Editor's note:Another week has come and gone, and it's time to round up the top headlines from the past few days. Trending Houston tech and startup news on InnovationMap included innovators to know, startups making moves, Houston being named a fast-growing innovation ecosystem, and more.
3 Houston innovators to know this week
This week's roundup of Houston innovators includes Bill Snyder of Vivante Health, Kelly McCormick of UH, and Sean Hunt of Solugen. Courtesy photos
In this week's roundup of Houston innovators to know, I'm introducing you to three local innovators across industries — from health tech to synthetic biology — recently making headlines in Houston innovation. Click here to continue reading.
Houston cleantech incubator adds 3 startups in its latest cohort
Halliburton Labs has announced its next set of clean energy tech companies. Photo courtesy of Halliburton
Three climatetech companies will be joining Halliburton Labs, a Houston-based energy transition incubator.
Chemergy, EVA, and Novamera will be joining Halliburton Labs, the company announced last week. The three startups will receive technical support, access to Halliburton's global connections, and more from the program.
“We are excited to help accelerate three innovative companies that emerged from our recent Finalists Pitch Day,” says Dale Winger, managing director of Halliburton Labs, in a news release. “We will work closely with these founders and their teams to achieve strategic, operational, and financial milestones with the most efficient use of their time and capital." Click here to continue reading.
Houston cleantech company receives grant to harvest waste pressure in the U.K.
Revolution's tech produces green power for digital oilfield and pipeline initiatives through the recovery of excess natural gas pressure. Photo by Anton Petrus/Getty
The United Kingdom subsidiary of Houston-based cleantech startup Revolution Turbine Technologies has received a $200,000 grant from the U.K.’s Strategic Innovation Fund to help produce zero-emission electricity.
The project, led by Revolution Turbine Technologies (RTT) in tandem with regional utility Northern Gas Networks and British government agency Digital Catapult, will explore installation of RTT’s proprietary micro-turbines within the Northern Gas Networks’ natural gas distribution network. It’ll be the first time RTT’s technology has been introduced into the global market for natural gas distribution.
RTT’s U.K. subsidiary received the grant from the U.K.’s £450 million Strategic Innovation Fund. The fund backs projects that are designed to help U.K. energy systems reach net-zero targets.
RTT’s co-founder and CEO, Christopher Bean, says in a news release that the grant “will accelerate our development efforts and be instrumental in advancing commercialization of our technology.” Click here to continue reading.
Report finds Houston is 3rd fastest growing tech ecosystem
Houston Exponential released a new report on venture capital activity in the Bayou City. Sky Noir Photography by Bill Dickinson/Getty Images
In the startup world, small funding deals are a big deal in Houston.
A new Houston Exponential analysis based on data from PitchBook shows early-stage and angel rounds accounted for 151 venture capital deals under $5 million last year. Nearly two-thirds of those VC deals were less than $1 million.
Thanks to that robust activity, Houston now ranks as the third-fastest-growing tech ecosystem for early-stage companies in the country, according to the analysis.
Meanwhile, last year’s overall VC deal count exceeded 200 for the first time, “a harbinger of future growth potential as new company creation continues to explode,” the analysis says. Click here to continue reading.
Houston expert weighs in on marketing from an investor’s perspective
What should Houston startups know about marketing? Photo via Getty Images
Just what do investors want to see from a startup with regards to the company’s marketing? I recently spoke on this topic to a cohort of early-stage technology startup entrepreneurs at Softeq Venture Studio, an accelerator program that helps founders build investable technologies and businesses. Click here to continue reading.