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Ion Announces New Coworking Partnership

New flexible workspace partner, Industrious, offers enhanced hospitality experience


HOUSTON
JANUARY 22, 2025 – Rice Real Estate Company today announced Industrious as the new operator of the Ion’s coworking community. The partnership seeks to deliver a new hospitality-focused member experience for the Ion’s innovation community.

“The Ion’s coworking space is vital for our startups, small businesses and innovation partners. It’s more than just a physical location to work, the dynamic environment fosters organic idea exchange and collaboration that is flexible to scale with a company’s needs as they grow. Partnering with Industrious enhances the Ion’s hospitality offerings in this way,” said Ken Jett, President of Rice Real Estate Company. “Their unparalleled expertise in delivering quality, hospitality-driven workspaces complements our vision of creating a world-class ecosystem where entrepreneurs, corporations, and academia converge to drive innovation forward.”

Industrious, renowned for its community-minded, hospitality-driven approach to coworking, will take over the management of the Ion’s existing 86,000-square-foot coworking space. This expansive area features a diverse range of workspaces including private suites and offices, dedicated desks, phone booths, and conference rooms of varying sizes. Under Industrious’ management, members will continue to enjoy the Ion’s exceptional workspace while benefiting from enhanced, all-inclusive amenities. Members can expect an elevated workplace experience, delivered by experienced staff trained in Industrious’ signature hospitality-oriented service model, which emphasizes comfort, design, and connection. Industrious will also offer new, curated networking events, and a host of complimentary and enhanced services including robust snack and coffee service. These offerings are designed to make our members feel welcomed, empowered to do their best work, and delighted to show up to the office.

“The Ion plays a valuable role in the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Houston. We’re thrilled to add our expertise in running engaging spaces and join forces with The Rice Real Estate Company to continue to position the Ion as an invaluable contributor to the growth of Houston’s innovation community,” said Natalie Levine, Senior Manager of Real Estate at Industrious.

In addition to the hospitality offerings managed by Industrious, the Ion boasts three chef-driven restaurants, a tap room, and recently launched “Ion District Eats To Go”, powered by DoorDash. This ordering and pickup service aggregates menus from Ion District restaurants into a single, convenient digital platform. Users can order from various eateries on one ticket, making it ideal for team lunches or individual meals. These offerings are open to tenants and visitors alike. The recent hospitality upgrades along with the Ion’s collection of state-of-the-art amenities—a 250-seat public forum space, a 6,500-square-foot prototyping lab, Investor Studio, fitness center and expansive meeting and event spaces—will continue to make the Ion the premiere destination for startups and corporate innovation.

The Ion, located at 4201 Main Street, is a 266,000-square-foot, Class AA office building and innovation hub at the heart of the 16-acre Ion District. As the transformative centerpiece of Houston’s innovation corridor, the Ion brings together entrepreneurial, corporate, and academic communities to foster collaboration and growth. The building boasts LEED Gold, WiredScore Platinum, and WELL Silver certifications, setting a new benchmark for office environments in Houston.

This partnership marks Industrious’ second location in Houston, reflecting the company’s expanding presence in key markets nationwide. For more information about Industrious coworking memberships at The Ion, visit industriousoffice.com.

About the Ion:
Located in Ion District, the Ion building is the transformative centerpiece of Houston’s innovation corridor, powered by Rice University. Designed to bring our city’s entrepreneurial, corporate and academic communities into collaborative spaces and programs, the sunlit structure of steel and glass is a home for advancing diverse knowledge, teams, technologies and products that propel our world forward. For more information about the Ion, visit IonDistrict.com or email: start@ionhouston.com.

About Rice Real Estate Company:
Rice Real Estate Company, a subsidiary of Rice University, strategically acquires and manages properties to support the university’s growth and financial sustainability. The company’s portfolio includes iconic holdings such as Rice Village and Ion District, which extend beyond the main campus boundaries. By leveraging market trends and diversifying assets, Rice Real Estate Company focuses on creating long-term value for the university, generating income to sustain operations and fund scholarships, research grants, and other initiatives that enrich the educational experience at Rice University. The company’s efforts contribute to the academic community and the broader public, ensuring a strong foundation for Rice University’s future. For more information, visit https://realestate.rice.edu/.

About Industrious
Industrious delivers the world’s best workplaces by making the office a welcoming, empowering, and delightful experience. From private offices to suites, meeting rooms, and desks, we make it easy to find a workspace that works for you – whether you come in just a few days a week, want the flexibility to work from more than one location, or need an HQ just for a day. Founded in 2012 and recognized as one of America’s 500 fastest-growing companies by Inc. Magazine, Industrious offers flexible workplaces at more than 200 locations in over 65 cities globally. For more information, visit industriousoffice.com.

 

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CONTACT:

Laura Jones, ljones@dpwpr.com

Dancie Perugini Ware Public Relations

713-224-9115

Software Day at the Ion is Back in 2025!

The Ion and Mercury are back with Software Day, a monthly program series designed to empower software startups on their journey toward rapid, sustainable growth. Whether you’re looking to gain actionable advice, expand your network, or showcase your startup, Software Day is the place to be in 2025.

What is Software Day?

This monthly series, comprising mentor office hours, fireside chats, and networking, establishes a critical axis for the software innovation community to rally around at the Ion. It brings together leading mentors, promising early-stage startups, and like-minded Houstonians focused on building transformative software innovations.

