Here’s the latest on Houston’s dynamic innovation landscape:
Houston Universities Maintain Top Entrepreneurship Program Rankings
Rice University and the University of Houston have once again secured the top spots in national rankings for their entrepreneurship programs.
For the sixth consecutive year, Rice University leads the graduate category, with UH taking the top undergraduate position for the sixth year running.
Peter Rodriguez, Dean of Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, highlighted the university’s commitment to experiential learning and community connections, stating, “At Rice Business, our students learn both inside and outside the classroom, drawing on our strong industry and community connections in Houston and beyond.”
Scaleup Companies Recognized at Houston Innovation Awards
The 2024 Houston Innovation Awards will feature a new category: “Scaleup of the Year,” recognizing high-growth Houston companies. Finalists span various sectors, including biotech and decarbonization, showcasing international expansion, facility growth, and clinical trial milestones.
NASA-Founded Startup Secures $5.6M in Seed Funding
Houston-based Helix Earth Technologies, a clean tech startup with NASA origins, has closed a $5.6 million seed funding round led by Veriten.
Rawand Rasheed, Helix Earth’s co-founder and CEO, expressed excitement about the investment, saying, “This investment will empower the Helix Earth team to accelerate the development and deployment of our first groundbreaking hardware technology designed to disrupt a significant portion of the commercial air conditioning market, an industry that is ready for innovation.” Its tech is estimated to save up to half of the net energy used in commercial air conditioning, reducing both emissions and costs.
Promising Life Science Companies Identified at Annual Event
The Rice Alliance and BioHouston showcased innovations from a dozen promising health tech companies at the Texas Life Science Forum. The event featured over 40 companies presenting solutions across diverse fields like cancer and cardiovascular disease, attracting nearly 700 venture capitalists, industry leaders, and academics.
Community Champions Supporting Houston’s Innovation Ecosystem
Six Community Champion Organization finalists for the Houston Innovation Awards were also recognized for their crucial roles supporting the local innovation ecosystem. These organizations assist startups through capital access, diversity promotion, mentorship, and hosting events.
