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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230602T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230602T140000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230417T193100Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230525T162917Z
UID:10000439-1685700000-1685714400@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Ion Prototyping Lab Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:Join us at the Ion Prototyping Lab Office Hours to discuss how to build your ideas! \n 
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/ion-prototyping-lab-office-hours-17/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Ion Prototyping Lab
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230602T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230602T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230417T193059Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230525T163118Z
UID:10000412-1685701800-1685707200@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Aramco Ventures Office Hours at the Ion
DESCRIPTION:Aramco Energy Ventures Office Hours are available every other Friday at the Ion!
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/aramco-ventures-office-hours-at-the-ion-4/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:All Communities,Corporate Innovators,Investors & Capital
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/f5fedec0f1ab01723ebf04923effc425.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230605T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230605T190000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230417T193106Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230602T191829Z
UID:10000515-1685988000-1685991600@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Mingle Mondays: FinTech
DESCRIPTION:Join us on the first Monday of the month as we build Houston’s FinTech community at the Ion! \nFintech describes various financial activities\, including money transfers\, depositing a check with your smartphone\, bypassing a bank branch to apply for credit\, raising money for a business startup\, personal finance\, and more! \nThis community is for all who are interested in FinTech\, including FinTech entrepreneurs\, thought leaders interested in FinTech innovation\, vendors and funders seeking to work with financial services and technology sector startups\, FinTech investors\, compliance and legal professionals wanting to share their FinTech knowledge\, and more! \nTo join the Ion’s Funded Founder Community\, apply HERE. To pitch at Poptarts and Pitches\, upload your pitch deck HERE. \nAbout the Speakers \nJune Speaker: Mahesh Sashital is the co-founder and CTO of Lucrisma\, a cutting-edge Web3 company that offers financial data privacy and portability solutions to users. \nMahesh’s passion for the blockchain industry led him to found the Houston Blockchain Alliance in 2018. He has advocated for and spoken about blockchain with organizations in Houston\, including the City\, University of Houston\, Rice University\, startups\, and Fortune 500 companies. \nMahesh has over 20 years of experience in software engineering\, enterprise architecture\, and product management. He has held various positions at companies like J.P. Morgan\, Ford\, and Chrysler. He has also co-founded multiple startups and served as the CTO for each of them. \nMahesh is originally from Mumbai\, India\, but has been a Houstonian for 17 years. He earned his Bachelor’s in Engineering from India and his MBA from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas – Austin. \nMay 2023 Speaker: Robert M Franklin III\, Venture Partner at the Sybilla Mastersfund and Lecturer at Rice University Jones School of Business  \nApril 2023 Speakers: Manolo Sánchez\, Director\, Fannie Mae\, Adjunct Professor\, Jones Graduate School of Business; Vincent Bradley Castellanos\, CEO of Claimkey and Eddie Arroyo\, CFO of Claimkey \nMarch 2023 Speaker: Bobby Bryant\, Founder/CEO DOSS \nFebruary 2023 Speakers: Isaiah Studivent\, CEO/Head of Growth\, Evron; Chalique Seabron\, COO\, Evron \nAbout the hosts \nNorman Pappous has degrees in Economics (BS) and Financial Markets & Trading (MSc.). He has worked in the UK and USA for various financial services firms\, including ABN Amro\, UBS\, Close Bros. Merchant Bank\, Rydex Series Trust\, and Merrill Lynch. He has also consulted hedge funds and corporate treasury operations. In 2022 Norman authored the book Wall Street’s Grand Deception. Norman is Quora.com’s “Most viewed writer” for asset management\, financial advisors\, and passive/index investing. The Structured Products Association of America gave Norman the “Leading Edge Advisor” award for his work in derivatives pricing. He’s been featured in The New York Post\, Forbes\, Investment News\, Registered Rep\, TheStreet.com\, and Frontline on PBS. Norman also founded a FinTech start-up that raised seed and angel funding close to $1 million. \nKiley Summers is the Founder of Spendebt. Shortly after college graduation\, Kiley and TyLisha found themselves in over $100\,000 of consumer debt. Growing up\, finances weren’t discussed in their households. No one told them that only making minimum payments on their debt would likely have them in debt for the rest of their lives. The couple decided to hire a financial advisor to help them improve their financial situation. After becoming debt free\, they began sharing their story with family and friends\, realizing there were so many people caught in the never-ending debt spiral without a plan to get out\, and SpenDebt was born. \nPhillip Yates is the co-founder of Equiliberty\, a technology company designed to help build diversity in property ownership and support minority businesses and neighborhoods by linking people to information\, capital\, and markets\, with a mission to transition the wealth of talent and genius in underserved communities into a treasure of communal wealth\, anchored by communal ownership.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/mingle-mondays-fintech-2/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:All Communities,FinTech,Founders & Startups
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/230118-FinTech-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230606T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230606T170000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230417T193100Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230606T185243Z
UID:10000440-1686056400-1686070800@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Ion Prototyping Lab Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:Join us at the Ion Prototyping Lab Office Hours to discuss how to build your ideas!