Prior to a fireside chat, a select group of seed-stage software startups will participate in mentor office hours. Over the course of 2 hours, startup entrepreneurs looking for guidance and seasoned founders needing help tackling tough challenges will have access to a group of curated mentors from the Mercury network. The ideal profile of a company for this mentorship program is a pre-Series A software startup that is in the early stages of revenue generation. Interested startups are encouraged to submit their applications here. Each month, startups will be selected to participate in the mentor office hours.

2025 Software Day Schedule
Mark your calendars for the upcoming Software Days at the Ion:

  • February 4, 2025
  • March 25, 2025
  • May 20, 2025
  • June 24, 2025
  • August 26, 2025
  • October 14, 2025

Applications for February 4 Are Open!
Are you a pre-Series A software startup in the early stages of revenue generation? Don’t miss the chance to participate in curated office hours, where you’ll receive guidance from mentors with expertise in high-growth software innovations.

Submit your application now to secure your spot for February’s Software Day.

Visit our new Software Day page for details about the program, see past topics, upcoming date, and opportunities to get involved.

About Ion: Located in Ion District, the namesake building is the transformative centerpiece of Houston’s innovation corridor, powered by Rice University. Designed to bring our city’s entrepreneurial, corporate, and academic communities into collaborative spaces and programs, the sunlit structure of steel and glass is a home for advancing diverse knowledge, teams, technologies, and products that propel our world forward.
From Fortune 500s seeking flexible office space to first-time startups looking for the funding to design a prototype, the Ion provides wide-reaching space and support—welcoming individuals and teams of all kinds to a place to build a better way. The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship leads programming at the Ion.

About Mercury: Mercury is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on software startups outside the coasts. Mercury’s investment themes target B2B and B2B2C SaaS and data platforms enabling the digital transformation of markets, industries, and customer relationships. To date, Mercury has created over $9 billion of value with an operationally focused investment strategy helping startups achieve rapid, sustainable growth. Mercury is headquartered in Houston with offices in Austin, Chicago, and Detroit. To learn more, visit mercuryfund.com.

Rice partners with Greentown Labs to accelerate innovation in Houston’s Ion District

(Originally distributed by Rice University News & Media Relations)

Rice University is partnering with key stakeholders to bolster Houston’s role as a leader in innovation and entrepreneurship, with a focus on addressing the dual challenge of an energy-abundant and low-carbon future. The university is joining a new partnership to support climate tech solutions through Greentown Labs, North America’s largest climate tech incubator with locations in Houston’s Ion District and Somerville, Massachusetts, near Boston.

Greentown Labs
Greentown Labs, Houston

Rice, a joint partnership between David Baldwin and Bobby Tudor, MassDevelopment, Massachusetts’ development finance agency and land bank, and the city of Somerville are making a $4 million investment to bolster the nonprofit incubator and allow it to support even more climate and energy transition entrepreneurs.

“Greentown Labs has played an important role in jumpstarting the energy transition in Houston, and we want to contribute to making it bigger and better,” said Tudor, a Rice alumnus and trustee emeritus, and founder and CEO of Artemis Energy Partners. “As we continue to grow the Ion District and Rice increases its commitment to innovation, this partnership between Houston and Massachusetts will boost our shared commitment to accelerating the energy transition. We are collectively making a greater investment because we see the importance and promise of this ecosystem.”

At Rice, generating sustainable futures is a key driver of the university’s recently launched strategic plan, Momentous: Personalized Scale for Global Impact. The plan outlines a roadmap for Rice to be the most innovative institution accelerating long-lasting advances and discoveries aimed at developing sustainable solutions that address challenges to energy, climate and the environment.

“The collaboration between industry, investment and academic institutions is central to the solutions we urgently need for innovation in the energy transition,” Rice President Reginald DesRoches said. “It’s part of Rice’s leadership in entrepreneurship and climate tech. We invite our higher education and research peers in Texas and Massachusetts to join us in this mission.”

In addition to a search for a new CEO for Greentown Labs, a new board of directors has been appointed to provide strategic guidance and expertise, amplifying Greentown’s mission to accelerate climate tech innovation and commercialization by empowering entrepreneurs and enabling collaboration. Tudor will serve as chairman of the new board.

Ion District
Ion District, Houston, Texas. 

Greentown Labs Board of Directors:

  • Bill Aulet, Ethernet Inventors Professor of the Practice of Entrepreneurship (MIT Sloan) and managing director of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship
  • David Baldwin, founder and board chair of TEX-E
  • Georgina Campbell Flatter, co-founder and executive director of TomorrowNow
  • Jason Hanna, co-founder of Greentown Labs; head of product, AI Solutions Group at Analog Devices
  • Bob Harvey, former president and CEO of Greater Houston Partnership, board member of TEX-E
  • John Hitt, general counsel at Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
  • Juan Carlos Morales, founder and managing director of Surfside Capital Advisors; board member of MassDevelopment
  • Pam Reeve, former CEO of Lightbridge; active public, private and nonprofit board member
  • Jane Stricker, senior vice president, energy transition and executive director of the Houston Energy Transition Initiative at the Greater Houston Partnership
  • Bobby Tudor, Greentown Labs board chair, founder and board chair of the Houston Energy Transition Initiative at the Greater Houston Partnership

“In 2021, Greentown Labs expanded to Houston, setting the stage for a thriving energy transition innovation ecosystem,” said Steve Kean, president and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership. “Since then, Houston has continued to attract climate tech companies from around the world, with over 260 startups now calling the region home. Greentown’s mission aligns closely with the Houston Energy Transition Initiative’s goal of accelerating global solutions to meet the dual challenge of meeting growing energy demand globally while also significantly reducing CO2 emissions. The addition of Tudor and HETI Executive Director Jane Stricker to Greentown’s board of directors will enhance collaboration across the energy and climate ecosystem and advance the work of both organizations.”

