Ion Houston

Mark your calendars! Join Rice University's OwlSpark and the University of Houston's RED Labs on Thursday, August 1, 2024, for a celebration that shows what happens when ideas become a reality at the Eleventh Annual Bayou Startup Showcase. 💡 Whether you are a mentor, supporter or just interested in meeting the brilliant minds behind these ventures, this is a night for you to champion all things Houston — from our very own hometown universities, to the local startups, small businesses and inspiring minds that light up our Bayou City. Attendees can listen to pitches, discover ways to support and grow these businesses, and engage with founders during the showcase. Secure your RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/gC3UVP6C.

Want to know what goes down behind the scenes of growth-stage venture capital deals? If so, this is the session you must attend! On Tuesday, July 30, Trevor Best, CEO of Syzygy Plasmonics, Ellen Wilkirson, a Houston-based growth-stage investor and Michael P. Gibson, an Austin-based growth-stage and M&A attorney will cover growth-stage venture capital deals and the key terms investors, startups and their lawyers negotiate over the course of a VC transaction. Behind the Dealmaking Curtain is part of the Houston Ion District Investor Activation Program, a program that helps to build an equitable startup ecosystem by addressing the region's lack of funding for early-stage climatetech startups led by underrepresented founders. Peel back the curtain and RSVP at: https://lnkd.in/g9Xq-9zW. 

The Houston Methodist Tech Hub at the Ion will be giving a warm welcome to Dr. S. Nicholas Desai, MD, next Wednesday, July 24, for their monthly clinician speaker series. If you're a clinical tech connoisseur, this presentation is one you won't want to miss! Dr. Desai will discuss the plans for the Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital — Houston Methodist's ninth hospital, scheduled to open in early 2025. This hospital will incorporate the most advanced technology that has been rigorously tested and piloted across the Houston Methodist hospital campuses. Find out how Houston Methodist is creating the hospital system of the future, and reserve your spot to this session: https://lnkd.in/grdjh6S6.

Tenacious founders. Stadium innovation. The fan experience. What more could a sports enthusiast want? On Thursday, July 25, there will be a lot to see and celebrate at the Spring 2024 DivInc Sports Tech Demo Day! 🥇 Whether you're in Houston or out of town, you can attend this event in-person or via livestream and support the brilliant tech startups that are working to shape the future of the sports industry through enhancing human performance, fantasy sports and betting, the future of media and so much more. Put your game face on and RSVP at: lu.ma/DemoDaySportsTech24.

If you're looking to: ✅ learn how to get your startup off the ground ✅ create a winning pitch deck (and impress investors while you're at it) ✅ understand your company's unique value... these three events this week might just be what you need. Get your questions ready, dust off your thinking caps and get in on the action. RSVP for the events that best fit your needs. Tuesday, July 16: How to Start a Startup followed by Happy Hour sponsored by J.P. Morgan | Find out how to make your idea viable and valuable, build a strong business model and attract investors with Heath Butler of Mercury and Wade Pinder: https://lnkd.in/g2FM7ZyS. Wednesday, July 17: Angel Investing 101: Buying and Selling Businesses | Join Lenny Saizan, Managing Director of Urban Capital Network, for a presentation that covers when to prepare to sell or buy, what makes a company valuable, sales processes and so much more! https://lnkd.in/gsimWmEF. Wednesday, July 17: Perfecting Your Pitch | DeckLaunch and Fresh Tech Solutionz will come together to talk about the value of a compelling pitch deck and help you take yours to the next level: https://lnkd.in/gVg7fbBC

Houston, you have our hearts. Happy 713 Day to the place that will forever be home. 💙 🤘🏼

So you've been working on an idea for a while and you're ready to take the leap to launch your startup. What now? What is the critical path to success? What resources are there to support you on the journey? Heath Butler of Mercury and Wade Pinder will talk you through the journey and answer your questions at this Tuesday’s How to Start a Startup! New this month, join us for drinks at Second Draught provided by J.P. Morgan. right after the presentation. Whether you're newly launching a startup, in the process of pivoting, a corporate innovator or you've just got that entrepreneurial bug—we hope you'll join us! Register and check-in for drinks during Happy Hour! https://lnkd.in/gu3i3_hK

It's been quite a trying week for us, Houston. Many of you are still without power, stuck at home or trying to find some sense of calm after the storm. Here at the Ion, we have power and wifi, and tomorrow, July 12, from 8:30-10:30 a.m., we'll have coffee and breakfast tacos at this Friday's Cup of Joey. Join the host, Jonathon Lewis (JetQuest Travel Club) for a morning of networking, cool air and community spirit. Check-in with the Ion Team when you arrive to get your coffee and taco ticket. See you there!

Our July Software Day at the Ion, originally scheduled for Tuesday, July 9th, is postponed due to ongoing debris cleanup and power outages in the region in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. https://lnkd.in/g-ukYMZS

"We hope to continue developing the Ion District to be an area of innovation, broadly, for the city of Houston. I'm looking forward to working with the city, itself, and with industries to bring innovation, incredible talent from universities and philanthropic and venture dollars to drive innovation in Houston." — Reginald DesRoches President of Rice University, Reginald DesRoches, sat down with Maynard Holt, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of the Veriten, to discuss his perspective on technology, energy, the Ion and the current educational landscape. Hear the full episode of the Veriten podcast with President DesRoches: https://lnkd.in/g_jvwfNU.