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/ion-prototyping-lab-office-hours-18/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Ion Prototyping Lab
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230607T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230607T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230417T193058Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230606T185349Z
UID:10000402-1686132000-1686139200@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Poptarts & Pitches
DESCRIPTION:Join us on Wednesdays at 10 AM on the Lower Level to learn about the art of pitching and get valuable feedback on your deck!
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/poptarts-pitches-7/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:All Communities,Founders & Startups
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230609T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230609T103000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230417T193033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230525T212417Z
UID:10000304-1686299400-1686306600@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Cup of Joey
DESCRIPTION:Cup of Joey is a coffee Happy Hour for Innovative Ideas.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/cup-of-joey-10/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:All Communities,Founders & Startups
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230609T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230609T113000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230417T193103Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230525T212609Z
UID:10000482-1686304800-1686310200@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Ion Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:Join us for our Office Hours at the Ion\, where we will talk to you about how the Ion is here to help you as an entrepreneur.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/ion-office-hours-45/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:All Communities,Founders & Startups,General Community
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230609T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230609T140000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230417T193100Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230525T212746Z
UID:10000441-1686304800-1686319200@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Ion Prototyping Lab Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:Join us at the Ion Prototyping Lab Office Hours to discuss how to build your ideas!
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/ion-prototyping-lab-office-hours-19/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Ion Prototyping Lab
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230610T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230610T130000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230601T203823Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230610T150907Z
UID:10000568-1686391200-1686402000@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Ion Family STEAM Day: What is Blood?
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a hands-on learning experience about health and our blood and gain insight into the professional skills and concepts needed to excel in a medical career. Students will learn what blood is made of and the vital role it plays in our health and then make a sample of blood using familiar products with the STEAM on Demand platform!  \nThis event will be tailored for 9-14-year-olds for a fun STEM experience! We look forward to building and learning with you! \n*Additionally\, we will have a special workshop geared towards 2 – 5-year-olds! So\, please bring the whole family!
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/ion-family-steam-day-what-is-blood/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Academic Network,General Community,MedTech/HealthTech
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/img_5417-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230612T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230612T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230417T193048Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230606T185457Z
UID:10000356-1686564000-1686571200@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Ion Open Accelerator: Digital Media Kits
DESCRIPTION:Join us to learn what a digital media kit is and why it is essential for your startup or business!\n\n\nIn this workshop\, learn what a Digital Media Kit is and why it is the way of the future. When emails are sent out for media opportunities\, information\, promotion\, or a slew of other things\, it is easy for key information to get lost in the back-and-forth of email communication. Even with a one-pager\, conveying information about your startup or business can be difficult. \nA digital media kit is easy to update and has everything about you and/or your business. Having a Link Tree is another option a lot of businesses use and enables the receiver to have the option to go deeper into learning more about your company. \nDon’t miss out on opportunities because you only sent the bare minimum information. Attend this workshop to learn more about digital media kits. \nAbout the Speaker – Melissa Ambers PMP\, LSS\, PR
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/ion-open-accelerator-digital-media-kits/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Open Accelerator
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/372a8bd40904cc8be178c188c16a59dc.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230613T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230613T170000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230417T193100Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230606T185523Z
UID:10000442-1686661200-1686675600@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Ion Prototyping Lab Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:Join us at the Ion Prototyping Lab Office Hours to discuss how to build your ideas! \n \n 