“With this new funding, Greentown is poised to expand its impact across its existing ecosystems and support even more climate tech startups,” said Greentown Labs Interim CEO Kevin Dutt. “We believe in the essential role entrepreneurship will play in the energy transition and we’re grateful for the support of our partners who share in that belief and our collective commitment to commercializing these technologies as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

Comfort Food with a Cause: Chef Lena’s Asian Kitchen Brings a New Taste to Cafe Ion

Chef Lena, former Chopped winner and founder of Lena’s Asian Kitchen, is making waves beyond the television screen with her commitment to authentic Asian comfort food and a mission-driven business model. Now in partnership with Cafe Ion, Lena is set to introduce a range of grab-and-go meal options to Houston’s innovation hub. Her company, which provides employment and culinary training for domestic violence survivors, has roots in both her passion for cooking and her dedication to empowering others. To celebrate this new venture, Cafe Ion hosted a sample tasting and meet-and-greet with Chef Lena herself, where visitors discovered Lena’s Asian Kitchen’s unique flavors.

Growing up in Vietnam, Chef Lena’s love for food came from eating delicious meals. “I was always a happy child when my parents took me out to eat,” she laughs. It wasn’t until she moved to Houston in 2015 that she found herself in the kitchen, missing the comfort of homemade Asian dishes. By 2017, she enrolled in culinary school, driven by two things: a craving to bring authentic Asian comfort food to Houston, and a desire to help survivors of domestic violence—a mission born from her time volunteering at local shelters.

“When I worked at shelters, I saw survivors struggle to hold down jobs because of their trauma,” Lena shares. That realization led to Lena’s Asian Kitchen, a business that not only serves food but offers training and employment to those overcoming hardship. Winning Chopped brought new opportunities, but for Lena, the real victory is making an impact through her food and her team.

Now, she’s introducing her grab-and-go meals to Cafe Ion, bringing flavors inspired by her heritage and community-focused mission to the Ion. “I want to share our culture with everyone, and what better way than with healthy, delicious food?” she says. The grab-and-go meals are healthy options for busy patrons at the Ion—flavorful, nourishing and a little piece of home in each bite. Lena’s Asian Kitchen is 100% dairy free, nut free, gluten free and keto. Customers can pre-order on their website and pickup at Cafe Ion.

Through each meal, Lena is sparking awareness around domestic violence and creating a platform for positive change. “Giving back is my number one purpose,” she says. “Our food will light up your day and keep you going—our goal is to do that for everyone here at the Ion.”

Learn more about Lena’s Asian Kitchen and Lena’s Foundation.

Race to Innovate: Aston Martin Aramco Formula One® Takes Over the Ion Ahead of the U.S. Grand Prix

The Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1® team brought the excitement of motorsport to Houston with a demonstration run of the AMR22 at the Ion. Ahead of the 2024 U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, attendees got an up-close look at the racecar and met 19-year-old driver, Jak Crawford.

The event included interactive activities and a panel discussion here at the Ion on the culture of innovation fostered by the partnership with Aramco, an Ion founding partner. Bringing together the Houston innovation community, we celebrated the launch of the Aston Martin Aramco F1 Generation 3 campaign, which aims to leverage cutting-edge technologies for real-world impact and inspire the next generation. Their teams showcased how to drive progress in global mobility through technical advancements on-track, and prepare the next generation of STEM leaders to tackle these challenges for years to come

Ahead of the AMR22 drive in the Ion District, attendees gathered on the Ion Forum Stairs to hear from leaders at Aramco during a panel discussion. Jak Crawford, who grew up in Houston, shared about his personal experiences on the track. Followed by a innovation discussion with Rania Biltagi – Aramco, Global Head of Aramco Partnership and Sponsorship; Jim Sledzik – Aramco Ventures, Managing Director; Claudio Santoni – Aston Martin Performance Technologies, Engineering Director. The discussion was moderated by Paul Cherukuri – Chief Innovation Officer, Rice University.

Houston Mayor Whitmire highlighted the significance of the day, emphasizing that, “Institutions like Rice University and the Ion make Houston great. This is really a great day for Houston and all of the attendees here.” It is an honor to work with these phenomenal innovators and partners who are the heartbeat of the Ion District.

The culminating final demo run in the Ion District was preceded by an exciting day driving around Houston, including when Aramco Americas and Motiva employees witnessed this experience as the car drove by Aramco Americas headquarters in downtown.

As homebase for the activities, the AMF22 wearing this demo run special Generation 3 livery including inspirational quotes from Rice University students, was assembled in the Ion garage.

As corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and students come together in the Ion, Houston continues to become a home base for technological breakthroughs that impact industries worldwide.

Introducing Ion District Eats To-Go: A Seamless Way to Order from Your Favorite Spots

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Ion District Eats To-Go, an exciting new online ordering platform that allows you to place orders from multiple restaurants within Ion District—all in one go! Whether you’re planning a group order or just grabbing a quick bite for yourself, Ion District Eats To-Go offers the ultimate convenience.

With easy online access, you can now order from popular spots like Late August, The Lymbar, Second Draught, Cafe Ion, and Stuff’d Wings. Simply visit the platform, place your order, and receive a notification when your meal is ready for pick-up.

