University of Houston introduces institute to bring business solutions to health care industry

medical biz

UH's C. T. Bauer College of Business will house the newly launched Healthcare Business Institute. Photo via Getty Images

The University of Houston announced this month that it has now launched its new Healthcare Business Institute, which will work with medical and business leaders as well as students to find solutions to pressing issues in the health care industry, such as high costs, access to care and new innovative technologies.

The institute will be part of the university's C. T. Bauer College of Business and led by Ravi Aron, research director and professor of health care strategy and technology in the Bauer College Department of Decision & Information Sciences, and Dr. Edward Kroger, the administrative director of the center.

“Providers are facing increasingly limited reimbursement from the U.S. government, insurers and employers. The industry is, therefore, struggling with finding new ways to increase value by improving quality and decreasing cost,” Aron says in a statement. “This is complicated by the fact that the industry is the most heavily regulated in the country. While policy, regulations and the government all have roles to play, efficient care delivery also requires businesses–small, medium, large and startups-to play a significant role in delivering effective and efficient care.”

The institute plans to bring together stakeholders from device makers and pharmaceutical companies to angel investors and educators to address many of these issues. Faculty and partners will release impactful research on topics such as hospital operations, new health care technologies, AI and machine learning in hospital contexts, emerging financial models in health care and a number of other topics.

Research will be shared in a new practitioner-facing Knowledge Portal that will feature a journal, editorials, and other media components like blogs, videos and audio.

The HBI will also have an educational component, with formal degree-based and shorter non-degree tracts, as well as a masters program related to health care leadership. Multiple executive education programs are also in the works.

“This unique combination of researchers, educationists and students will also benefit by connecting to perhaps the world’s most diversified health care ecosystem,” Aron says in the statement.

And Houston is the right place to house such an institute, says Bauer College Dean and Cullen Distinguished Chair Professor Paul A. Pavlou.

“Technology, data, and AI are enabling unprecedented advances in medicine, and Houston’s impressive health care network presents an exciting opportunity for a Healthcare Business Institute,” Pavlou says in the release. “Not only is Houston home to the Texas Medical Center, UH is the only university in Houston that includes a large number of health care researchers at the Bauer College of Business, a world-ranked health law program at the UH Law Center, a computer science department with many distinguished research faculty, and a new College of Medicine."

“The opportunity for meaningful collaboration among health care researchers, industry leaders, and students through HBI will be a tremendous asset for Houston with the potential for local, national and global impact,” he continues.

Earlier this summer, UH announced plans to open a 70,000-square-foot innovation hub next to the M.D. Anderson Library on UH's main campus in 2025. It's slated to house a makerspace, the Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship, the Energy Transition Institute, innovation programs, and Presidential Frontier Faculty labs and offices.
From Your Site Articles
UH's business school has a new program focused on artificial intelligence thanks to a partnership with Intel. Photo via uh.edu

University of Houston, Intel team up to prepare workforce for AI revolution

back to school

The University of Houston’s C.T. Bauer College of Business has teamed up with semiconductor chip manufacturer Intel Corp. to provide training in artificial intelligence.

The new artificial intelligence program features a standalone business certificate with two specialized courses; the first course launched in January. Bauer also plans to offer non-degree certificate programs in AI, such as the AI Certificate for Entrepreneurship and AI Certificate for Executive Education.

In a news release, Elizabeth McGee, chief strategy and innovation adviser at Santa Clara, California-based Intel, says the UH initiative will help bridge the AI knowledge gap. An online search indicates hundreds of AI-related jobs are open in the Houston area.

“Digital upskilling, or digital readiness, needs to be a catapult for economic prosperity for everyone and not a dividing point,” McGee says. “I commend the University of Houston for being the first higher education institution to take our award-winning curriculum and lend your expertise in entrepreneurship, your access to the broader Houston community, and supporting this digital upskilling for everyone.”

AI education has taken on a greater sense of urgency as the healthcare and energy sectors, among others, incorporate AI into their operations.

Paul Pavlou, dean of the Bauer College and Cullen Distinguished Chair Professor, says the collaboration between UH and Intel will help propel growth and innovation in Houston’s tech sector. Intel, whose only Texas location is in Austin, is a key player in the expanding AI market.

“Intel has been very generous with their resources, and with our expertise in analytics and faculty research and students’ initiative in bringing new products to life, the opportunities for this collaboration to be transformative are endless,” Pavlou says.

