Photo courtesy of Isolcork

As temperatures continue to rise and electricity costs follow suit, companies and homeowners are keen on finding ways to cut costs while improving their energy efficiency.

That's whereIsolcork comes in. This top-of-the-line, multi-purpose, cork-based finish is sustainable, aesthetically pleasing, insulating, and durable, both for maintenance and new construction projects.

And the best part is that it's applied to the exterior only, meaning there's no need to pause or rearrange what's happening inside — whether that's manufacturing or everyday life — while the building's envelope is improved.

Isolcork has specialized in sustainable cork for the construction, operational, and maintenance industry since 2010, and is now available for residential use as well. Its products have been commercialized in 14 countries in both Europe and Latin America and used on more than 10,000 projects worldwide, including 25-plus in Arizona and Texas. All Isolcork lab tests have been conducted in U.S. labs under ASTM.

There are two options:

  • Spray cork: A blend of premium granulated cork particles combined with high-grade water-based resins, mineral fillers, stabilizers, and additives. (This video demonstration goes into more detail.)
  • Rubber top: Sprayable waterproofing membrane with rubber and nanoparticles for corrosion protection.

“We have a high standard of quality control for our products, and we manufacture a premium coating solution," says Isolcork manufacturer Pablo Palma. "We buy the best cork from the best producer of cork in the world, which is in the country of Portugal, and we use a unique grain size that we process manually in our manufacturing facility. I can certainly say that making spray cork is like being a master chef with a Michelin-starred restaurant. We are proud of our product, and we will keep it that way for our clients.”

American commercial buildings, especially warehouses, manufacturing, and healthcare facilities, that add Isolcork and meet certain government requirements can also qualify for a tax deduction of up to $5 per square foot, according to Section 179D.

Isolcork maintains a trusted partnership with a specialized tax firm that can build and certify the energy models for commercial buildings under Section 179D tax deduction incentives.

The global green construction is estimated to reach $774 billion by 2030, with a significant compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.8 percent from 2022 to 2032.Texas is the second-largest market in the U.S. for these type of products.

“Our success is due to three worldwide trends in the construction industry," says Isolcork's Mario Palma. "First, environmental entities are looking for natural component materials due to environmental requirements. Second, younger generations who care more about the environment are getting into decision-making positions across industries and they prefer natural products. Third, building owners, no matter what view they have, are looking to save energy and money due to the energy cost increase. Our products are 100 percent aligned with these worldwide trends.”

Companies around the world have been discovering the benefits of Isolcork — one recent example is a large manufacturing facility in Dallas. The estimated energy cost savings in heating and cooling will be between 15 and 20 percent for a standard product solution, plus the estimated tax deduction according to estimation could be equivalent to 70 percent of the total cost of the envelope improvement work.

Isolcork has proven so successful that it even holds the honor of being the first Latin American startup to be part of the Center for Innovation Program at the University of Arizona.

“With the estimated North America demand for Isolcork products being so large, the company is looking for locations and financial support of $10 million to build two manufacturing facilities in Texas and Arizona," says Isolcork USA & Canada country manager Emilio R. Armstrong.

Whether you're looking to invest in Isolcork or simply add it to your structure, the benefits of the sustainable product are immense. Learn more about Isolcork here.

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Texas female-founded companies raised more than $1 billion in 2024, VC data shows

by the numbers

Female-founded companies in Dallas-Fort Worth may rack up more funding deals and more money than those in Houston. However, Bayou City beats DFW in one key category — but just barely.

Data from PitchBook shows that in the past 16 years, female-founded companies in DFW collected $2.7 billion across 488 deals. By comparison, female-founded companies in the Houston area picked up $1.9 billion in VC through 343 deals.

Yet if you do a little math, you find that Houston ekes out an edge over DFW in per-deal values. During the period covered by the PitchBook data, the value of each of the DFW deals averaged $5.53 million. But at $5,54 million, Houston was just $6,572 ahead of DFW for average deal value.

Not surprisingly, the Austin area clobbered Houston and DFW.

During the period covered by the PitchBook data, female-founded companies in the Austin area hauled in $7.5 billion across 1,114 deals. The average value of an Austin deal: more than $6.7 million.

Historically, funding for female-established companies has lagged behind funding for male-established companies. In 2024, female-founded companies accounted for about one-fourth of all VC deals in the U.S., according to PitchBook.

PitchBook noted that in 2024, female-founded companies raised $38.8 billion, up 27 percent from the previous year, but deal count dropped 13.1 percent, meaning more VC for fewer startups. In Texas, female-founded companies brought in $1.3 billion last year via 151 deals. The total raised is the same as 2023, when Texas female founders got $1.3 billion in capital across 190 deals.

“The VC industry is still trying to find solid footing after its peak in 2021. While some progress was made for female founders in 2024, particularly in exit activity, female founders and investors still face an uphill climb,” says Annemarie Donegan, senior research analyst at PitchBook.

