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 new innovators to know, a roundup of what startups raised funds in Q3, four Houston investors team up for a new fund, and more.
3 Houston innovators to know this week
This week's roundup of Houston innovators includes Sarah Groen of Bell & Bly Travel, Alex Reed of Fluence Analytics, and Bettina Beech of UH. Courtesy photos
In this week's roundup of Houston innovators to know, I'm introducing you to three local innovators across industries — from travel to analytics— recently making headlines in Houston innovation. Click here to continue reading.
Fast-growing Houston software startup expands with fintech model
RepeatMD offers its clients rewards-based software and is expanding with a new fintech tool. Photo via Getty Images
A less than one-year-old B2B software startup in Houston is beefing up its offerings with a new feature that thrusts it into the rapidly growing fintech space.
RepeatMD, founded in December 2020, specializes in white-label rewards apps for plastic surgeons, medical spas, dermatologists, and similar businesses. Now, it's expanding into the "buy now, pay later" fintech realm through a new deal with BTL Industries, a Marlborough, Massachusetts-based provider of body-sculpting equipment.
RepeatMD's new Medical Gym function enables customers treated with BTL equipment to finance add-on enhancement and maintenance packages through "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) arrangements. BNPL is a booming sector. The size of the global BNPL market approached $90.7 billion in 2020 and is projected to come close to $4 trillion by 2030, according to Allied Market Research. Click here to continue reading.
VC roundup: Here's what Houston startups raised funds last quarter
These are the 10 Houston companies that together raised over $525 million between July and September. Photo via Getty Images
October means several things — postseason baseball, pumpkins everywhere, and the last quarter of the year.
Before Q4 firmly takes its hold, let's talk about the 10 Houston companies that raised over $526 million between July and September, according to previous reporting from InnovationMap. Click here to continue reading.
4 Houston finance leaders announce new $275M fund for small businesses
Four Houston investment professionals have joined forces to create a new fund. Photos via genesis-park.com
Four Houstonians, each with decades of finance experience under their belts, have teamed up to create a new fund to support growth of startups.
Curtis Hartman, Gina Luna, Paul Hobby, and Peter Shaper have joined forces to create GP Capital Partners, a new $275 million fund structured as a Small Business Investment Company that will provide funding for privately-held, lower middle market businesses. The fund, which received its SBIC license from the U.S. Small Business Administration last month, extends the Genesis Park private investment platform.
"The types of companies with which we plan to partner are the backbone of our regional economy. They create good jobs and are poised for growth," says Curtis Hartman, principal of the fund, in a news release. "While small businesses disproportionally drive economic growth and employment, they are underserved by traditional banks and other capital providers. We are here to support and accelerate their success." Click here to continue reading.
Houston tech company names 5 startups to its new venture studio
A Houston software company has announced the five early-stage startups it will be supporting through its new venture studio. Photo via Getty Images
A Houston-based technology consultancy with a portfolio of Fortune 500 clients has announced the five companies it will be supporting in its new startup studio.
Softeq Development Corporation announced its inaugural cohort for the Softeq Venture Studio. The program, which will be offered quarterly for four to six startups each cohort, is geared at helping its resident startups quickly develop their technology and build their businesses.
"Historically, most tech startups had a founder with development skills. However, we're now seeing more and more business people, doctors, and other professionals start companies, and they need a strong engineering partner to develop their products," says Christopher A. Howard, Softeq founder and CEO, in a news release. "We take it several steps further with the Venture Studio providing technology business consulting, development services, and much-needed cash. We're a vested partner, so we also help secure follow-on funding for continued growth." Click here to continue reading.