11 can't-miss Houston business and innovation events for August

where to be

From insightful talks to a young professionals summit, here's what not to miss and how to register. Photo via Getty Images

Editor's note: The tech event scene is heating up in August. From insightful talks to a young professionals summit, here's what not to miss and how to register. Please note: this article may be updated to include additional event listings.

Aug. 5 – Tech and Tequila Talk

Hear from guest speaker David Cohen, founder & CEO of Dallas-based Superposition, at the latest installment of Tech and Tequila Talk. The event will focus on breaking down ambiguity in data and AI projects through collaborative workshops.

This event takes place Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 5-7 p.m. at the Ion. Click here to register.

Aug. 11-16 – Black is Tech Week

Black is Tech Week will bring events for tech professionals, entrepreneurs and students to Houston through summits, career fairs, networking events and more. The event will feature speakers from Amazon, Microsoft, Google and many other companies.

This event begins Monday, Aug. 1. Find more information here.

Aug. 12 – NASA Stories at the Ion

Head to the Ion for the new morning series spotlighting the human side of space exploration. Each session will feature personal and powerful stories from astronauts and key NASA personnel. Anthony Vareha, NASA Flight Director and Flight Operations Directorate, whose primary duty is the safe operation of the International Space Station will speak this month.

This event begins Tuesday, Aug. 12, from 8:30-10 a.m. Find more information here.

Aug. 14 – Pickle Lab’s One-Year Anniversary Celebration

Enjoy an afternoon of open-play pickleball, beats by a live DJ, raffle giveaways and free swag at the first anniversary celebration of Pickle Lab in the Ion District. WonderPops will provide complimentary pops while supplies last, and Second Draught will serve each guest a free beverage.

This event takes place Thursday, Aug. 14, from 4-7 p.m. RSVP here.

Aug 19 – Navigating the Economy: Insights from Darren King

Darren King, chief investment officer of Moody Bank, will share his expert insights on the state of the economy and its impact on Houston’s future. Gain a deeper understanding of market trends, economic shifts and what they mean for businesses and individuals in the city.

This event takes place Tuesday, Aug. 19, from 11:30-1 p.m. RSVP here.

Aug. 21 – Transition on Tap

Greentown Labs’ signature networking event returns in August to foster conversations and connections within Houston's climate and energy transition ecosystem. Entrepreneurs, investors, students, philanthropists and more are invited to attend, meet colleagues, discuss solutions and engage with the growing community.

This event takes place Thursday, Aug. 21, at 5:30 p.m. at Greentown Labs. Click here to register.

Aug. 22 – Determined to Lead Women Lunch: Investing Through Market Cycles with Ellen Wilkirson

EnergyTech Nexus hosts a monthly Determined to Lead Women’s Lunch as part of its ongoing efforts to create safe spaces for women leaders in the energy transition to connect, learn and lead. The August session features Ellen Wilkirson, principal at Rev Innovations. With deep experience across traditional and transition energy sectors, Wilkirson will share how she’s approached investing through multiple market and commodity cycles and what it means to be a clean energy investor in today’s evolving landscape.

This event takes place Friday, Aug. 22, at 1 p.m. Click here to register.

Aug. 26 – Software Day at the Ion: Positioning your Startup to Capitalize on Market Trends

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 month’s panel discussion will feature Remington Tonar, co-founder of Cart.com, and Josh Teekell, founder of SmartAC.com.

This event takes place Tuesday, Aug. 26, from 3:30-7 p.m. Click here to register.

Aug. 27 – Future of Flight: Inside Venus Aerospace with Founder Sassie Duggleby

Join EO Houston for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes conversation with Sassie Duggleby, co-founder and CEO of Venus Aerospace, a Houston-based company pioneering breakthrough propulsion systems for hypersonic and space applications.

This event takes place Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 10 a.m. at Venus Aerospace. It is open to EO members and partners only. Click here to register.

Aug. 27 – The Future of American Science: A Conversation With US Rep. Brian Babin

U.S. Rep. Dr. Brian Babin and Paul Cherukuri, vice president of innovation at Rice University, will discuss how the United States remains at the forefront of space exploration, emerging technologies and scientific advancement, as well as what's next and what's at stake for the future of science policy.

This event takes place Wednesday, Aug. 27, from 3-4 p.m. at James A. Baker III Hall on Rice University's campus. Click here to register.

Aug. 28 – HYPE Summit

The third annual Houston Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs (HYPE) Summit is a day-long conference featuring panel discussions with business and thought leaders, workshop-style breakout sessions and networking opportunities. This year's event—under the theme Step Into the Spotlight—will feature speakers from First Bight Ventures, Bot Auto, Regions Bank, Lopez Negrete Communications and Umbrage.

This event takes place Thursday, Aug. 28, from 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Click here to register.

From Your Site Articles
Houston innovators — put these August events on your radar. Photo via Getty Images

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

WHERE TO BE

From networking meet-ups to expert startup showcases, August 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 may be updated to add more events.