Though delivery is not available at this time, we’re committed to making your dining experience seamless and enjoyable. Plus, keep an eye out for new and exclusive menu items only available through Ion District Eats To-Go!

Ready to enjoy hassle-free dining? Visit iondistrict.menu and discover how easy it is to order from your favorite eateries at once. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to expand our offerings and improve your dining experience.

Additionally, enjoy exclusive bar bites available for order at Second Draught and Pickle Lab!

Don’t miss out—grab your next meal with Ion District Eats To-Go!

Receive Mentorship from the Mercury Network at Software Day at the Ion

Mercury and Ion team up to launch Inaugural Software Day at the Ion to support the growth of Houston software startups.

The Ion, in partnership with Mercury, has announced the inaugural “Software Day at the Ion,” a monthly series aimed at nurturing software innovation and supporting startups on their path to rapid, sustainable growth.

Key Links and Details: 

This monthly series, comprising mentor office hours, keynote sessions, and networking, establishes a critical axis for the software innovation community to rally around at the Ion. It brings together leading mentors, promising early-stage startups, and like-minded Houstonians focused on building transformative software innovations.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Rice Alliance to launch Software Day at the Ion. While Houston has thriving innovation ecosystems around energy and life sciences, there are still hundreds of software startups outside these key verticals that need nurturing and assistance. Our goal is to come together as a tech community to cultivate the next generation of software startups, so that we launch more companies like Brassica, Cart.com, RepeatMD, and many others,” said Mercury Managing Director Blair Garrou. “We have a remarkable community of mentors and industry professionals in the Houston ecosystem coming together to support local founders. Our team is looking forward to working with more local entrepreneurs as they amplify their startup’s growth journey.”

Software Day at the Ion kicked off on Tuesday, May 14 with a fireside chat on “Raising Seed Capital in Uncertain Times” followed by a networking happy hour at Second Draught where founders can connect with fellow software entrepreneurs, investors, and industry professionals, fostering connections that could shape the future of a company.

Prior to the fireside chat, a select group of seed-stage software startups will participate in mentor office hours. Over the course of 2 hours, startup entrepreneurs looking for guidance and seasoned founders needing help tackling tough challenges will have access to a group of curated mentors from the Mercury network. The ideal profile of a company for this mentorship program is a pre-Series A software startup that is in the early stages of revenue generation. Interested startups are encouraged to submit their applications here. Each month, startups will be selected to participate in the mentor office hours.

Software Day at the Ion isn’t just an event series- it’s a catalyst for growth and collaboration. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of Houston’s thriving tech ecosystem.

About Ion: Located in Ion District, the namesake building is the transformative centerpiece of Houston’s innovation corridor, powered by Rice University. Designed to bring our city’s entrepreneurial, corporate, and academic communities into collaborative spaces and programs, the sunlit structure of steel and glass is a home for advancing diverse knowledge, teams, technologies, and products that propel our world forward.
From Fortune 500s seeking flexible office space to first-time startups looking for the funding to design a prototype, the Ion provides wide-reaching space and support—welcoming individuals and teams of all kinds to a place to build a better way. The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship leads programming at the Ion.

About Mercury: Mercury is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on software startups outside the coasts. Mercury’s investment themes target B2B and B2B2C SaaS and data platforms enabling the digital transformation of markets, industries, and customer relationships. To date, Mercury has created over $9 billion of value with an operationally focused investment strategy helping startups achieve rapid, sustainable growth. Mercury is headquartered in Houston with offices in Austin, Chicago, and Detroit. To learn more, visit mercuryfund.com.

Bayou Startup Showcase Highlights University-affiliated Student Ventures at the Ion

The annual Bayou Startup Showcase presented by Rice University’s OwlSpark and the University of Houston’s RED Labs took place Aug. 1 at the Ion – Houston’s innovation hub powered by Rice.

OwlSpark, created and ran by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, and RED Labs have partnered on this showcase for eleven years to create an environment that cultivates entrepreneurs and early-stage startup teams, enabling founders to share ideas, experience the value of collaboration, and surround themselves with the best people and resources. The two universities are both ranked No. 1 in the country for entrepreneurship programs.

“This partnership has seen 401 founders across 181 ventures collectively raise more than $110M,” said Jessica Fleenor, managing director of OwlSpark. “Our alumni are living proof that collaboration works. Our 11-year partnership leverages the community to provide a springboard for emerging founders, demonstrating that Houston is the place for entrepreneurship.”

RED Labs and OwlSpark each provide a 12-week program designed to help the universities’ respective students, faculty, staff and recent alumni accelerate their business or business idea with hands-on entrepreneurship experiences and a roadmap from innovation to commercialization. These accelerators are then celebrated each year with the Bayou Startup Showcase with opportunities to make connections with customers and investors.

This year’s event kicked off with the 18 teams pitching their businesses to a large, standing-room-only audience before the showcase was then opened for the audience to view and interact with the pitched products and services as well as engage with the founders and discover ways to support and grow these businesses.

Ventures ranged from hair care to health care, highlighting the vast array of expertise and experience that comes from Houston’s entrepreneurship ecosystem that Rice and UH have spearheaded.

“I can do anything in a laboratory, but once you hit the real world and the business part about it, it’s really important to find mentors and get a comprehensive sense of what that ecosystem looks like,” said Jonathan Stein, founder of Euvivo Biosciences. “The program has been amazing.”