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/ion-prototyping-lab-office-hours-20/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Academic Network,All Communities,Founders & Startups,General Community,Ion Prototyping Lab
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230613T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230613T180000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230417T193049Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230606T185559Z
UID:10000357-1686672000-1686679200@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Investor Studio Series: VC Due Diligence Best Practices
DESCRIPTION:Join us to learn about how VCs approach investing and conduct due diligence and why this matters for you as a founder.\n\n\nDuring this event\, Golden Section\, a venture capital fund and founders studio obsessed with B2B SaaS product development\, will discuss how VCs approach investing and conduct due diligence\, and why this matters for founders. The presentation will cover: \n\nMarket changes that effect how VCs approach investing\nWhat founders need to prepare for this new environment\nHow Golden Section approaches due diligence\n\nIf you are a VC fund\, investor\, or founder\, this event is for you! \nAbout the host: Golden Section is a Houston-based VC that invests in early-stage B2B SaaS companies. We invest in founders who have domain expertise in the industry they are looking to build a solution for.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/investor-studio-series-vc-due-diligence-best-practices/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:All Communities,Investors & Capital
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/7b8e22ffb5f06c191d4034f01901c9c1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230614T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230614T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230417T193058Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230606T185638Z
UID:10000403-1686736800-1686744000@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Poptarts & Pitches
DESCRIPTION:Join us on Wednesdays at 10 AM on the Lower Level to learn about the art of pitching and get valuable feedback on your deck!
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/poptarts-pitches-8/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:All Communities,Founders & Startups,General Community,Investors & Capital,Register on Eventbrite
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230616T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230616T103000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230417T193033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230606T185823Z
UID:10000305-1686904200-1686911400@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Cup of Joey
DESCRIPTION:Cup of Joey is a coffee Happy Hour for Innovative Ideas.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/cup-of-joey-11/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Academic Network,All Communities,Corporate Innovators,Founders & Startups,General Community,Investors & Capital,Register on Eventbrite
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230616T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230616T113000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230417T193103Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230606T185852Z
UID:10000483-1686909600-1686915000@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Ion Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:Join us for our Office Hours at the Ion\, where we will talk to you about how the Ion is here to help you as an entrepreneur.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/ion-office-hours-46/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:All Communities,Founders & Startups,General Community,Register on Eventbrite
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230616T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230616T140000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230417T193100Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230606T190013Z
UID:10000443-1686909600-1686924000@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Ion Prototyping Lab Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:Join us at the Ion Prototyping Lab Office Hours to discuss how to build your ideas!
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/ion-prototyping-lab-office-hours-21/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:All Communities,Founders & Startups,General Community,Ion Prototyping Lab
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230616T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230616T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230417T193059Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230606T190125Z
UID:10000413-1686911400-1686916800@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Aramco Ventures Office Hours at the Ion
DESCRIPTION:Aramco Energy Ventures Office Hours are available every other Friday at the Ion! \n 
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/aramco-ventures-office-hours-at-the-ion-5/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:All Communities,Founders & Startups,General Community,Investors & Capital,Register on Eventbrite
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/f5fedec0f1ab01723ebf04923effc425.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230620T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230620T170000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230417T193100Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230606T190253Z
UID:10000444-1687266000-1687280400@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Ion Prototyping Lab Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:Join us at the Ion Prototyping Lab Office Hours to discuss how to build your ideas!
