11 startups pitch top Houston angel investors at biannual summit

money moves

The Houston Angel Network's investors heard from growing startups in their portfolio — along with a few prospects. Getty Images

The Houston Angel Network checked in with their investors and portfolio companies at their biannual Houston Angel Summit that gathered HAN members, local investors, and startup founders for a day full of educational opportunities, pitches, and fireside chats.

The event, which took place last week at Rice University's Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, featured 11 startups – both new and more familiar to HAN members – pitching their growing companies in hopes of catching the interest of potential investors.

BioMedical Music Solutions

Austin-based BioMedical Music Solutions has a SaaS platform that uses artificial intelligence and music to accelerate rehabilitation at a lower cost. Founder Hope Young explained her years-proven therapy can work its magic in one-third of the time and one-tenth of the cost of traditional physical therapy sessions.

Optelos

Houston-based Optelos has a patented SaaS solution that can transform physical asset images, videos, and documents into what's known as a "Digital Inspection Twin" that can enabling knowledge workers utilizing our unified data management, reality modeling, and in-process artificial intelligence solution, to digitally visualize, analyze and manage their entire asset base.

Pocket Naloxone

Maryland-based Pocket Naloxone is attempting to solve the opioid crisis. The company has a portfolio of over-the-counter drug overdose reversal agents, including a naloxone OTC product.

AI Driller

Houston-based AI Driller is using mathematic algorithms to apply automation on rigs for drilling. The startup can also offer its clients real-time data and cuts out the opportunity for human error.

Cavu Biotherapies

Houston pet immunotherapy company, Cavu Biotherapies, has seen a tremendous amount of growth and is now a treatment partner at 43 clinic providers in 18 states and Canada. Founder Colleen O'Connor says she's seen a near 600 percent growth in revenue over the past year and treated 38 dog cancer patients in that timeframe.

CorInnova

Another Houston company, CorInnova, has created a device from a soft, flexible material that can be easily inserted through a 1-inch incision, and then be used for increase blood pumping in the heart by 50 percent.

Hive Genie

Houston-based Hive Genie is using technology to help beekeepers optimize their pollination operations and monitor hive operations remotely. Gone are the days, Hive Genie hopes, that beekeepers need to suit up to track and maintain their colonies physically.

Siera AI

Austin-based Siera AI is using its AI-enabled cloud IoT platform for logistics solutions and safety improvements in warehouse settings. A goal of the company's, according to its website, is to free humans from these types of dull, dangerous, dirty tasks.

Skycom

The sky's not even the limit for Austin-based Skycom and its airship technology that supplies low-cost cell towers in orbit. The technology can bring down the cost of mobile service providers and allow for growth into new markets.

Tevido

Another Austin company, Tevido uses a pigment cell graft process to use patients' own skin cells to restore normal skin color for patients with vitiligo and pale scars.

Tot Squad

Los Angeles-based Tot Squad emerged as a service-focused company for baby-related tasks and now has emerged as a digital marketplace connecting service providers online to parents and to-be parents for needs like stroller cleaning or carseat installation.

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Rice University announces partnership with Houston sports tech startup to enhance student athletics

dream team

Rice University — in an effort to enhance athletics and research-driven innovation — has formed a partnership with a startup founded by its alumni.

BeOne Sports, a sports performance technology company developed a platform for mobile motion-capture AI and advanced data analytics, will integrate its technology within Rice's sports medicine and rehabilitation programs.

“This partnership aligns perfectly with Rice University’s mission to harness innovation for the betterment of our community,” Rice President Reginald DesRoches says in a news release. “By integrating cutting-edge technology from BeOne Sports with our already world-class athletic and academic programs, we are providing our student athletes with the tools they need to excel both on the field and in life. This collaboration is a testament to Rice’s commitment to leading through innovation and offering unparalleled opportunities for our students.”

Rice MBA alumni Scott Deans and Jason Bell founded the company alongside former Rice student-athlete James McNaney. BeOne's “Comparative Training” technology uses artificial intelligence and computer vision technology to support elite-level training, per the Rice release.

“BeOne Sports was born from the collaborative environment at Rice, where business leaders and engineers work together to solve real-world problems” Deans, who serves as CEO of BeOne Sports, adds. “We’re thrilled to continue that journey with Rice Athletics as we build the world’s first human recognition models specifically designed for sports performance and beyond. Our mission is to provide cutting-edge technology to maximize potential in the simplest, fastest and most versatile ways possible. This partnership with Rice is an exciting step toward democratizing access to sports technology for athletes and coaches at all levels.”

Tommy McClelland, vice president and director of athletics, says the new technology will allow enhanced athlete monitoring that will contribute to rehabilitation and injury prevention.

“At Rice Athletics, we are always striving to be at the forefront of innovation, and our partnership with BeOne Sports exemplifies that commitment,” he says. “By leveraging their state-of-the-art AI technology and data analytics, we can elevate how we support and develop our athletes — ensuring they are healthier, stronger and better prepared to succeed both athletically and academically. We’re excited about how this collaboration will position Rice as a leader in athlete care and performance.”

Additionally, the partnership will create academic and professional development opportunities for students, faculty, and other Rice community members, something that Rice's Office of Innovation seeks to offer in its continuing dedication to fostering an ecosystem of innovation, says Paul Cherukuri, Rice’s chief innovation officer.

