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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Ion District
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SUMMARY:NASA Stories at the Ion: Dina Contella\, Deputy Manager\, NASA’s International Space Station Program
DESCRIPTION:The community is invited to “NASA Stories at the Ion”—a dynamic morning series capturing the personal side of space exploration. \n\nOn Tuesday\, October 14\, the series welcomes Dina Contella\, Deputy Manager of NASA’s International Space Station Program. As a leader at the forefront of human spaceflight\, Contella offers insights from her career overseeing International Space Station operations\, shaping Artemis missions\, and guiding real-time decisions in Mission Control. \nEach session brings the lived experiences of astronauts and NASA’s top talent to center stage\, with stories of inspiring missions\, unexpected challenges\, and teamwork in orbit. Past speakers include Astronaut Tracy C. Dyson and NASA Flight Director Anthony Vareha. This event promises another powerful\, can’t-miss conversation. \n\n \n\n 
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/nasa-stories-at-the-ion/
LOCATION:Ion – Forum Stairs\, 4201 Main St.\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Aerospace,Founders & Startups,General Community,Keynote,Networking
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251014T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251014T190000
DTSTAMP:20260504T110346
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SUMMARY:Software Day at the Ion
DESCRIPTION:Welcome to “Software Day at the Ion” – a program series hosted by the Ion and Mercury\, where software founders can connect with mentorship at Houston’s HQ for innovation. \nWhat is it: Software Day is a monthly series driving the support\, inspiration\, and connections needed to help startups on their path to rapid\, sustainable growth. Each month\, Software Day will include office hours (by application)\, a keynote session\, and networking. \nEach month will include a new speaker and topic covering the latest trends and breakthroughs in software technology and practical advice for founders. From AI to blockchain and guidance on fundraising\, explore topics that are relevant for your company’s journey.\n \nAfterward\, join us for a networking happy hour at Second Draught\, brought to you by Gunderson Dettmer\, where you can connect with fellow entrepreneurs\, investors\, and industry professionals\, forging connections that could shape the future of your venture. \n Apply for Office Hours: \nPrior to the fireside chat\, a select group of early-stage software startups will participate in office hours. Over the course of 2-hours\, first-time entrepreneurs looking for guidance or seasoned founders needing help tackling tough challenges will have access to a group of curated mentors from the Mercury network and gain insights and guidance tailored to their needs. Startups are invited to apply to participate here.\n\n“Software Day at the Ion” isn’t just an event – it’s a catalyst for growth and collaboration. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of Houston’s thriving tech ecosystem. Join us as we bring together leading mentors\, promising startups\, and like-minded Houstonians focused on transformative software innovations. \n  \n \n 
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/software-day-at-the-ion-6/
LOCATION:Ion – Forum Stairs\, 4201 Main St.\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Founders & Startups,Investors & Capital,Keynote,Mentorship,Networking
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251014T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251014T183000
DTSTAMP:20260504T110346
CREATED:20250128T210133Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251006T162933Z
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SUMMARY:Buying and Selling Businesses
DESCRIPTION:Join Lenny Saizan\, Business Broker and Managing Director of Urban Capital Network\, for an informative presentation on selling and buying businesses. \nThe process of selling and buying a business includes many steps and involves collaboration and coordination of professionals across various disciplines. Quite often\, sellers and buyers in the market are going through the process for the very first time. \nBusiness owners typically have most of their wealth tied to their business; therefore\, it is important that they maximize the value of the business and properly plan their exit strategy. For buyers\, entrepreneurship through business acquisition is a less risky path to business ownership that increases the probability of success and generates positive cash flow on day one. Business acquisition is also a good strategy for business owners to grow their existing business. Lenny Saizan will discuss the process of selling and buying a business\, highlight challenges and mistakes to avoid\, and present the benefits of working with an intermediary. If you are a business owner\, prospective buyer\, or small business service provider\, this event will be beneficial to you. \nDuring the session\, you can expect discussion on the following: \n\nMarket overview\,\nWhen to prepare to sell or buy\,\nWhat makes a company valuable\,\nHow companies are valued\,\nOverview on how to recast financial statements\,\nThe sales process\,\nThe deal team\,\nTaxes and insurance considerations.\n\nPresenter:\nLenny Saizan is the co-founder and Managing Director of Urban Capital Network (UCN)\, an investment firm dedicated to democratizing premium investment opportunities for a wider range of investors. In addition\, he owns and operates Murphy Business Brokerage – Southwest Houston\, where he assists business owners with exit planning\, value maximization\, and the sale of their businesses. He also supports buyers interested in business acquisitions or franchises. \nBefore establishing UCN and his business brokerage\, Lenny worked for 10 years as an Electrical Engineer\, specializing in automation\, controls\, and systems integration. He then transitioned to the oil and gas industry\, where he spent another decade leading teams in financial and operational controls\, as well as audit. \nLenny holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Louisiana State University and an MBA from Tulane University. He is a Certified Mergers & Acquisition Professional\, a Six Sigma Green Belt\, and a Project Management Professional. In 2023\, he was honored as an Outstanding Diversity Champion by the Houston Business Journal.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/angel-investing-101-buying-and-selling-businesses-3/
LOCATION:Ion – Conference Room 029 – 030\, 4201 Main St\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Founders & Startups,Investors & Capital,Networking
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251014T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251014T183000
DTSTAMP:20260504T110346
CREATED:20250128T211513Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250925T163926Z
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SUMMARY:Perfecting Your Pitch
DESCRIPTION:Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur\, a visionary startup owner\, or a tech aficionado\, this event is tailor-made for you. Join us and discover the indispensable value of a compelling pitch deck. \nAbout the Speakers \nDr. Doug Franklin \n“Dr. Doug” is the CEO and Co-Founder of DeckLaunch and the COO of Fresh Tech Solutionz. He has fifteen years of management\, marketing\, and operations experience\, including opportunities with iconic firms such as Coca-Cola\, ExxonMobil\, and RJ Reynolds. Dr. Franklin is also a leading scholar that has presented at more than a dozen conferences and has published in peer-reviewed journals such as The Leadership Quarterly and The Journal of the Texas Alliance of Black School Educators. Dr. Franklin graduated with a Doctoral Degree in Ethical Leadership from the University of St. Thomas Houston and currently teaches Quantitative and Mixed Research Methods at UST. \nDerrell Noris \nWith more than ten years dedicated to developing business operations and software development\, Noris is currently the Co-Founder and CTO of Deck Launch and the CEO of Fresh Tech Solutionz. Both successful startups provide services to growing businesses looking to mobilize their outreach further. \nNicholas Mbaezue-Daniel Jr. \nNick is the founder of Egis Project Management LLC\, a project management firm dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses for projects in the industries of Construction\, Technology\, and Business Enterprise. He also serves as Director of Project Management for Fresh Tech Solutionz and as Chief Operations Officer at DeckLaunch LLC. Nicholas considers himself a servant of entrepreneurship because he sees entrepreneurship as a major vehicle to uplift the community.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/perfecting-your-pitch-25/
LOCATION:Ion – Conference Room 028\, 4201 Main St.\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Founders & Startups,General Community,Networking,Start Here
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