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/ion-prototyping-lab-office-hours-22/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Academic Network,All Communities,Corporate Innovators,General Community,Investors & Capital,Ion Prototyping Lab,Register on Eventbrite
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230620T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230620T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230601T174310Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230620T213316Z
UID:10000571-1687284000-1687293000@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Co-Creating the Future: An African Startup Symposium on Collaboration
DESCRIPTION:Join The Beta Collective and Ion for an in-person symposium exploring opportunities for cross-border entrepreneurial collaboration between the US/Houston and Africa. From Idea to Impact\, we’ll delve into the African startup ecosystem\, highlighting growth and potential for cross-border collaboration\, key sectors driving innovation and growth\, and legal\, regulatory\, and cultural considerations and challenges for cross-border collaborations. \nIn addition\, we’ll showcase startups and investment opportunities and discuss the current landscape of black investors and founders in the US and their potential impact on the African startup ecosystem. \nWhether you’re an entrepreneur\, investor\, or interested in the African startup ecosystem\, this symposium is for you. You’ll gain insights on building successful partnerships\, investment opportunities and challenges\, and resources available to maximize success in cross-border collaborations. \nDon’t miss out on this unique opportunity to connect\, collaborate and co-create the future with a diverse group of like-minded individuals from across the globe. Register today! \nThis event is being held in partnership with the Beta Collective and sponsored by TipHub Venture Capital \n\n\n\n\nHost \nUkeme Daniel E. MD.\, MPH \nUkeme Essien is the founder of The Beta Collective\, a community that incubates ideas for solving grand challenges in African communities globally and enabling collaboration. She is a medical doctor with a passion for solving grand challenges in African communities through population research and innovation design. She has worked with organizations such as the Clinton Global Initiative and the World Health Organization and founded The Beta Collective\, a community incubating innovative ideas for social entrepreneurship. \nUkeme is also an advocate for the African entrepreneurial ecosystem\, having hosted several panels and roundtables in different cities. She also consults for early-stage start-ups in emerging markets over the past 5+ years. Her dedication to empowering emerging entrepreneurs and making a positive impact in African communities is unwavering. \nPanelists \nWale Salami – Moderator \nWale Salami is an American angel investor\, venture capitalist\, U.S. Army veteran\, and tech professional with over 10 years of experience working in the military\, nonprofit and private-sector roles in world-class organizations. He served with the Air Defense Artillery Brigade of the United States Army\, was stationed at Fort Hood\, Texas\, and was on a tour of duty to the Middle East as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. He is currently with one of the top 4 tech companies in America (one of Fortune 10)\, leading cloud adoption strategies in the SouthEast AMER region. \nWale holds a certificate in Private Equity & Venture Capital from Universitä Bocconi\, a BSc. in Mechanical Engineering from Lagos State University\, and an Executive MBA from the University of Texas\, Arlington. He is a member of the HBS Alumni Angels Association (HBSAAA)\, The Stanford Angels Club\, and also a chartered member of the Angel Capital Association (ACA)\, a network of over 14\,000+ active\, professional angels. \nProf. Robert M. Franklin III \nRobert M. Franklin III is a Venture Partner at Sybilla Mastersfund\, a Lecturer at Rice University Jones School of Business\, and a Managing Director at the Vessel Group\, a management consulting firm in Houston. He has expertise in providing regulatory and risk management advice to global investment banks and energy/commodities firms. Robert is a former member of Houston Angel Network (HAN) and focuses on fintech startups. He holds an MBA from Tulane University and a BS in Finance and Banking from Hampton University\, where he was named to the 40 Under Forty Society in 2021. He is also a graduate of the VC University: Venture Finance certificate program by the National Venture Capital Association and UC Berkeley Law. In his free time\, he enjoys reading\, working out\, and cycling. \nMr. Ayo Sopitan  \nMeet Ayo Sopitan\, the founder and CEO of Metalex Commodities\, a company that builds supply chains for critical metals produced in Africa and delivers them to the global metals market. Metalex operates in Nigeria\, Mauritania\, and Zambia\, providing essential metals like copper\, manganese\, lithium\, and cobalt that are crucial to the energy transition. Before founding Metalex\, Ayo spent ten years in the commodity trading industry\, holding various senior roles at OpenLink Financial and IHS Market. He also worked as an independent commodity trading consultant. \nAyo is also an avid startup investor\, having invested in nearly 25 startups in both North America and Africa. Ayo holds business degrees from Bryant University in Rhode Island and New York University. With his extensive industry experience and passion for investing in the future of Africa\, Ayo is leading Metalex Commodities toward a more sustainable and innovative future. \nMrs. Angelique Bartholomew JD  \nAngelique Bartholomew is a highly accomplished executive with over 25 years of experience in the public\, private\, and international sectors. She is the Principal at Intuitive Global Consulting (IGC)\, a certified women-owned consulting firm based in Houston\, Texas. At IGC\, Angelique leads the development of policies\, programs\, and projects related to communities\, infrastructure\, and trade. \nAngelique is also an expert in economic development and public-private partnerships and has been responsible for landing over 30 