Here are 3 Houston innovators to know right now

Innovators to Know

Editor's note: These Houston innovators are making big strides in the fields of neurotechnology, neurodevelopmental diagnosis, and even improving the way we rest and recharge.

For our latest roundup of Innovators to Know, we meet a researcher who is working with teams in Houston and abroad to develop an innovative brain implant; a professor who has created an AI approach to diagnosis; and a local entrepreneur whose brand is poised for major expansion in the coming years.

Jacob Robinson, CEO of Motif Neurotech

Houston startup Motif Neurotech has been selected by the United Kingdom's Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) to participate in its inaugural Precision Neurotechnologies program. The program aims to develop advanced brain-interfacing technologies for cognitive and psychiatric conditions. Three Rice labs will collaborate with Motif Neurotech to develop Brain Mesh, which is a distributed network of minimally invasive implants that can stimulate neural circuits and stream neural data in real time. The project has been awarded approximately $5.9 million.

Motif Neurotech was spun out of the Rice lab of Jacob Robinson, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and bioengineering and CEO of Motif Neurotech.

Robinson will lead the system and network integration and encapsulation efforts for Mesh Points implants. According to Rice, these implants, about the size of a grain of rice, will track and modulate brain states and be embedded in the skull through relatively low-risk surgery. Learn more.

Dr. Ryan S. Dhindsa, Dhindsa Lab

Dr. Ryan S. Dhindsa, assistant professor of pathology and immunology at Baylor and principal investigator at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, and his team have developed an artificial intelligence-based approach that will help doctors to identify genes tied to neurodevelopmental disorders. Their research was recently published the American Journal of Human Genetics.

Dhindsa Lab uses “human genomics, human stem cell models, and computational biology to advance precision medicine.” The diagnoses that stem from the new computational tool could include specific types of autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy and developmental delay, disorders that often don’t come with a genetic diagnosis.

“Although researchers have made major strides identifying different genes associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, many patients with these conditions still do not receive a genetic diagnosis, indicating that there are many more genes waiting to be discovered,” Dhindsa says. Learn more.

Khaliah Guillory, Founder of Nap Bar

From nap research to diversity and inclusion, this entrepreneur is making Houston workers more productiveFrom opening Nap Bar and consulting corporations on diversity and inclusion to serving the city as an LGBT adviser, Khaliah Guillory is focused on productivity. Courtesy of Khaliah Guillory

Khalia Guillory launched her white-glove, eco-friendly rest sanctuary business, Nap Bar, in Houston in 2019 to offer a unique rest experience with artificial intelligence integration for working professionals, entrepreneurs and travelers who needed a place to rest, recharge and rejuvenate.

Now she is ready to take it to the next level, with a pivot to VR and plans to expand to 30 locations in three years.

Guillory says she’s now looking to scale the business by partnering with like-minded investors with experience in the wellness space. She envisions locations at national and international airports, which she says offer ripe scenarios for patrons needing to recharge. Additionally, Guillory wants to build on her initial partnership with UT Health by going onsite to curate rest experiences for patients, caregivers, faculty, staff, nurses and doctors. Colleges also offer an opportunity for growth. Learn more.

United breaks ground on $177 million facility and opens tech center at IAH

off the ground

United Airlines announced new infrastructure investments at George Bush Intercontinental Airport as part of the company’s ongoing $3.5 billion investment into IAH.

United broke ground on a new $177 million Ground Service Equipment (GSE) Maintenance Facility this week that will open in 2027.

The 140,000-square-foot GSE facility will support over 1,800 ground service vehicles and with expansive repair space, shop space and storage capacity. The GSE facility will also be targeted for LEED Silver certification. United believes this will provide more resources to assist with charging batteries, fabricating metal and monitoring electronic controls with improved infrastructure and modern workspaces.

Additionally, the company opened its new $16 million Technical Operations Training Center.

The center will include specialized areas for United's growing fleet, and advanced simulation technology that includes scenario-based engine maintenance and inspection training. By 2032, the Training Center will accept delivery of new planes. This 91,000-square-foot facility will include sheet metal and composite training shops as well.

The Training Center will also house a $6.3 million Move Team Facility, which is designed to centralize United's Super Tug operations. United’s IAH Move Team manages over 15 Super Tugs across the airfield, which assist with moving hundreds of aircraft to support flight departures, remote parking areas, and Technical Operations Hangars.

The company says it plans to introduce more than 500 new aircraft into its fleet, and increase the total number of available seats per domestic departure by nearly 30%. United also hopes to reduce carbon emissions per seat and create more unionized jobs by 2026.

"With these new facilities, Ground Service Equipment Maintenance Facility and the Technical Operations Training Center, we are enhancing our ability to maintain a world-class fleet while empowering our employees with cutting-edge tools and training,” Phil Griffith, United's Vice President of Airport Operations, said in a news release. “This investment reflects our long-term vision for Houston as a critical hub for United's operations and our commitment to sustainability, efficiency, and growth."