Editor's note:Let's roundup the most-read Houston innovation news from the week. Trending Houston tech and startup articles from InnovationMap and its daily newsletter included the the Houston Innovation Awards finalists being named, a new report that shows Houston venture funding is down, and more.
Top innovators: 2024 Houston Innovation Awards finalists revealed
Here's what Houston startups and innovators will be honored at the Houston Innovation Awards on November 14. Graphic via Gow Media
After nearly 300 nominations, InnovationMap and its group of judges are ready to reveal the finalists for this year's Houston Innovation Awards.
Taking place on Thursday, November 14, the Houston Innovation Awards celebrates all of Houston's innovation ecosystem — startups, entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, and more. Over 50 finalists will be recognized in particular for their achievements across 13 categories, which includes the 2024 Trailblazer Legacy Awards that were announced earlier this month.
Click here to see the 2024 Houston Innovation Awards finalists.
After trending up all year, Houston VC activity drops in Q3
During the third quarter of 2024, Houston-area companies saw a 15 percent decrease of VC investment compared to the third quarter of 2023. Photo via Getty Images
New data from the PitchBook/NVCA Venture Monitor reveals a seesaw pattern in the Houston area’s venture capital funding.
VC fundraising by Houston-area companies climbed during the first part of this year compared with the same period last year, according to the latest PitchBook/NVCA Venture Monitor. But from 2023 to 2024, the region’s third-quarter VC haul fell by a double-digit percentage.
In the first three quarters of 2024, Houston-area companies collected $1.24 billion in venture capital, the PitchBook/NVCA Venture Monitor shows. That’s up eight percent from the $1.15 billion raised in the first three quarters of 2023. Continue reading.
Houston health care leader secures funding, milestones for latest initiatives across cancer, stroke, and more
UTHealth Houston has secured millions in grant funding — plus has reached a new milestone for one of its projects. Photo via utsystem.edu
UTHealth Houston is making waves in many disciplines right now. From cancer to Alzheimer’s disease to stroke, the institution is improving outcomes for patients in new ways. Last week, UTHealth announced three exciting updates to its roster of accomplishments.
On October 8, UTHealth announced that it had received a $4.8 million grant from the National Cancer Institute, aimed at helping cancer survivors to continue their healing and enhancing primary care capacity. It will be put into action by UTHealth researchers working with eight community health centers around Texas that treat un- and underinsured patients. The initiative is called Project CASCADE, which stands for Community and Academic Synergy for Cancer Survivorship Care Delivery Enhancement.
“Project CASCADE focuses on how primary healthcare teams provide whole-person and coordinated care to underserved patients who have a history of cancer,” says Bijal Balasubramanian, professor of epidemiology and the Rockwell Distinguished Chair in Society and Health at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, a multiple principal investigator of the study. “Primary care is uniquely suited to deliver whole-person and coordinated care for cancer survivors because, at its core, it prioritizes, personalizes and integrates healthcare for all conditions, not just the cancer.” Continue reading.
Houston biotech VC firm's portfolio cos. score $5.3M in federal funding
Three of First Bight Venture's portfolio companies have secured federal funding. Photo via Getty Images
Three portfolio companies of Houston venture capital firm First Bight Ventures have received a combined $5.25 million from the U.S. Defense Department’s Distributed Bioindustrial Manufacturing Program.
“The allocation of funds by the federal government will be critical in helping grow biomanufacturing capacity,” Veronica Breckenridge (née Wu), founder of First Bight, says in a news release. “We are very proud to represent three dynamic companies that are awardees of this competitive and widely praised program.” Continue reading.
NASA awards Houston university $1.2M for diversity in aerospace initiative
The funding will go toward promoting diversity in aerospace workforce development. Photo via UH.edu
NASA will award the University of Houston $1.2 million toward a collaborative project with some of the biggest players in aerospace to foster diversity in the field.
The funds will go toward UH's Partnership for Inclusivity in Engineering Education and Research for Space, or PIE2RS, which is a collaboration between UH, UH-Clear Lake, NASA’s Johnson Space Center, the Boeing Company, and the Greater Houston Partnership. Continue reading.