“BeOne Sports exemplifies the innovative spirit we champion at Rice, where entrepreneurship and engineering excellence converge,” he says. “As a startup founded by former Rice MBA students and athletes in collaboration with our computer science engineers, BeOne reflects Rice’s dedication to cultivating talent and driving transformative change. This partnership showcases how our innovation ecosystem is expanding beyond business into athletics, creating new opportunities that benefit both our students and the world at large.”

Houston legal tech platform raises $8M series A, plans to hire

fresh funding

Houston-based DocJuris, a leader in AI contract review, announced the successful closure of its series A funding round by raising $8 million in new capital. This brings the total capital raised to date to $11.2 million.

"DocJuris AI has become an industry-leading platform that empowers enterprise legal, procurement, and sales teams to close deals faster while reducing risk," DocJuris CEO and Founder Henal Patel says in a news release. "With this funding, we will continue scaffolding our platform around generative AI, expand our customer success team, and grow our user base."

The most active venture capital firm in Texas Silverton Partners led the round with participation from previous investors Watertower Ventures, Surface Ventures, and Seed Round Capital.

Companies like Siemens, Dell, FedEx, Toyota, and Duke Energy already use DocJuris with its AI-powered contract negotiation software that automates imporrant tasks during the review, redlining, and negotiation of contracts. DocJuris uses a platform to screen third-party contracts in seconds, can redline clauses with playbook-compliant edits in one click, and also generate formatted track changes, exception tables, and amendments with a cloud-based application.

The Association of Corporate Counsel, awarded DocJuris the Value Champion Award in 2023 due to the reduced contract cycle times to minutes with AI.

“We wanted to replace repetitive, manual tasks and free up valuable time for our employees to focus on more impactful work,” lead attorney for Flex's Global Procurement and Supply Chain Iringo Csifo-Nagy adds. “To achieve this, we developed a turnkey solution for AI-driven contract reviews together with the DocJuris team."

In its first round of funding in 2021, DocJuris raised $3.2 million in seed capital.

Houston Intercontinental Airport's innovative upgrades ready for takeoff

coming soon

After almost five years of construction, passengers heading out of Bush Intercontinental Airport on October 22 will be the very first to experience the expanded, upgraded, and stylish Terminal D-West Pier, an expansion of the existing Terminal D.

The new terminal is part of a broader initiative, the IAH Terminal Redevelopment Program (ITRP), a $1.458 billion project aimed at modernizing the airport's international travel capabilities. ITRP is the single largest capital improvement project developed by Houston Airports and include the refresh of the existing Terminal D, completed in 2023; the expansion of Terminal D with a new D-West Pier, which will be completed this fall 2024; and a new International Central Processor, slated for winter of 2024 and summer of 2025. More than 3,000 people spent more than one million hours on the construction project.

Terminal D-West Pier features six new gates — D1 through D6 — that can simultaneously accommodate wide-body aircraft or converted to accommodate 10 narrow-body airplanes. The expanded terminal with its new capabilities supports increasing demand from passengers and airlines and should enhance the overall travel experience.

The new terminal is part of a broader initiative, the IAH Terminal Redevelopment Program (ITRP), a $1.458 billion project aimed at modernizing the airport's international travel capabilities. Photo courtesy of Houston Airports

In addition to adding 160,000-square-feet, the new wing also boasts eight new, Houston-inspired works by local artists. Those kind of details are why the Houston airport system won Best Airport Art & Entertainment Program in the prestigious Skytrax awards.

The airport's 250 newly-hired employees will work among 16 new retail and dining concessions concepts in the Terminal D-West Pier. Passengers can dine at Houston Supply Co., which opened last month. Local restaurants The Kitchen and The Annie, along with popular national brands Popeyes, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Jamba Juice, Be Relax, Jetero Market, Semi-Sweet Confectionary, and a Lego Store will open for business on October 22.

The new wing also boasts eight new, Houston-inspired works by local artists. Photo courtesy of Houston Airports

"We are focused on improving the overall passenger experience at the airport — from parking and traffic to providing modern terminals with the right amenities. This project is a major investment in our city's future," Houston Mayor John Whitmire said in a statement. "The newly expanded international terminal enhances Houston's reputation as a world-class city and provides a boost to our economy, supporting jobs and attracting more visitors from around the globe."

The new terminal offers a host of other amenities designed to make passengers' experiences more comfortable. They include a mother's room, a sensory room, a child's play area, and expanded men's, women's, and family restrooms. The restrooms utilize smart technology sensors that trigger soap and water. Door locks alert to whether a restroom stall is vacant or occupied and soft LED lighting accentuates floor-to-ceiling photography spotlighting Houston's natural beauty.

The new wing has 16 new retail and dining concessions concepts. Photo courtesy of Houston Airports

An International Arrivals corridor provides views of the airfield, the concourse, and large-scale photography inspired by Houston.

More than 500 modern and comfortable seats, including chairs, cushioned benches, and cozy loungers, featuring cup holders and charging capabilities, are present inside the terminal.

"We are excited to share this milestone with the residents of Houston," said Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation for Houston Airports. "The opening of the Terminal D-West Pier is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team and our partners. This world-class facility will provide a seamless and efficient travel experience for millions of passengers each year. The new pier will provide the necessary capacity so that Houston can continue to attract more nonstop flights to cities around the globe."

New features include a mother's room, a sensory room, a child's play area, and expanded men's, women's, and family restrooms. Photo courtesy of Houston Airports

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This article originally ran on CultureMap.

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