AI is growing at an incredibly rapid pace. According to Precedence Research, the size of the global AI market was estimated at $119.78 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach nearly $1.6 trillion by 2030.

“While some markets, sectors and individual businesses are more advanced than others, AI is still at a very early stage of development overall,” says professional services firm PwC. “From a macroeconomic point of view, there are … opportunities for emerging markets to leapfrog more developed counterparts.”

AI is viewed as both positive and negative in terms of today’s workforce.

“AI is a fast-evolving technology with great potential to make workers more productive, to make firms more efficient, and to spur innovations in new products and services. At the same time, AI can also be used to automate existing jobs and exacerbate inequality, and it can lead to discrimination against workers,” says a report published by the White House in 2022.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Houston City Council celebrated “AI Innovation and Entrepreneurship Day” at City Hall on Feb. 7. Photo via Facebook

Here's some local Houston startup news you may have missed. Photo by Zview/Getty Images

Houston startups raise funds, enter into new partnerships, and more local innovation news

short stories

Houston startups across industries have been moving and shaking these past few weeks, and there's a chance you may have missed some of these Houston innovation stories.

In this roundup of short stories within Houston innovation, two Houston-based e-commerce startups announce big news, a tech company pitches abroad, and more.

Houston industrial e-commerce startup expands into the construction industry

Houston-based GoExpedi has expanded its business. Photo by Colt Melrose for GoExpedi

GoExpedi, an end-to-end digital supply chain and data analytics company with solutions within procurement and delivery of maintenance, repair, and operations products for heavy industries, announced it has expanded into the commercial construction space.

Builders partnering with GoExpedi now have access to more than 200,000 critical parts and supplies, according to a news release from the company.

"Access to needed tools and materials in construction is already a challenge in today's supply chain environment," says GoExpedi CEO Tim Neal in the release. "Expanding into commercial construction is a natural extension of our capabilities as we already provide significant operational and cost value with our digital platform across similar heavy sectors. We're quickly ramping up the number of construction groups we're working with, giving them a better way to plan for and order materials to help avoid costly building delays."

GoExpedi raised a $25 million series C round in 2020 and is deploying these funds as the company grows. Earlier this year, the startup opened a new industrial and energy MRO warehouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

UH business college snags prestigious grant

Dean​ Paul Pavlou leads the University of Houston's Bauer College of Business.

The University of Houston's C. T. Bauer College of Business is partnering with Texas A&M University and Temple University to develop and implement an energy risk tracking and alert system in Houston and San Antonio. The research project recently received $1.5 million in grant funding from the National Science Foundation. The grant is part of the Smart and Connected Communities program.

"Advanced Learning for Energy Risk Tracking" (ALERT) is designed to prevent and mitigate costly and potentially devastating electricity outages — such as the 2021 winter storm — according to a news release from UH. Bauer College Dean and Cullen Distinguished Chair Professor Paul A. Pavlou is one of co-investigators.

"If there is one positive outcome of the winter storm, it certainly created an awareness for many people that we need to invest more in intelligent systems that can minimize the huge costs and negative impacts that electricity outages can have on people and local communities," he says in the release. "The idea of this research is to create a data-driven system to reduce, predict, and mitigate costly power outages, especially in traditionally disadvantaged communities that usually suffer the most from power outages."

The ALERT system depends on data generated by utilities, city and county governments, school districts and others, enabling preemptive repairs and allowing officials to react more quickly in the event of unforeseen outages, per the release, and a test version of the resource may begin operating in San Antonio as soon as 2022, followed by a trial in Houston.

"It's a technologically very advanced solution, but the beauty of it is that we are working with local communities to acquire the data, to enhance the system and also feed the data back to the community to actually minimize the impact on the people who suffer most from power outages," Pavlou says in the release.

Houston health tech company receives new investment

Dan Purvis, CEO of Velentium

A Houston company has fresh funding. Photo courtesy of Velentium

Velentium has announced a growth recapitalization in partnership with Connecticut-based Great Point Partners. Houston-based Velentium is an engineering firm specializing in the design and manufacturing of therapeutic and diagnostic active medical devices, and GPP is a leading health care investment firm. The new investment allows Velentium to scale national operations.