“The day is a celebration of entrepreneurship, spotlighting the newest startups and small businesses,” said Brad Burke, associate vice president for industry and new ventures at Rice’s  Office of Innovation and executive director of Rice Alliance.

“We want to celebrate the spirit of Houston by supporting our two great hometown universities, these innovative founders and the vibrant entrepreneurial community that makes the Bayou City so special,” he said.

Learn more about all 18 teams here.

University of Houston and Rice University Announce 11th Cohort in Ongoing Acceleration Partnership

The University of Houston and Rice University continue their 11-year collaboration to support Houston entrepreneurship by announcing the latest cohort of their respective startup and small business accelerators, RED Labs and OwlSpark. This summer the accelerators will host their ventures at the Ion, the heart of the Houston innovation corridor in Midtown. This summer the accelerators will host their ventures at the Ion, the heart of the Houston innovation corridor in Midtown.

Over the course of 11 weeks, 18 startup and small business teams will engage in an immersive experience that blends supportive founders, industry leaders, investors and mentors, entrepreneurial training and an invitation to Houston’s innovation ecosystem.

By uniting forces, the University of Houston and Rice provide tailored support to emerging startups and small businesses, further solidifying Houston’s position as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. This partnership creates an environment that cultivates entrepreneurs and early-stage startup teams, enabling founders to share ideas, experience the value of collaboration and surround themselves with the best people and resources.

Hosting the cohort at the Ion reflects a commitment to providing participants with access to Houston’s thriving startup ecosystem. The Ion offers collaborative spaces and community where ideas go to grow. Through the accelerator, teams will access top-tier mentors, training, and coworking space, making it the ideal location to foster innovation and collaboration among aspiring entrepreneurs.

The cohort encompasses a diverse range of sectors, reflecting the dynamic landscape of Houston’s economy.

University of Houston RED Labs Class 12

  • Root Planters develops smart indoor plant care devices designed to prevent plant death by providing automatic watering, tailored for busy individuals and gardeners looking to maintain plant health with minimal effort.
  • Burb Groceries is an online grocery retailer for people with chronic health conditions.
  • That Dude’s Bakehouse offers premium, half-pound cookies, combining choice ingredients and craftsmanship with the mission of being the best part of somebody’s day
  • Mulligan Bandit aims to redefine golf fashion, offering affordable yet high-quality clothing that seamlessly transitions from the fairway to the streets, reflecting personal style while ensuring durability and comfort.
  • Surreal Vision offers immersive Mixed Reality (MR) solutions that provide dynamic visualization experiences to enhance design collaboration and client presentations.
  • Agave Catering is a catering company focused on providing high-quality, gourmet boxed lunches for professionals on the go.
  • Digitally Marie is a purposeful creative agency dedicated to reducing the opportunity gap for female entrepreneurs. Through our heart-driven approach, we elevate content production embodying their brand perception with unapologetic authenticity.
  • Unison is a personal contact relationship management tool that alleviates the risk of data loss and helps to build more meaningful professional and personal relationships.
  • Brain-eNet is a platform that provides hardware and software tools to enable the development of braincontrolled Internet of Things applications.
  • Pasha Blend Collection specializes in creating modern skincare products that embodies purity, authenticity and inclusivity.
  • Arresting Motion is a brand strategy design consultancy and marketing agency that transforms Houston’s top real estate firms into the brands they deserve.
  • CalliDanna is a consulting company that coaches girls 12 to 18 to help improve their lives professionally and personally.

Rice University OwlSpark Class 12

  • EcoFleet Solutions offers rechargeable electric power units for semi-trucks, powering air conditioning and cabin functions during stops without engine idling, cutting fuel costs, maintenance, and emissions.
  • Houston Community Print Shop offers printmaking classes and equipment access, focusing on community building and supporting underserved areas.
  • KOQ Agency curates and organizes global tours and live entertainment opportunities for Queer and Ally artists in drag, music, and entertainment.
  • Euvivo Diagnostics is developing a direct-to-consumer test that analyzes cell aging by examining mitochondrial performance and new aging markers, tailored for individuals with mitochondrial disorders.
  • Hair Hub provides a compilation of styling tutorials, educational content, planning tools and a comprehensive database of products tailored for Black hair to provide resources for users to perform cost-efficient DIY haircare.
  • xMAD.ai is a compression-as-a-service platform that democratizes access to LLMs (Large Language Models) by making them faster, more private, cost-effective and accessible to businesses of all sizes.

“The collaboration the University of Houston has with Rice University gives founders in RED Labs and OwlSpark a unique opportunity to grow along their peers in the larger Houston community and really exemplifies the spirit of collaboration that the Houston business ecosystem is known for,” said Managing Director of RED Labs Liana Gonzalez-Schulenberg. “It never fails to surprise me at the end of the summer the relationships built, the support systems created and collaborations produced across our universities. By working together, we empower the next generation of entrepreneurs to work together as they turn their visions into reality and drive positive change in the community.”

“We’re celebrating more than just an 11-year partnership; we’re recognizing a dynamic alliance that has been instrumental in fostering entrepreneurship and propelling Houston to the forefront of innovation,” said Managing Director of OwlSpark Jessica Fleenor. “This partnership exemplifies our dedication to cultivating a thriving environment where entrepreneurs can connect, grow and succeed surrounded by unparalleled resources and support. We are incredibly excited to see these new ventures grow as they join our growing network and are thrilled to host our cohorts at the Ion, positioning us at the core of our city’s vibrant innovation landscape.”

