Start your week at the Ion with the official kickoff to Houston Energy & Climate Startup Week! Join innovators, founders, investors and energy leaders from across the region and beyond as we set the stage for a week of collaboration, conversation and climate-tech momentum.

This high-energy event features:

Opening Remarks: Brad Burke, Associate VP for Industry & New Ventures, Rice Innovation & Executive Director, Rice Alliance

Honoring a Visionary: A tribute to Scott Gale’s vision for Houston Energy & Climate Startup Week, led by Andres Cabada, Managing Director, Halliburton Labs

Houston Energy + Climate Startup Week Video Premiere (yes, it’s a hype video—and you’ll want to see it)

Reflections on Houston’s Innovation Growth with Barbara Burger, Energy Director & Advisor

Connected for Impact: Houston’s Energy & Climate Startup Community — a panel moderated by Jane Stricker, featuring:

• Georgina Campbell Flatter, CEO, Greentown Labs
• Jason Ethier, Founding Partner, Energy Tech Nexus
• Sandy Guitar, Executive Director, TEX-E
• Jeremy Pitts, Managing Director, Activate
• Kevin Krausert, CEO & Co-Founder, Avatar Innovations

We’ll wrap the program with a block party on the plaza—complete with DJ, drinks, bites from Ion District restaurants and top tier networking.

Whether you’re new to the scene or a longtime ecosystem builder, this is the place to connect before Houston Energy & Climate Startup Week hits full stride.