"When Great Point reached out to us earlier this year, we were immediately impressed with their deep knowledge of our market and track record building businesses," says Dan Purvis, CEO of Velentium, in a news release. "We continue to build an organization that improves the lives of people and families by helping to bring transformative medical devices to market, and Great Point is uniquely positioned to enable us to do that at an even larger scale. Today, we are starting a new chapter and taking a crucial step in realizing our dream of having 1,000 families as part of our organization."

Velentium was created to advance the next breakthrough medical device technology — all within the same company. Innovators and inventors don't have to go through the processes — from cybersecurity to manufacturing — by themselves.

"Our dream from day one was to create a one-stop shop here in Houston where new startups with IP can come to us and know that start to finish they would have their commercial device ready for approval with the FDA and that we were going to handle everything," Purvis previously told InnovationMap.

With GPP's investment, Velentium is equipped to augment its end-to-end solutions and its nearshore and offshore manufacturing capabilities, per the release.

"Velentium has played a pivotal role in the development of groundbreaking neuromodulation devices that have led to important medical technology advancements," says GPP Managing Director Adam Dolder in the release. "We look forward to being partners with Dan, Tim and the entire team and helping them to achieve their goals for the company."

Houston startup tapped for European pitch competition

Jessica Reitmeier, is the co-founder of Pandata Tech. Photo courtesy of Pandata Tech

Houston-based Pandata Tech is one of 29 companies from around the globe competing in Scotland's Net Zero Technology Centre's Clean Energy Start-up Pitch Battle finals. Each featured company has a technology solution that can help accelerate the transition to a net zero energy industry, and 10 finalists will be selected to pitch at COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, on November 2, 2021.

"These start-ups are truly inspiring. Offering extraordinary innovation and ambition, all these teams are developing technologies that have significant potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," says Mark Anderson, TechX Director of Net Zero Technology Centre.

The Ion Houston nominated Pandata Tech to be part of the competition because of the startup's previous work in offshore energy and geothermal utility distribution.

"When we think about reducing C02 emissions by 50 percent or more by 2030 and the data required to meet that mark, it's simple — humans and algorithms need data they can trust," says Jessica Reitmeier, co-founder of Pandata.

Houston e-commerce services provider announces strategic partnership

Houston-based e-commerce software startup and Amazon competitor raises $25M in its series A

Cart.com has a new partner, which has increased access to tools for its clients. Photo via cart.com

Houston-based Cart.com, an end-to-end ecommerce services provider and Amazon competitor, announced a strategic partnership with Clearco, the world's largest ecommerce investor. With the new partnership, Cart.com's clients will receive access to Clearco's capital financing and Clearco's portfolio of over 5,500 companies will have access to Cart.com's end-to-end e-commerce platform.

"We're committed to making all aspects of running an ecommerce business streamlined and hassle-free — and that includes getting access to the capital needed to fuel growth," says Omair Tariq, Cart.com CEO, in a news release. "Through this partnership we're giving online sellers frictionless access to the resources they need to scale up, while allowing founders to stay laser-focused on serving their customers and building their brand."

The two companies share the mission to democratize ecommerce by delivering easier, more streamlined access to critical resources — including capital, services, and domain-specific information — which have previously only been available to companies like Amazon.

"Like Cart.com, we envision a world where founding a business is accessible to everyone, and where founders can access essential capital without having to jump through endless hoops," says Andrew D'Souza, Clearco CEO, in the release. "By partnering with Cart.com, Clearco companies will be able to access the platform's end-to-end ecommerce engine — including online store technology, integrated fulfillment services, and customer service support — to scale their ecommerce growth."

The University of Houston has announced new and evolved online business programs. Photo courtesy of University of Houston

UH launches online MBA, plus six new digital degree programs

online ed

The University of Houston's C. T. Bauer College of Business announced this month that it will begin offering fully online Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Business Administration programs in the upcoming fall semester.

The new offerings are part of the college's 2020-2025 Strategic Plan that focuses on becoming a leader in digital learning and affordable education options.

In addition to the online BBA and MBA degrees, Bauer is launching five other fully online business-minded graduate programs:

  • Online Master of Science in Business Analytics
  • Online Master of Science in Finance
  • Online Master of Science in Management & Leadership
  • Online Master of Science in Management Information Systems
  • Online Master of Science in Supply Chain Management

Over the summer, Paul Pavlou, dean of the Bauer School and Cullen Distinguished Chair Professor, told InnovationMap that enrollment in the Bauer College had increased by about 70 percent, as the school focused on accessibility and affordability amid the pandemic and record job losses.