August 1 — 7th Annual Summer Science Symposium

The 7th Annual MAPTA Summer Science Symposium will showcase work from research trainees, postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents. The symposium will feature all fields of translational, basic science and clinical research. This two-day in-person event will include both poster and oral presentations.

Keynote Speakers:

Brijesh S. “Billy” Gill, MD, FACS
Corina Rosales, PhD

This event is Thursday, August 1, from 9 am to 4 pm at Houston Methodist Research Institute. Click here to register.

August 1 — Bayou Startup Showcase

The Bayou Startup Showcase is a dynamic celebration of entrepreneurship, spotlighting the newest startups and small businesses from Rice University’s OwlSpark and the University of Houston’s RED Labs accelerators. Attendees can listen to pitches, discover ways to support and grow these businesses, and engage with founders during the showcase.

This event is Thursday, August 1, from 4 to 8 pm at The Ion. Click here to register.

August 8 — Out In Tech Mixer

Out in Tech Houston provides an inclusive networking space for LGBTQ+ people and allies working in tech. Check out this relaxed, social-mixer event, hosted on the second Thursday of every month.

This event is Thursday, August 8, from 7 to 8:30 pm at Second Draught. Click here to register.

August 13 — Software Day at The Ion: An Intro to Central Texas Seed Stage VCs

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.

Speakers include:

  • Eric Engineer, S3 Ventures
  • Rajiv Bala, Clutch Ventures
  • Cat Dizon, Active Capital
  • Mike Marcantonio, LiveOak
  • Moderator: Aziz Gilani, Mercury
This event is Tuesday, August 13, from 3:30 to 7 pm at The Ion. Click here to register.

August 15 — TMC Lunch ‘n’ Launch: Phiogen

This monthly event series hosted by TMC Innovation highlights TMC community companies and provides them with a platform to share their journey, current progress, and future goals. This month the lunch features Phiogen, a specialized phage therapy corporation founded by by Baylor College of Medicine.

This event is Thursday, August 15, from 12 to 1 pm at at TMC Innovation Factory. Click here to register.

August 15 — SPRINT Workforce Forum

This two-day event brings together industry, universities, and government entities to discuss the workforce challenges that arise from the rapidly advancing AI and robotics technologies in the energy sector. It has a special emphasis on inspiring students to become advocates of AI and robotics, enabling them to help the energy industry’s digital transformation.

This event is Thursday, August 15, starting at 12 am at Student Center South and UH Hilton. Click here to register.

August 22 — Transition On Tap

Transition On Tap is Greentown Labs’ monthly networking event devoted to fostering conversations and connections among the climate and energy transition ecosystem in Houston and beyond. Entrepreneurs, investors, students, and friends of climatetech are invited to attend, meet colleagues, and discuss solutions.

This event is Thursday, August 22 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Greentown Houston. Click here to register.

August 23 — 2024 Cardiometabolic Syndrome Conference: A Population Health Crisis

The Cardiometabolic Syndrome Conference is designed to provide attendees with the most contemporary knowledge about the syndrome, including the epidemiology, treatment strategies, and knowledge gaps. There will be a specific focus on high-level discussions that dissect the current shortcomings in the overall management of CMS at the individual and community level and begin to consider new and innovative treatment strategies.

This event is Friday, August 23 from 7 am to 5 pm at The Texas Heart Institute. Click here to register.

August 28 — TMCi Cappuccino Connections

Network with the diverse TMC Innovation Community while enjoying a cup of joe.

This event is Wednesday, August 28, from 8:30 am to 10:30 am at TMC Innovation Factory Lobby. Click here to register.

August 28 — Bayou City Bio Pulse: Pearland

Hear from some of the region’s largest commercial life science manufacturers. This panel discussion will examine the obstacles and potential avenues for the growth of commercial life science firms. Tours of Lonza’s and Millar’s manufacturing facilities will follow the program.

This event is Wednesday, August 28, from 11 am to 2 pm at West Pearland Library. Click here to register.

August 29 — SaaStock Local: Scalability in the Age of AI, Building for Growth in SaaS

Attendees will explore innovative strategies and cutting-edge technologies designed to enhance scalability, ensuring that cloud computing environments remain robust, flexible, and capable of supporting dynamic and complex AI workloads. The session will cover best practices for optimizing resource allocation, managing data efficiently, and maintaining high performance as demand increases.

This event is Thursday, August 29, from 5:30 to 8 pm at The Ion. Click here to register.

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Houston geothermal unicorn Fervo officially files for IPO

going public

Fervo Energy has officially filed for IPO.

The Houston-based geothermal unicorn filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 17 to list its Class A common stock on the Nasdaq exchange. Fervo intends to be listed under the ticker symbol "FRVO."

The number and price of the shares have not yet been determined, according to a news release from Fervo. J.P. Morgan, BofA Securities, RBC Capital Markets and Barclays are leading the offering.