OwlSpark and RED Labs, founded in 2013, are renowned for their commitment to supporting founders and fostering innovation at UH and Rice. OwlSpark, Rice’s startup and small business accelerator supporting students, faculty and alumni, has supported 97 ventures which have raised nearly $106 million in funding. RED Labs, housed within the C. T. Bauer College of Business, is UH’s startup accelerator program and has been instrumental in helping students, faculty and recent alumni accelerate their business ideas.

The accelerator programs conclude with the Bayou Startup Showcase on August 1, where participants will showcase their ventures to the Greater Houston community. For those interested in attending, sign up here and details will be shared as they become available.

For more information about the accelerator programs, please visit RED Labs and OwlSpark.

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The Inaugural Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week | September 9-13, 2024

Greentown Labs, Halliburton Labs, and The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship are joining forces to launch the inaugural Houston Climate and Energy Startup Week 2024. The week of September 9-13, 2024, will bring together leading energy and climate investors, industry leaders, and startups from across the globe to showcase and discuss the most innovative and promising companies and technologies that are transforming the energy industry and driving a sustainable, low-carbon energy future.

Speakers, panels, pitches and discussions will take place at events across Houston with several hosted at the Ion, the heart of Houston’s innovation corridor in Midtown.

Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week Official Event Schedule:

The Rice Alliance Energy Tech Venture Forum, a Greentown Labs Event and the Halliburton Labs Finalist Pitch Day will anchor the week’s events. More events will be announced soon. Read on for details on how to get your event added to the calendar—we’re excited to continue building out a week filled with innovation.

 

 

The Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI), Activate, Digital Wildcatters, and Renewable Energy Alliance Houston, and TEX-E are eager to bring events and content to the week and others are encouraged to do the same.

Read more in the press release. Follow along on LinkedIn for updates and news!

Interested in joining in? Follow us on LinkedIn.

Excited about this? We want to hear from you. Sign up for more details as they are announced below:


Already have an event confirmed and want it added to the calendar?

If you already have an event in the works and would like it included on our shared calendar, please submit it for consideration HERE.
Instructions: Please make sure to select “Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week” from the “Category” dropdown menu. Under “Venue”, please select either “Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week ‘Ion’ or ‘Non-Ion Location.’” If you plan to host your event somewhere other than Ion, please indicate the location in the description so we can make sure to send folks to the right place!

 

*Event days for anchor events subject to change. Please check back soon for a finalized schedule for the 2024 Energy and Climate Startup Week!

Ion Holiday Gift Guide

This festive season, dive into a world of innovative and delightful gifts that cater to techies, food lovers, and eco-enthusiasts alike, all from the vibrant Ion community.

  • Savor the flavors with a gift card to The Lymbar, a culinary gem in the heart of the Ion. Perfect for those who appreciate a gourmet dining experience from a local Houston restaurateur family, the Corduas!
  • Gift creativity with a membership or workshop at the Ion Prototyping Lab. Ideal for makers, inventors, or anyone eager to bring their ideas to life.
  • Cheers to the festive spirit with a gift card to Second Draught, also located at the Ion. It’s an ideal pick for craft beer aficionados and casual drinkers alike.
  • Indulge guilt-free with delectable sweets from Sinless Treats. Their delightful offerings are sure to please every sweet tooth! Go green with composting material from Moonshot Compost. A thoughtful gift for environmental enthusiasts looking to reduce their carbon footprint.
  • Bring nature indoors with an innovative indoor garden system from Eden Grow Systems. It’s a perfect gift for those who love gardening or fresh, home-grown produce.
  • Delight in the flavors of the season with holiday catering or swag from Stuff’d. Perfect for adding a festive touch to any holiday gathering.

Celebrate this holiday season with gifts that resonate with passion and purpose. Explore these unique offerings from our local startups and businesses within the Ion community. 🎉

 

Face to Face: The Ion’s executive director has big plans for the new district

Face to Face: The Ion’s executive director has big plans for the new district

The Ion stands in Houston’s Midtown as a symbol of the future and a reference to the city’s past. The sleek building opened in 2021 after an expansive $100 million renovation to bring the 1939 Sears department store into this century.

The innovation hub plays host to several technology giants, such as Chevron, Microsoft and Transwestern, but the vision is to be more than the landlord of innovators. The Ion District will eventually stretch across the 16 acres controlled by Rice Management Co. to become a destination for entrepreneurs and collaborators to gather for work and play, with retail, restaurants and, potentially, multifamily living.

The building is already 86% leased, with the recent addition of 10 tenants including Rice University’s Office of Innovation. The opening of the highly anticipated Late August restaurant by “Top Chef” alumna chef Dawn Burrell is set for this June, which promises to draw even more attention and visitors to the Ion.

Executive Director Jan Odegard has been involved with the Ion since it opened its doors, first as senior director for industry and academic partnerships. Odegard spent more than 18 years at Rice University, with his last position as the executive director of Ken Kennedy Institute for Information Technology.

Odegard sat down with the Houston Business Journal to talk about the Ion District’s potential and what’s next for the tech hub.

What is the thought process behind the Ion’s development and tenants?

When we started thinking about building our innovation hub, it was like, “Well, what is that and what ingredients does it need to have,” and it became very clear very quickly that you have to create a place where people want to be.

It needs to be mixed-use because you need to have different stakeholders feel like this is a home for them. So, we have restaurants and food and beverages.

