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 Houston business events not to miss, space tech pitches, a Q&A with a local founder, and more.
10+ can't-miss Houston business and innovation events for May
Check out these conferences, pitch competitions, networking, and more in the month of May. Photo via Getty Images
It's time to look at what's on the agenda for May for Houston innovators — from pitch competitions to networking events.
Here's a roundup of events not to miss this month. Mark your calendars and register accordingly. Read more.
Houston early stage startup accelerator introduces latest cohort
The latest cohort from gBETA Houston has been announced and is currently underway at the Downtown Launchpad. Photo courtesy of Downtown Launchpad
Five Houston startups are joining a global accelerator for a seven-week program to strategically grow their businesses.
Houston's gBETA, a part of gener8tor in partnership with the Downtown Launchpad, has launched its spring cohort — the seventh cohort since its launch in Houston in 2019 — this month. The free program lasts seven weeks and connects companies to gener8tor's network of mentors, customers, corporate partners, and investors.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Downtown Launchpad to bring these programs to life and bolster the technology and sustainability industries in Houston,” says Lauren Usher, gener8tor gBETA vice president, in a news release. Read more.
Houston health tech startup acquired by medical device company
A TMC-founded medical device startup has made a grand exit. Image via TMC.edu
A Houston health tech business that has created a medical device to enhance and improve surgery has been acquired.
Illinois-based Northgate Technologies Inc. announced the acquisition of Allotrope Medical earlier this month. The Houston startup has designed an electrosurgical ureter identification system for optimizing surgery for both robotic and non-robotic laparoscopic surgical procedures. The StimSite technology is a hand-held device used by general and OBGYN surgeons and has received a Safer Technologies Program designation from the FDA.
“By bringing the StimSite product platform into NTI’s existing portfolio of innovative insufflation and smoke removal products, we have taken a significant step in fulfilling our vision to optimize the surgical environment for minimally invasive surgery,” says Dave McDonough, vice president and general manager at NTI. Read more.
Houston innovator shares difficult journey to IPO, the challenges of hardtech innovation, and more
Houston-based Nauticus Robotics founder, Nicolaus Radford, shares the latest from his company and why we're primed for a hardtech movement. Image via LinkedIn
It's been a busy past year or so for Nicolaus Radford, founder and CEO of Nauticus Robotics. He's taken his company public at a difficult time for the market, launched new partnerships with the United States Marine Corps, and even welcomed a new family member.
Originally founded in 2014 as Houston Mechatronics, Nauticus Robotics has designed a fleet of underwater robots and a software platform for autonomous operations. Radford caught up with InnovationMap about these recent milestones for him and the company in an interview. Read more.
Student startups pitch out-of-this-world tech at Houston competition
Seven student-founded startups pitched their business plans at an annual NASA event. Photo via NASA.gov
Several groups of students from all over the United States tapped into technology developed by NASA to create business plans. The teams competed in Houston last week for thousands of dollars, and one team went home with the win.
NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project, or MUREP, hosted its annual "Space Tank" pitch event, MUREP Innovation and Technology Tech Transfer Idea Competition, or MITTIC, last week at Space Center Houston. Seven teams from across the country — including three Texas teams — pitched business plans based on NASA-originated technology.
“Students and faculty members of MITTIC are notably engaging with our agency, but they are helping to fulfill our mission to make the earth a better, safer place creating products and services that will shape the future," says Donna Shafer, associate director at Johnson Space Center. Read more.
Sahir Ali is the general partner of Modi Ventures. Photo courtesy of Modi Ventures