The highly anticipated filing comes as Fervo readies its flagship Cape Station geothermal project to deliver its first power later this year

"Today, miles-long lines for gasoline have been replaced by lines for electricity. Tech companies compete for megawatts to claim AI market share. Manufacturers jockey for power to strengthen American industry. Utilities demand clean, firm electricity to stabilize the grid," Fervo CEO Tim Latimer shared in the filing. "Fervo is prepared to serve all of these customers. Not with complex, idiosyncratic projects but with a simplified, standardized product capable of delivering around-the-clock, carbon-free power using proven oil and gas technology."

Fervo has been preparing to file for IPO for months. Axios Pro first reported that the company "quietly" filed for an IPO in January and estimated it would be valued between $2 billion and $3 billion.

Fervo also closed $421 million in non-recourse debt financing for the first phase of Cape Station last month and raised a $462 million Series E in December. The company also announced the addition of four heavyweights to its board of directors last week, including Meg Whitman, former CEO of eBay, Hewlett-Packard, and Spring-based HPE.

Fervo reported a net loss of $70.5 million for the 2025 fiscal year in the S-1 filing and a loss of $41.1 million in 2024.

Tracxn.com estimates that Fervo has raised $1.12 billion over 12 funding rounds. The company was founded in 2017 by Latimer and CTO Jack Norbeck.

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This article originally appeared on our sister site, EnergyCapitalHTX.com.

New UT Austin med center, anchored by MD Anderson, gets $1 billion gift

Future of Health

A donation announced Tuesday, April 21, breaks a major record at the University of Texas at Austin. Michael and Susan Dell are now UT Austin's first supporters to give $1 billion. In response, the university will create the UT Dell Campus for Advanced Research and the UT Dell Medical Center to "advance human health," per a press release.

The release also records "significant support" for undergraduate scholarships, student housing, and the Texas Advanced Computing Center for supercomputing research.

Both the new research campus and the UT Dell Medical Center will integrate advanced computing into their research and practices. At the medical center, the university hopes that will lead to "earlier detection, more precise and personalized care, and better health outcomes." The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center will also be integrated into the new medical center.

That comes with a numeric goal measured in 10s: raise $10 billion and rank among the top 10 medical centers in the U.S., both in the next decade.

In the shorter term, the university will break ground on the medical center with architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) "later this year."

“UT Austin, where Dell Technologies was founded from a dorm room, has always been a place where bold ideas become real-world impact,” said Michael and Susan Dell in a joint statement.

They continued, “What makes this moment so meaningful is the opportunity to build something that brings every part of the journey together — from how students learn, to how discoveries are made, to how care reaches families. By bringing together medicine, science and computing in one campus designed for the AI era, UT can create more opportunity, deliver better outcomes, and build a stronger future for communities across Texas and beyond.”

This is the second major gift this year for the planned multibillion-dollar medical center. In January, Tench Coxe, a former venture capitalist who’s a major shareholder in chipmaking giant Nvidia, and Simone Coxe, co-founder and former CEO of the Blanc & Otus PR firm, contributed $100 million$100 million.

Baylor scientist lands $2M grant to explore links between viruses and Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s research

A Baylor College of Medicine scientist will begin exploring the possible link between Alzheimer’s disease and viral infections thanks to a $2 million grant awarded in March.

Dr. Ryan S. Dhindsa is an assistant professor of pathology & immunology at Baylor and a principal investigator at Texas Children’s Duncan Neurological Research Institute (Duncan NRI). He hypothesizes that Alzheimer’s may have some link to previous viral infections contracted by the patient. To study this intriguing possibility, the American Brain Foundation has gifted him the Cure One, Cure Many award in neuroinflammation.

“It is an honor to receive this support from the Cure One, Cure Many Award. Viral infections are emerging as a major, underappreciated driver of Alzheimer's disease, and this award will allow our team to conduct the most comprehensive screen of viral exposures and host genetics in Alzheimer's to date, spanning over a million individuals,” Dhindsa said in a news release. “Our goal is to identify which viruses matter most, why some people are more vulnerable than others, and ultimately move the field closer to new therapeutic strategies for patients.”

Roughly 150 million people worldwide will suffer from Alzheimer’s by 2050, making it the most common cause of dementia in the world. Despite this, scientists are still at a loss as to what exactly causes it.

Dhindsa’s research is part of a new range of theories that certain viral infections may trigger Alzheimer’s. His team will take a two-fold approach. First, they will analyze the medical records of more than a million individuals looking for patterns. Second, they will analyze viral DNA in stem cell-derived brain cells to see how the infections could contribute to neurological decay. The scale of the genomic data gathering is unprecedented and may highlight a link that traditional studies have missed.

Also joining the project are Dr. Caleb Lareau of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Dr. Artem Babaian of the University of Toronto. Should a link be found, it would open the door to using anti-virals to prevent or treat Alzheimer’s.

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