According to Pavlou, these new degree programs will be an extension of that effort.

"Given the recent developments due to COVID-19, and the broader challenges for higher education, it has become imperative to enhance our ability to leverage technology to offer courses remotely," he says in a statement.

The seven programs will cost between 15 to 20 percent less than traditional degree programs at the university, according to UH. The new programs will charge in-state tuition for all students, regardless of residency, and online students will not pay additional fees.

"These new offerings demonstrate our dedication to providing students financially accessible programs that emphasize innovation, technology, and experiential learning," says Paula Myrick Short, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at UH. "Student success is our top priority, and as the need for flexible instruction and course delivery increases, we will meet that need."

The Bauer School has long been touted as one of the top schools for entrepreneurship in the country. In late 2020, UH announced that it received a $13 million donation from the Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Family Foundation to go toward Bauer's well-known programs, as part of the school's $1.2 billion "Here We Go" initiative.
Rice University and the University of Houston each ranked No. 1 on lists on entrepreneurship programs. Photo courtesy of Rice University

Houston schools reign supreme on lists of best universities for entrepreneurship

we're No. 1

Perhaps Houston warrants a new nickname in addition to Space City and Bayou City. How about Entrepreneurship City?

Rice University tops a new list of the top 25 graduate entrepreneurship programs in the U.S., and the University of Houston lands atop a new list of the top 50 undergraduate entrepreneurship programs. Rice and UH repeated their No. 1 rankings from last year. The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine published both lists November 17.

The Princeton Review ranked graduate and undergraduate entrepreneurship programs based on a survey of administrators at more than 300 graduate and undergraduate schools that offer entrepreneurship programs. Schools were rated according to more than 40 metrics, including the percentage of students taking entrepreneurship courses, the number of startups founded by recent alumni, and the cash prizes offered at school-sponsored business plan competitions.

The Princeton Review, a provider of tutoring, test prep, and college admission services, noted that businesses launched by graduates of Rice's program have launched have raised more than $5.5 billion in capital over the past 10 years. Meanwhile, graduates of UH's program have started over 1,300 businesses in the past 10 years.

Entrepreneurship initiatives at Rice's Jones Graduate School of Business include the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, which launched in 2000, and its annual Rice Business Plan Competition; the OwlSpark Accelerator, which began in 2012; and the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Lilie), which started in 2015. In addition, Rice is developing the Midtown innovation district anchored by The Ion, set to open next spring.

"Entrepreneurship and the creation of new businesses and industries are critical to Houston and Texas' future prosperity and quality of life," Rice Business Dean Peter Rodriguez says in a release.

Here are two highlights of Rice's offerings:

  • Lilie equips students, faculty and alumni with entrepreneurial prowess through courses, co-curricular opportunities, and resources for founders such as coworking space, mentorship, and equity-free funding. Lilie hosts the university's new venture competition, the H. Albert Napier Rice Launch Challenge, in which Rice-founded teams compete for $65,000 in equity-free prizes.
  • The Rice Alliance's flagship event is the Rice Business Plan Competition, billed as world's richest and largest student startup competition. Startups from across the globe — including one team from Rice — compete in front of over 300 investor and industry judges. The competition awarded more than $1.3 million in prizes in 2020.

At UH, Paul Pavlou, dean of the C.T. Bauer College of Business, says the spirit of entrepreneurship is woven into the DNA of the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship and the Bauer College.

"Entrepreneurship is at the heart of American business life," Pavlou says in a release. "The culture and values of the Wolff Center allow our students to found successful new companies and bring new and innovative ideas to established organizations. We believe these skills will be even more crucial in the coming years as we seek to rebuild our economy post-COVID-19."

Between 35 and 40 students are accepted each year into the Wolff Center's entrepreneurship program. However, more than 3,000 UH students from 85 different majors took at least one entrepreneurship course last year.

"The students at the Wolff Center are not just passionate about entrepreneurship. They are eager to take the lessons learned in the classroom and enhance their lives," Dave Cook, executive director of the Wolff Center, says in a release. "Purpose isn't just a class in [the center]. It is a challenge to create the best life possible, with a focus on the student's values and on doing good in the world."

