Need advice on your next innovative idea? Want to join an industry-related and tech-enabled community? Chat with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) or join your Ion Mingle Community!

On the Third Monday of the month, come to the Ion’s Academic Flex Space from 5 to 5:30 pm to connect with Ion SMEs in 1:1 or small group sessions. Our SMEs specialize in a range of topics, including Communication & Team Transformation, Storytelling, Marketing & Branding, Pitch Deck Preparation, Product Development, and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. While not every SME will be available every Third Monday, come prepared with your questions to make the most of this event, and feel free to connect with our SMEs using their LinkedIn profiles provided below!

At the same time, check out Ion’s Mingle Lounges. Lounges run from 5 to 6 pm in the classrooms surrounding the Flex Space. These Lounges are a great place to connect with fellow founders, innovators, entrepreneurs, SMEs, researchers, and corporates! Typically, each Lounge will have a featured speaker who shares their story and expertise. Make sure to follow Mingle Leaders’ and Ion’s social media for announcements regarding speakers and the frequency of Mingle Lounges. Mark your calendar and get ready to innovate, collaborate, and network!

Every better way needs a place to begin. Start here.

Ion SMEs include:

• Ayo Kuyinu: Brand Strategy: Identity, Positioning, and Messaging
• Christa Clarke, Sherhara Downing: Communication and Team Transformation
• Dr. Doug Franklin: Pitch Deck Development
• Peter Durand: Group Facilitation and Visualizing Complex Systems
• Rahul Brahmbhatt: Customer Discovery and User Insights
• Tracie Jae: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
• Wade Pinder: Product Management

Ion Mingle Lounges include: 

• Music, Film, Media Tech: Tracy DeJarnett (Music), Kevin Kempf (Film), Paul O’Brien, Josh Sutton (MediaTech Ventures)
• Food Tech: Tasos Katsaounis and Jereis Khawaja
• Intellectual Property: Hannah Edlund
• Med & Health Tech: Stuart J. Corr (Pumps & Pipes)
• FinTech: Norman Pappous, Kiley Summers, Phillip Yates 
• Transportation, Supply Chain, Logistics Mingle: Jim O’Sullivan
• EdTech: Sunny Zhang, Devina Bhojwani, Alicia Wiliams
• Web 3.0/NFTs – Giorgio Villani, Margaret Passe

October Speakers: 

• Intellectual Property: Hannah Edlund, Phillip E. Page – Have a trademark? Learn what’s next. Featuring the free legal clinic trademark assistance program from South Texas College of Law.
• Med & Health Tech: Dr. Alan Lumsden, Chair of Cardiovascular Surgery and Chair of the DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Houston Methodist 
• FinTech: Schirell Sidney, Senior Manager, United Way of Greater Houston – Financial Stability
• Transportation, Supply Chain, Logistics: Jordan Frisby, Business Process Manager, Port Houston
• EdTech: Adeeb Barqawi, CEO, ProUnitas Inc.; Patra Brannon-Isaac, Director of Education & Community Projects, Kinder Foundation; David Holmes, Director, S&P Global