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, a guest column about a tech company betting on Houston, news of a SPAC hitting the Nasdaq, and more.
3 Houston innovators to know this week
This week's roundup of Houston innovators includes Robert Kester of Honeywell Rebellion, Serafina Lalany of Houston Exponential, and Shaun Noorian of Empower Pharmacy. Courtesy photos
In this week's roundup of Houston innovators to know, I'm introducing you to three local innovators across industries — from oil and gas tech to pharmaceuticals — recently making headlines in Houston innovation. Click here to read more.
Houston-based medical device company snags $12.8M in series B
Saranas closed its series B round this week. Photo courtesy of Saranas
A Houston company that's changing the game when it comes to early bleed detection has raised its next round of funding.
Saranas Inc. announced that it closed a $12.8 million series B investment led by Wisconsin-based Baird Capital, the venture capital and global private equity arm of Baird, a global company with a location in Houston. Austin-based S3 Ventures also supported the round.
The company will use the funds to continue its clinical trials, per a news release. Click here to continue reading.
Houston energy startups claim big wins, space health fellows named, and more innovation news
Several Houston startups won kudos and more at recent competitions — plus more Houston innovation news. Photo via Getty Images
What's the latest in news for the Houston innovation ecosystem? So glad you asked. Here's some local startup and tech news you might have missed.
In this roundup of short stories within Houston innovation, an energy transition startup snagged $100,000 in a recent competition, four space health researchers were named to a Houston program, a Houston tech startup was tapped by Google for its recent cohort, and more. Click here to continue reading.
Houston VC leaders announce SPAC with $175M IPO
Andrew White (left) and Blair Garrou are at the helm of the new black check company. Photos courtesy
A blank check company has hit the Nasdaq today with a $175 million initial public offering.
Mercury Ecommerce Acquisition Corp. announced its IPO of 17,500,000 units at a price of $10 per unit to be listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market with the ticker symbol "MEACU" beginning today,
The company is led by Chairman Blair Garrou, managing director of Mercury Fund, and President and CEO Andrew White, a limited partner of Mercury Fund and president of Sweat Equity Partners. Click here to continue reading,
Why this Italian tech company is betting on Houston
An Italian company has moved in on Houston. In an op-ed, the company's founder shares why he bet on the Bayou City. Photo via Getty Images
Earlier this year, I opened my company's U.S. headquarters and became an Italian transplant in Houston.
After establishing my additive manufacturing business in my home country, the company thrived in Europe and we began evaluating foreign markets to support our expansion. We considered several cities in North America and will likely establish operations in some of these regions in the coming years, but one thing will remain unchanged – our commitment to naming Houston the command post of our operations.
I have ambitious plans that Houston is uniquely positioned to address. Over the next 24 months, we expect to hire more than 100 employees to reshore domestic production, decrease carbon emissions, and mitigate supply chain challenges using super polymers in our 3D printing production system. Click here to continue reading.