Ion Houston

Join Greentown Labs on Tuesday, August 27th for a panel discussion that will cover impact investing, exploring how both seasoned and aspiring early-stage venture investors in Houston can define impact. Examine various approaches to measuring impact, explore impact investing beyond climate initiatives and chart how you can put everything covered in this year’s investor activation program workshops into action! Reserve your spot at: https://lnkd.in/ghrMepz8.

As part of Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week, MCJ's Cody Simms is hosting a live podcast recording with Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) CEO, Vicki Hollub. They'll dive into Oxy's strategy for navigating the energy transition, including their recent acquisition of Carbon Engineering and how they're advancing carbon removal efforts. Dive deep into the future of energy from a key industry leader, and then stick around for a networking happy hour at Second Draught! Secure your spot: https://lu.ma/wkmt4bak.

Space tech enthusiasts: this one's for you. 🛰 The next NASA Tech Talks is happening tomorrow, August 22, from 6-7 p.m., followed by a networking happy hour at Second Draught. This month, Brice Howard, co-founder and president of Novium Ltd, will be speaking on the role robotics and Novium will play in building the new space economy. You can still register to attend! Launch your next mission at: https://lnkd.in/gRV4_Yy5.

The DeckLaunch and Fresh Tech Solutionz team is back this month with another Perfecting Your Pitch tomorrow, August 21, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Don't miss it! There's still time to register: https://lnkd.in/gTQ8FmdF.

Breakfast and an informative panel discussion? A win-win! Join Rice Business - Jones Graduate School of Business Executive Education at the Ion for breakfast and a panel discussion with business leaders in energy transition. Panelists will share their expertise on stakeholder pressure, challenges in implementation, strategic changes, alignment between employee incentives and firm energy transition strategy. Sign up at: https://lnkd.in/gJYpc5VQ. Kay McCall Todd Mogil Gin Kirkland Kinney Kasper Fröhlich Yan Anthea Zhang

We're getting closer to the inaugural Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week! Kickoff the week with all of us at the Ion for a Kickoff Panel and Block Party! 🎉 Hear from some of Houston’s top energy startups and thought leaders as they share their journeys, and enjoy networking and drinks with energy ecosystem leaders and investors from around the region and country. This special edition Ion Block Party will have music, local brews and food from some of Ion District’s robust food and drink offerings showcase hyper-local concepts. RSVP to the party at: https://lnkd.in/gV3f7zJB. Halliburton Labs Greentown Labs Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI) Activate Digital Wildcatters

Connect with folks in climatech at Greentown Labs' Transition On Tap on Thursday, August 22! This monthly networking event is devoted to fostering conversations and connections among the climate and energy transition ecosystem in Houston and beyond. We'll be there, along with other founding partners of the Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week, to keep the conversation going about the inaugural event. Save your spot at: https://lu.ma/q1k3zfth.

gBETA, a gener8tor program, is a free, seven-week, pre-accelerator program for companies that are looking to achieve rapid growth and/or raise venture capital. gBETA helps entrepreneurs work in and on their business while also attaining the entrepreneurial mindset needed to be successful. During the program, companies receive: ✅ Individualized coaching and mentorship ✅ 1:1 meetings with 25 expert mentors ✅ Weekly lunch and learns ✅ An exclusive Pitch Night reception, and so much more. Applications for their Fall 2024 accelerator will be open until next Monday, August 19. Learn more about gBETA and apply at: https://lnkd.in/gFhpdPaU.

We had a great turnout at Software Day yesterday! An Intro to Central Texas Seed Stage VCs, hosted by Aziz Gilani with Mercury, featured a discussion between some of his most notable VCs, Eric Engineer, Rajiv Bala, Cat Dizon and Mike Marcantonio. If you missed the chat, here are some key takeaways: ✍️ When you approach VCs, make sure you can tell your story in a few sentences: What problem are you addressing? What's your solution? How is it unique? How big is the market? If you aren't able to talk about your story succinctly, you aren't ready to reach out to VCs. 💡 Find the right VCs by doing your homework in advance. Read their websites and do your research, both on the firm and the partner's backgrounds. Find out what sectors and stage the VC invests in. Don't send out a generic mass email to a bunch of investors. Personalize your email. 🚩 What are the red flags that deter VCs from an entrepreneur? Not being: coachable, willing to answer questions and accept feedback, and not being transparent about what you don't know and the risks. VCs know that all startups are imperfect, so be willing to say, "I don't know, but I'll find out the answer." 📈 Generate urgency to invest in your company by making legitimate progress with other VCs, creating a sense of competition to invest in your startup, making revenue progress and showing that you are bringing on customers. But remember: accepting venture capital is like a marriage — it can be a 10 year relationship with an investor. Going slow can help you make sure you are comfortable with that investor. 💻 If you don't get a response from a VC, you can follow-up, but the best way is to provide updates and show you are making progress with your company. 📣 You SHOULD send a pitch deck. Have a well-structured pitch deck of 10-12 slides. Your executive summary should be upfront and is the most important part. Don't make the VC try to figure out your business, and your email to them should be short and simple.

Get ready for another Perfecting Your Pitch session, happening next Wednesday, August 21! Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur, a visionary startup owner or a tech aficionado, this event is tailor-made for you. RSVP to join the Fresh Tech Solutionz and Deck Launch team to discover the indispensable value of a compelling pitch deck at: https://lnkd.in/gTQ8FmdF.