Other than UH, these Texas schools appeared on the list of the top 50 undergraduate entrepreneurship programs:

  • Baylor University, No. 7
  • University of Texas at Dallas, No. 18
  • University of Texas at Austin, No. 24
  • Texas Christian University, No. 27
  • Texas A&M University-College Station, No. 35

Aside from Rice, these Texas schools made the list of the top 25 graduate entrepreneurship programs:

  • University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business, No. 6
  • University of Texas at Dallas, Naveen Jindal School of Management, No. 10
  • Texas A&M University-College Station, Mays School of Business, No. 26

"The schools that made our ranking lists for 2021 all offer exceptional entrepreneurship programs," Rob Franek, The Princeton Review's editor in chief, says in a release. "Their faculties are outstanding. Their courses have robust experiential components, and their students receive outstanding mentoring and networking support."

This week's innovators to know include University of Houston business school Dean Paul Pavlou, the PR Boutique's Karen Henry, and SecurityGate Founder Ted Gutierrez. Photos courtesy

3 Houston innovators to know this week

Who's who

As another week begins, there's a few people you should know within the business and innovation world of Houston.

This week's Houston innovators to know includes a quick-thinking business school dean leading a college virtually, a public relations expert with the reasons you need to focus on social media for your business, and an entrepreneur who's providing key resources for business owners looking to safely get workers back in the office.

Paul Pavlou, dean of the C.T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston

Courtesy of The University of Houston

The University of Houston's C.T. Bauer College of Business is going to remain completely online only through the summer. And, while that might present some challenges for students and staff, Dean Paul Pavlou says he's actually seeing an increase in enrollment. Plus, the virtual platforms allow faculty to support more classes.

"One advantage of online learning is it's very flexible — we aren't confined to the classroom," Pavlou says on this week's episode of the Houston Innovators Podcast. "We've opened up more sections and seats to make it easier for students to sign up." Read more and stream the episode.

Karen Henry, founding partner of The PR Boutique

Photo courtesy of the PR Boutique

Public relations expert Karen Henry, who founded the PR Boutique based in Houston, shared in a guest column for InnovationMap how key — especially in times like these — your company's online pressence is.

"We cannot work in silos; instead, we need to have a comprehensive approach, including tactics such as media relations, community partnerships, unique events, influencer collaborations, digital and traditional advertising, email marketing and social media," Henry writes.

Social media, she argues, can be a powerful, cost-effective tool. Read more.

Ted Gutierrez, CEO and founder of SecurityGate

Courtesy of Security Gate

Houston-based software startup SecurityGate Inc. specializes in cyber-risk management for companies, but this spring, SecurityGate shifted to a different type of risk management — keeping workplaces healthy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The company launched a cloud-based wellness technology, available through an online platform and a mobile app.

"The biggest thing that I want people to know is you don't have to come up with your own workflow and you don't have to spend tons of money to get your people back to work," says Ted Gutierrez, co-founder and CEO of the three-year-old startup. "There's a company out there that is already doing this for a living, so this is the least we could do to help out." Read more.

Ad Placement 300x100
Ad Placement 300x600

CultureMap Emails are Awesome

Property Showcase

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

where to be

The energy transition and AI will be the talk of this town this month, thanks to a packed calendar of Houston events. September brings the return of Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week and some of its signature anchor events, plus AI conferences and talks exploring how the technology is impacting everything from healthcare to leadership. Here’s what not to miss and how to register. Please note: this article may be updated to add more events.


Sept. 3 — Entrepreneurship Roundtable with Open

Open Houston and the Ion present this roundtable event to bring together founders, builders, and innovators at various stages of venture development. This month's session will feature Faisal Bhutto, president and CEO of Houston-based AI and tech consulting firm Alykas.

This event is Thursday, Sept. 3, from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Ion. An optional lunch ticket is available for purchase. Register here.

Sept. 3 — AI Operator Spotlight: Houston’s Top AI Leaders Open Their Playbooks

The Houston AI Club, Allenix, the Ion District and Collide are bringing together industry leaders to share their expertise and first-hand experiences building AI companies. The event will feature a panel with Chuck Yates, co-founder of Collide, and Charles Jessup, senior manager of AI fluency at Raytheon, plus an open networking session.

This event is Thursday, Sept. 3, from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Ion. Register here.

Sept. 8 — The Technology Leadership Advantage Series – For CEOs, VCs and PE Firms

Ram Prasad, CEO of Houston-based IT consulting firm Delence, will explore the role of leadership in turning AI investments into business value during the latest installment of this series at the Ion. The event will explore why AI strategies often fail before the technology does and how companies should approach AI ownership, governance, investment and accountability.

