largest medical center. New to this year's State of the Texas Medical Center, is a dynamic pitch competition, the TMC Innovation Pitch Tank.

This event is Thursday, November 14, from 11 am to 1:30 pm at Hilton Americas. Click here to register.

November 15 — 2024 ERG Symposium

This event, hosted by Houston Methodist, will include a keynote from Shona Pinnock, VP of DEI for Peloton as well as insights from other local organizations such as HESS, Houston Methodist, TDECU, Greystone and more. These experts will share how ERGS are impacting business goals, enhancing company culture and employee engagement and will provide valuable insights and actionable takeaways to help organizations maximize the effectiveness of ERGs.

This event is Friday, November 15, from 9 am to 1 pm at The Westin Houston Medical Center. Click here to register.

November 19 — A Texas Talk: Reflecting on the Past, Envisioning the Future

Center for Houston’s Future’s signature fall event, Dinner and Conversation presented by Harvey-Cleary, will feature an exciting conversation between two important Texas voices. Stephen Harrigan, the award-winning author of 12 fiction and non-fiction books, will appear in conversation with Sonal Shah, CEO of the Texas Tribune, who has a long record of social impact work across multiple sectors.

This event is Tuesday, November 19, from 6 to 9 pm at the River Oaks Country Club. Click here to register.

November 21 — Visionary Voices: A Fireside Chat with Dan Ammann, President of ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions

In this fireside chat, Dan Ammann, president of ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions, will discuss ExxonMobil’s plans in advancing a thoughtful energy transition by delivering the critical energy and products the world needs and reducing their own and others’ greenhouse gas emissions. He’ll talk about Low Carbon Solutions’ transformative projects and investments aimed at bringing lower-emission technologies like hydrogen, lithium, and carbon capture and storage to market, making them accessible to carbon-intensive industries worldwide.

This event is Thursday, November 21, from 8 to 10 am at the Ion. Click here to register.

Overheard: Houston's top energy transition founders explain their biggest challenges

Houston Innovation Awards

From finding funding to navigating the pace of traditional oil and gas company tech adoption, energy transition companies face their fair share of challenges.

This year's Houston Innovation Awards finalists in the Energy Transition category explained what their biggest challenge has been and how they've overcome it. See what they said below, and make sure to secure your tickets to the Nov. 14 event to see which of these finalists win the award.

"The evolving nature of the energy industry presents opportunities to solve some of our industry's greatest challenges. At Amperon we help optimize grid reliability and stability with the power of AI demand forecasting."

Sean Kelly, CEO of Amperon, an AI platform powering the smart grid of the future

"The biggest challenge in leading an energy transition-focused startup has been balancing the urgency for sustainable solutions with the slow pace of change in traditional industries like oil and gas. Many companies are cautious about adopting new technologies, especially when it comes to integrating sustainability initiatives. We overcame this by positioning our solutions not just as environmentally friendly, but as tools that improve safety, efficiency, and cost savings. By aligning our value proposition with their operational goals and demonstrating real, measurable benefits, we were able to gain traction and drive adoption in industries that are traditionally resistant to change."

— Dianna Liu, CEO of ARIXTechnologies, an integrated robotics and data analytics company that delivers inspection services through its robotics platforms

"Scaling up production of hard tech is a major challenge. Thankfully, we recruited top-notch talent with experience in technology scale-up and chemical processes. In addition, we've begun building partnerships with some of the world's largest chemical manufacturers in our space who are excited to be a part of our journey and could rapidly accelerate our go to market strategy. We have significant demand for our product as early as 2025, so partnering with these companies to scale-up will bring our technology to market years ahead of doing it alone."

— Matthew Dawson, CEO of Elementium Materials, a battery technology with liquid electrolyte solutions

"Our pyrolysis reactor is a proprietary design that was developed during Covid. We ran simulations to prove that it works, but it was not easy to test it in a pilot facility, let alone scaling it up. We managed ... to run our pilot plant studies, while working with them remotely. We proved that our reactor worked and produced high quality products. Later, we built our own pilot plant R&D facility to continue running tests and optimizing the process. Then, there was the challenge of scaling it up to commercial size. ... We put together a task force of four different companies to come together to design and build this complex reactor in record time."

— Vibhu Sharma, CEO of InnoVentRenewables, a startup with proprietary continuous pyrolysis technology that converts waste tires, plastics, and biomass into valuable fuels and chemicals

"Energy storage and geothermal power generation are capital-intensive infrastructure projects, requiring investors with a deep commitment and the patience in terms of years to allow the technology to be developed and proven in the field. One challenge is finding that niche of investors with the vision to join our journey. We have succeeded in raising our $30 million series A with these types of investors, whom we’re confident will continue the journey as we scale."

— Cindy Taff, CEO of SageGeosystems, an energy company focused on developing and deploying advanced geothermal technologies to provide reliable power and sustainable energy storage solutions regardless of geography

"The biggest challenge we've faced has been to bring together massive independent power producers on one side who are investing hundreds of millions of dollars into grid infrastructure with multi- national tech giants on the other that don't have experience working much with energy storage. As a startup with only four employees, gaining credibility with these players was critical. We overcame this hurdle by becoming the preeminent thought leader on storage emissions, through publishing white papers, discussing the issues on podcasts, and (more)."

— Emma Konet, CTO of TierraClimate, a software provider that helps grid-scale batteries reduce carbon emissions

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This article originally ran on EnergyCapital.