We have programs and open spaces with our partners and for our partners. We also needed to figure out flexible office access, so there’s a place for that, and we have coworking spaces in the building. And then we wanted to have corporations in the building that was part of that full value chain — for entrepreneurs with ideas that want to get into the tech ecosystem to collide with people that are looking for a talent pipeline and looking for new companies and startups.

We wanted to build the entire ecosystem and then repeat it across the district and actually add even more dimensionality to it so that it truly becomes a place where you want to never leave. You want to come here, be here, live here, work here, play here, so that’s an important part of what we do.

The most recent addition to the Ion District was a parking garage. We needed that asset to allow the district to be pedestrian first, no tunnels on the ground, no sky bridges. People in the center, people are the energy. People are what generate value and ideas. Every ground plane will be accessible to take the outdoor spaces and connect them to the indoor part of the building. It could be retail, could be restaurants, could be more kind of lobby spaces that have functions in various ways.

The initial build-up was done as a strategic investment by Rice’s endowment. Future ones will be done more as a joint venture with developers where we’re looking that they will invest in most of the vertical while we kind of do land leases and some ground plane activation.

Why do you think multifamily living options need to be included in the Ion District?

I think this is what people are looking for. You’re looking for that place where your office is next door and you have access to things that you wouldn’t have access to otherwise. I think all of these spaces are amenities that actually create value even for residential spaces. If I think about myself, I want to live in a place where I have access to restaurants and people that are changing the world and whatnot, and I don’t want to get in my car. I’d rather leave my car in the garage. I may be biased because I’m European.

The Ion District’s Community Investment Report was recently released, which details the most recent results of Rice University’s Community Benefits Agreement with the City of Houston, including housing affordability and inclusive hiring. What are you seeing in terms of the surrounding communities merging with the Ion?

When we look at the people we pull in here, we see part of that community. Our doors are open. We’re inviting them to come, but they also have to take advantage of it. We’re seeing good traction with the many communities. They’re seeing the value of what we’re doing. When we look at the zip codes that people come from, they come from all zip codes, but they also come from around here.

We’re already making significant investments. We’re continuing to make those investments in the city. We’re going to be announcing a couple of other things and strategic investments in that portfolio very soon. There’s more coming and we’re one year in with that report, we’ve just started year two deployment.

So there’s a lot more to come there, but we are seeing that traction, we’re seeing the engagement.

What are you most excited about right now?

My excitement is really about starting to achieve what we set out to do, which was to showcase Houston and create density around tech and innovation and make that the center of who Houston could be in a few years. I’m also really excited about seeing that we have good representation. It feels good that when we said we were going to make the building work for Houston, seeing that reflected in the kinds of people that come to our event, both in the audience, as well as on stage. It’s important to also think about that when you put people on stage because you want to see somebody that looks like you on the stage.

For those who aren’t necessarily in the tech or entrepreneur space, how could they utilize the Ion?

Give it a chance. Come visit and be open-minded about what it could do for you. Come to Cup of Joey to meet and connect and figure out what your role could be because you could be a subject matter expert, you could be an adviser.

Fully Charged

An Art Deco department store is reimagined as a hub for entrepreneurship and collaboration.

Location: Houston
Client: Rice University
Development Manager: Hines
Architect: SHoP Architects
Facade & Lightwell Designer: James Carpenter Design Associates
Architect of Record and Interior Architect: Gensler
Development Advisor: HR&A Advisors
Structural Engineer: Walter P Moore
MEP Engineer: IAN+A
Lighting Consultant: One Lux Studio
Civil Engineer: Kimley-Horn
Security, AV, & IT Consultant: HMA Consulting
Elevator Consultant: Persohn/Hahn
Acoustical Consultant: Longman Lindsey
Envelope Consultant: Morrison Hershfield
Landscape Architect: James Corner Field Operations

The energy in the air of the Ion is palpable as a throng of visitors mill about, excitedly chatting during a weekly networking event that goes by the name of Cup of Joey. The project’s name, derived from the charged particles that catalyze chemical reactions, is an apt descriptor. Notably absent was the sterile, perfunctory security desk found in most office buildings. Instead, visitors receive a friendly greeting and immediate access to some of Houston’s best local restaurants. It’s apparent that the Ion development team is trying to “think different” (to borrow from Apple’s famous 1990s ad campaign).

Located in Midtown only half a mile from downtown, the Ion building was built in 1939. Originally home to a Sears showroom, it began its second life in March 2021 as the anchor for a much larger endeavor: a district-wide vision to advance and sustain Houston’s economic resilience through the development of the Ion District. In addition to uncovering and preserving much of the building’s original Art Deco detailing, the design team added two new floors to the original three-story structure, bringing the new building to five stories, with a sixth floor below grade. The 266,000-sf structure brings together multiple uses, including Class-A office space, co-working and event spaces, classrooms, prototyping labs, and maker spaces, as well as notable culinary offerings by some of Houston’s finest restauranteurs.

Although the area doesn’t yet have the infrastructure to make it truly walkable, the Ion team hopes to change that. Jan Odegard, executive director of the Ion, says: “It’s in a perfect location. You have immediate access to a major highway. You have the Red Line that connects downtown all the way to the med center. You’ve got a major connection point here with the Wheeler station that is going to become a major bus and rapid transit thoroughfare. Capitalizing on that and making it a walkable area will only bolster Houston’s future.”