This event is Tuesday, Sept. 8, from noon-1 p.m. at the Ion. Register here.

Sept. 14–18 — Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week

Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week returns for its third year, with panels, happy hours and pitch days focused on the energy transition. See the schedule of events here. The week will begin with a kickoff block party and open house at the Ion.

This event starts Monday, Sept. 14. The Ion District will host many of the week's events. Find more information here.

Sept. 15 — Meet the Activate Houston Cohort 2026 Fellows

Meet Activate's latest cohort, which was named this summer, and learn more about their hardtech and climate-focused solutions. Also meet founders from the organization’s 2025 cohort during Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week.

This event is Tuesday, Sept. 15, from 5-7 p.m. at the Ion. Register here.

Sept. 15 – Cypher Pilotathon and Startup Showcase

Grab coffee and take in keynotes and panels featuring leaders from Amperon, Aramco Ventures, New Climate Ventures, Syzygy Plasmonics and many others during this signature event, this year under the theme “The NEW Energy Industrial Revolution.” After lunch, hear pitches from 31 ventures during the Pilotathon. This year's event will also feature a startup showcase with interactive booths where attendees can meet founders and see demonstrations, plus an industry hub where corporates and investors can engage with emerging technologies and identify the pilots they want to move forward with.

This event is Tuesday, Sept. 15, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at POST Houston. Get tickets here.

Sept. 15-17 — The AI in Health Conference

Rice University's Ken Kennedy Institute will present this future-focused event, aimed at bridging the gap between artificial intelligence and real-world health outcomes. The event will feature panels with leaders from institutions and companies from around the world, plus technical talks, poster presentations and networking receptions.

This event begins Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 8 a.m. at the BRC at Rice University. Register here.

Sept. 16 — Greentown Labs Climatech Summit

Entrepreneurs, investors, corporate leaders, policymakers and philanthropists will head to Houston this month for the annual Greentown Climatetech Summit. Hear from Greentown CEO Georgina Campbell Flatter and keynote speaker Tim Latimer, CEO and co-founder of Houston geothermal unicorn Fervo Energy, plus numerous other engaging panels at the Ion. Then head to Greentown Labs for an open house and startup showcase, where attendees can meet some of the climatech incubators' members, before taking in the startup pitch competition followed by happy hour over at the Continental Club.

This event is Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 8 a.m.–9 p.m. at multiple locations. Register here.

Sept. 18 — Rice Alliance Energy Tech Venture Forum

Hear from clean energy startups from around the world at the 23rd annual Energy Tech Venture Forum. In addition to the pitches, this event will also host keynotes from Sean Maher, chief economist at Phillips 66, and Ira Ehrenpreis, founder and managing partner of DBL Partner. Panels will focus on technologies, infrastructure and commercialization strategies needed to deploy breakthrough innovations at scale. Following the event, the Rice Alliance will also name its annual “Most Promising” startup.

This event is Thursday, Sept. 17, from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. at Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business. Register here.

Sept. 23 – Houston Methodist Innovation Discussion

Houston Methodist presents its latest Innovation Discussion this month for the Houston health IT community. This month's event will feature Dr. Jordan Dale, chief medical information officer and chief health AI officer at Houston Methodist, and Ginny Torno, executive director of innovation and IT clinical, ancillary and research systems for Houston Methodist. The two will share insights into Houston Methodist’s innovation strategy and approach to scaling new ideas, plus real-world lessons on AI adoption and more.

This event is Wednesday, Sept. 23, from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Ion. Register here.

Sept. 23 — UH Energy Career Fair

Find your next job or team member at UH's energy-focused career fair. The event will feature companies from the fossil fuels, electrical power, nuclear power and renewables industries; plus nonprofits, governmental agencies and startups. And though the event is geared toward business, engineering, technology and science majors, it is open to students of all majors.

This event is Wednesday, Sept. 23, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the UH Student Center. Find more information here.

Sept. 30 — First Principles Tech Talk: From Orbit to the Lunar Surface

Head to the Ion for the first-ever First Principles Tech Talk. This event will feature short talks and moderated discussions geared toward founders, engineers and operators in the commercial space industry. The inaugural event will feature Megan Ortiz and Zach Paugh from Houston-based Axiom Space.

This event is Wednesday, Sept. 30, from 5-7 p.m. at the Ion. Register here.