In 2017, the Rice Management Company (RMC) — the entity that manages Rice University’s endowment and that already owned 9 acres in the area — was presented with the opportunity to buy the remaining years of Sears’ ground lease following the department store’s bankruptcy. Around this same time, Amazon was looking for a location for its new headquarters, and the city of Houston approached Rice about putting together a proposal for consideration by the tech behemoth. Though Houston didn’t make the shortlist, Scott Irby, associate manager of Direct Real Estate, RMC, notes that, in retrospect, this was a fortunate turn of events. “It would not have been as impactful as what we have an opportunity to do here,” he says.

RMC opted instead to redevelop the area as a commercial enterprise by leveraging strengths in existing sectors like healthcare and energy and integrating them with the technology sector into a central node. “We realized that technology is something Houston is lacking,” explains Irby. “It’s not lacking in talent. We have entrepreneurship. We have engineering talent. It’s just inside the companies. It’s not really in one place. That’s really what led to the idea of the Ion and the Ion district.”

RMC set to work accumulating more land — eventually taking control of a total of 16 acres — with the vision of building a vibrant, community-oriented district that will host retail, creative office space, hospitality, and multifamily residences while supporting entrepreneurship. Soon after, Rice brought on New York-based SHoP Architects to develop the district master plan and to lead design of the first phase of the project: the Ion building, plaza, and nearby parking garage. James Carpenter Design Associates led the redesign of the building’s skin and central lightwell; Gensler served as architect of record and interior architect for the common spaces; and James Corner Field Operations provided landscape design. “[Rice] is not a developer that’s working in tons of cities around the globe,” explains SHoP project director Anneli Rice. “The whole reason that this district exists, and that The Ion exists, is because Rice is making an investment in Houston. They recognize that the future and the fate of Rice and industry in Houston is tied to this place — the city.”

The building’s programmatic components are intended to support the life cycle of a startup and are organized around a central atrium that slices through the building from top to bottom. The ground floor and lower level contain 50,000 sf of public and shared spaces, which include event spaces, communal workspaces, and drinking and dining options. A 6,500-sf prototyping lab, operated by TXRX Labs, offers large- and small-format 3D printers, classrooms, an electronics design area, a 3D mill, laser cutters, lathes, and power tools. (The original pink terrazzo floors are still visible in the space.) Once a viable prototype has been developed, makers can seek funding from investors just down the hall at the Ion Investor Studio before moving on to an outside facility for large-scale production. Notably, many educators and students regularly use the space, and Axiom Space is using the facilities to develop the Artemis III space suit under a contract for NASA.

Once an enterprise has a need for office space, co-working is a logical first step. With this in mind, the entire second floor is occupied by Common Desk, a popular co-working company that got its start in Dallas. This location, the largest in their portfolio, currently boasts around 600 members representing 260 diverse entities — from nonprofits like BikeHouston to satellites for large corporations, to a luxury sneaker trading company. As an enterprise matures, it can stay within the Ion ecosystem, simply moving up a floor or two into its own private office space; thus, floors three through five are entirely devoted to corporate office space. Recognizing that the leap from co-working to a traditional long-term lease can be difficult, the Ion team opted to operate spaces on the third floor under shorter 1- to 3-year leases. The offices are smaller and come outfitted with kitchenettes, and meeting rooms shared between the floor’s occupants reduce the financial burden on individual enterprises. Offices on floors four and five are available in 5- to 10-year leases, which are suitable for more established entities.

One of the biggest challenges in turning the old department store into a desirable office building was the dearth of daylight. “Daylight was the enemy of shopping,” says Irby. Department stores were intentionally designed to block sunlight, not only to protect the merchandise from the sun’s rays, but also so that shoppers would lose track of time — the same strategy employed by casinos. The entire south side of the building — originally devoted to service space — was entirely windowless, and the only source of daylight to the north was the original Art Deco glass blocks.

Exposing and preserving as much of the historic structure as possible while introducing daylight through a central lightwell were the primary design drivers from day one. New windows that complement the existing glass block punctuate the north half of the building, creating a rhythm that alternates between old and new. The southern half of the building was entirely reskinned with a sleek new curtain wall and perforated metal fins. The newly constructed top two floors, which also employ a structural steel and glass curtain wall system, are recessed to create outdoor balconies — a design move that also diminishes the presence of the new floors when viewing the building from the street level.

The central lightwell was the most challenging design element but also the most rewarding, according to Odegard. Four central columns were removed to make way for the new lightwell, and the remaining slab at each level was hung from the new steel framing over the existing roof level by three-inch diameter stainless steel hanger rods. This approach was used to conceal bulky structural transfer elements while exposing lighter, more architecturally sculpted elements within the occupied space.

Sunlight enters the space through an overhead skylight oriented to the south and refracts off custom perforated metal panels that line the staggered interior balcony railings. (Staggering the balconies provides a secondary benefit of easy visual connection between floors.) Full-spectrum LED lights supplement the natural daylight but can also be programmed to specific color patterns for dramatic effect. Light filters through the entire building down to the lower level, where it illuminates a “forum stair” that functions as a small amphitheater for TED-style talks, panel discussions, and presentations.

At the time of writing, the Ion is nearly 80 percent occupied, a metric that speaks to the success of the project’s first two years. The Ion team is also pursuing WELL Silver certification, demonstrating their commitment to ongoing healthful management of the building. The larger vision for the project, however, is planned to unfold over a decade, and only time will tell as to how the Ion district plays out, particularly in these times of political and economic uncertainty.

Anastasia Calhoun, Assoc. AIA, NOMA, is the editor of Texas Architect.