Momentum is where Houston founders go to break $1 million — apply by Sept. 30

Inside EO

Houston loves a startup story. The harder story, the one that decides whether a company becomes an employer, a brand, and a fixture of the city, is what happens after the start. Most businesses that survive their early years still never cross $1 million in revenue. Fewer than 5 percent ever do. The rest get stuck in the messy middle, somewhere between $250,000 and $1 million, where the owner is still the salesperson, the product, and the back office all at once, and nothing runs without them.

Momentum, the accelerator run by EO Houston, exists for exactly that stage. It is a yearly accelerator for owners and co-founders between $250,000 and $1 million in revenue who are ready to push past seven figures, built around eight months of classes a year and a confidential monthly Forum. Members are invited to go through it for two years: the first pass to build the systems, the second to run them at a higher level, with a new lens and alongside a new cohort.

The next cohort launches in October, with applications open now at eohouston.com/momentum until September 30. Here is the case the chapter makes for joining, point by point.

A curriculum built by operators, not consultants

Momentum's curriculum was built by two operators. Al Danto, an EO Houston founding member who built and exited his own company, is now a Partner at Exit Advisors and a Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at Rice University. He built the curriculum alongside Jacky Fischer, the owner of Houston's 3 Men Movers, who brought a working owner's eye, not an academic one, to how the program is structured. The material covers what actually decides whether a company scales: building systems, hiring and leading a team, and turning an annual vision into 90-day commitments with clear owners.

“Everything in this curriculum got tested inside a real company, either mine or one run by the people who shaped it. If a tool did not survive contact with a real business, it did not make the cut," Danto says.

Momentum is an independent program of EO Houston and requires no university affiliation; faculty and alumni participate as instructors and coaches in their individual capacities. What carries over is the standard: real experience over theory.

EO Houston Momentum classroom A Momentum class in session. Photo courtesy of EO Houston

Entrepreneurs teaching entrepreneurs since 1987

Momentum works because of what sits behind it. The Entrepreneurs' Organization was founded in 1987 on a simple idea: business owners grow fastest alongside peers who have already been where they are going. Today, EO is a global, peer-to-peer network spanning 200+ chapters in over 80 countries, and it runs on a practice called Forum, a small, confidential group of six to 10 fellow owners who meet monthly. Forum members do not give advice. They share experience: what actually happened when they faced the same hire, the same cash crunch, the same decision. Ask EO members anywhere in the world and most will call Forum the single most valuable thing they belong to. Every Momentum member sits in one.

Built for scaling small businesses, not launching startups

Houston's accelerator landscape mostly serves the very early stage: the idea, the pitch deck, the startup swinging for a billion-dollar outcome. Momentum sits in the gap those programs leave behind. It is built for regular companies that are already real, with revenue, payroll, and customers, and an owner who needs help scaling what works into a business that matures. That focus is the point: EO Houston is the place a small business goes to get help growing.

The price is different too. Accelerators usually charge in ownership, a stake in the company in exchange for the program. Momentum takes none. EO Houston is a nonprofit, and the program runs on dues of $3,500 for the year. The outcome the chapter is after is simple: more Houston businesses crossing $1 million, still fully owned by the people who built them.

An on-ramp into Houston's most established founder community

EO Houston counts more than 200 member businesses, every one run by an owner who has already scaled past $1 million, with 75+ chapter events a year. Momentum members plug into that community from day one: the classes, their own Forum, the annual gala, the retreats, the socials. Two years around people who have already done the thing you are trying to do changes what you believe is normal. And when a Momentum member crosses $1 million, the on-ramp becomes a doorway: graduates step into EO Houston membership itself and the global network behind it. The program's full story and curriculum live at eomomentum.com.

Avneesh Oberoi, founder of Oberoi Investments and The DoughCone, walked that path, finishing the program and joining EO Houston in July 2026.

“I truly can say that the experience for the last two years has been life-changing and so memorable… I am also so filled with gratitude to have met so many people open to sharing their experiences and time. It’s made such a difference in how I think, operate, and spend my time and resources," Oberoi says. "I joined with the goal of taking my business I started personally, The DoughCone, and figuring out how to optimize the business and maximize revenue, while navigating a board seat and ownership in a much larger family business on its third generation of ownership… and EO has given me so many tools and experience shares and perspectives I’ve been able to take to both businesses. The growth has been unreal.”

The door swings both ways. EO Houston is opening Momentum to its own members too, owners whose companies average $3 million to $5 million in sales, because the chapter believes the same curriculum and Forum that carry a founder to $1 million keep working well past it.

Sarah Seitz shows how the pieces connect. A former teacher, she founded The Enrichery, a Houston education company offering academic coaching, test prep, and college counseling that has grown to locations across the city. She completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, then joined EO Houston to keep growing. This year, a year after joining, The Enrichery made the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies. She coached Momentum through its first year, and has since moved from coaching into leadership, helping shape the program's growth from its board.

For owners finishing a program like 10,000 Small Businesses who are not yet at $1 million, Momentum is where the coaching and community continue until they qualify for EO.

Apply by September 30

Momentum's next cohort begins in October 2026, and applications close September 30. The program is for owners and co-founders of Houston businesses doing more than $250,000 a year who are ready to build past $1 million, and now for EO Houston members ready to keep growing. The full curriculum, dues, dates, and FAQ are on the application page. Apply by September 30 at eohouston.com/momentum.

Fewer than 5 percent of businesses make it past $1 million, and there is nothing inevitable about which 5 percent. Houston has the founders. Momentum exists to give them the systems and the peers.

---

EO Houston is the Houston chapter of the Entrepreneurs' Organization, a global peer-to-peer network of business owners founded in 1987, with more than 200 member businesses and 75+ chapter events a year. Momentum is an independent program of EO Houston. Rice University faculty and alumni participate as instructors and coaches in their individual capacities.

Tesla proposes Houston-area solar plant & more top innovation headlines

Trending news

Editor's note: August proved to be a big month for innovation news in Houston, with big plans revealed by Tesla, the expansion of Apple's Houston footprint, and an update on the MD Anderson-anchored medical center planned for Austin. Below are the five most-read InnovationMap headlines published during the second half of August 2026:

Telsa targets Houston area for new $10 billion manufacturing plant

Electric vehicle and clean energy company Tesla is considering building a new $10.1 billion solar cell manufacturing facility in Fort Bend County, according to documents filed with the Texas Comptroller’s Office. If approved, the plant, called Project Sun City, would be located on a 3,050-acre site off FM 762 and FM 1994 in Richmond, Texas. Tesla aims to finish construction in 2028, with the plant being operational by early 2029. Continue reading.

$5B MD Anderson-anchored Austin medical center to break ground this fall

Construction on the $1 billion first phase of the AI-native University of Texas Dell Medical Center in Austin—which will feature a hospital operated by Houston’s UT MD Anderson Cancer Center—is set to start this fall. The UT System Board of Regents approved funding for first-phase construction on August 12. The medical center—now expected to cost $5 billion, up from the initial $2.9 billion estimate—will span about 2.5 million square feet. It will include 300 to 500 patient beds, outpatient facilities, an emergency department and specialized care for cancer patients. Continue reading.

Tech giant Apple opens Advanced Manufacturing Center at massive Houston facility

Cupertino, California-based Apple Inc. unveiled its Advanced Manufacturing Center in the Houston, marking the completion of the second of three facilities the tech giant plans to launch in the city by the end of this year. The 20,000-square-foot training center will welcome small- and medium-sized businesses for free training and educational sessions to "help accelerate smart manufacturing across America," according to Apple. Apple opened a similar Apple Manufacturing Academy in Detroit last year. Continue reading.

Intuitive Machines lands $600M satellite deal, NASA ‘spacecraft bus’ contract

Houston-based space infrastructure company Intuitive Machines has scored two astronomical deals. The deals add to the company’s soaring success. As of June 30, Intuitive Machines had a record-high $1.8 billion backlog of orders, a $1.5 billion increase from the end of last year. The current backlog includes orders for more than 80 spacecraft. The company, which went public in 2023, expects this year’s revenue to total $900 million to $1 billion. In the first half of 2026, Intuitive Machines generated nearly $393 million in revenue. Intuitive Machines estimates its total available market is valued at more than $150 billion. Continue reading.

Fast-growing Houston real estate startup surges to No. 7 on Inc. 5000

Houston-based Epique Realty has ridden the AI wave to rank among the Inc. 5000’s 10 fastest-growing private companies. With three-year revenue growth of 23,210 percent, the AI-powered real estate brokerage appears at No. 7 on this year’s Inc. 5000 list. Epique, founded in 2021, also ranks as the No. 1 fastest-growing company in Houston, No. 1 fastest-growing real estate company in the U.S., and No. 2 fastest-growing company in Texas. Continue reading.

View All Listings