million dollars in small business growth and revenue. She serves on several boards and committees at the local\, state\, and federal levels and has been appointed to the U.S. Department of Commerce Trade and Finance Advisory Council for a two-year term. Her core competencies include program development\, project implementation\, strategic planning\, negotiations\, contracting\, project management\, policy\, stakeholder engagement\, procedure implementation\, and international developments. \nMichelle Mbeo  \nMichelle Mbeo is a global leader with over 15 years of experience in successfully transforming organizations and driving innovation. However\, her unique ability to navigate complex challenges and drive meaningful change in highly competitive environments like her native region of East Africa stands out. \nMichelle has launched and grown multiple businesses in various sectors\, including technology\, finance\, and healthcare\, and is particularly focused on creating value for clients\, governments\, and stakeholders in Africa. Her work includes establishing Lakeview Fisheries in Nairobi\, Kenya\, as well as leading projects such as ‘Africa is Open\,’ which bridges businesses and resources to create opportunities in the region. Through her leadership\, she has expanded global small business leadership and patented developments and established a culture of innovation\, collaboration\, and accountability. Michelle’s extensive experience\, coupled with her deep understanding of diverse markets and cultures\, positions her well to continue driving success and delivering value to clients\, employees\, and stakeholders in Africa and beyond. \n  \n\n\n\n\nStartup Presenters \nCompany: SunFi \nPresenter: Tomiwa Igun\, Co-founder & COO \nTomiwa is an entrepreneur and advocates for electrifying Africa. He is the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of SunFi Corporation\, a Clean Energy FinTech company that provides financing and digital tools to enable distributed clean energy providers in Nigeria to scale clean\, affordable\, and reliable electricity. Prior to this\, he worked at The Boston Consulting Group and Africa Finance Corporation on energy projects and infrastructure development in Africa. He also co-founded Young African MBAs\, a non-profit that helps bridge the gap in Africa’s management talent. Tomiwa holds an MBA with Honors from Harvard Business School\, an M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan\, and a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Howard University. During his time at HBS\, he co-chaired the Africa Business Conference and co-authored a published Harvard Business School case study on the Privatization of Nigeria’s Power Sector. \n\n \n\n 
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/co-creating-the-future-an-african-startup-symposium-on-collaboration/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Corporate Innovators,Founders & Startups,General Community,Investors & Capital
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Co-creating-future-event-1920-×-1080-px.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230621T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230621T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230417T193058Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230606T190347Z
UID:10000404-1687341600-1687348800@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Poptarts & Pitches
DESCRIPTION:Join us on Wednesdays at 10 AM on the Lower Level to learn about the art of pitching and get valuable feedback on your deck!
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/poptarts-pitches-9/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:All Communities,Founders & Startups,General Community,Investors & Capital,Register on Eventbrite
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230621T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230621T183000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230612T050621Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230612T050656Z
UID:10000573-1687368600-1687372200@iondistrict.com
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-2/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:All Communities,Founders & Startups,Open Accelerator
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/DSC_0368-1-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230622T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230622T193000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230421T203704Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230621T203334Z
UID:10000543-1687456800-1687462200@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Special Edition - NASA Tech Talks & Pumps & Pipes: Ultrasound. Integrated. Everywhere.
DESCRIPTION:Buckle up for the beginning of another Pump & Pipes journey as we launch thin-film ultrasound technologies from energy applications into aerospace\, health & Medtech sectors. \nIn collaboration with NASA Tech Talks\, and the Mingle Monday Health & MedTech series at Ion\, join Pumps & Pipes as we venture into a discussion on the use of ultrasound technologies from both terrestrial and space medicine perspectives. \n\nHow is ultrasound technology deployed in space?\nWhat applications can you envision for ultrasound?\n\nLet our special guest\, Dr. Josef Schmid guide you. As a NASA flight surgeon and major general (ret)\, mobilization assistant to the surgeon general of the Air Force\, he has a vast array of experience and insight into those issues. \nHow can convergence innovation solve current problems? \nHow can we repurpose Oil & Gas technology for new medical applications? \nOur second special guest\, Dr. Dave Hughes\, CEO and Founder of Novosound\, can give us insight and examples. Their thin-film ultrasound technology\, originally created to measure corrosion and erosion on pipes in the oil & gas industry\, is currently being developed for a variety of new medical-based solutions. \nWhat problems do you have that could potentially be solved by ultrasound technologies? \nCome along and find out more!
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/nasa-tech-talks0622/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Aerospace,Founders & Startups,General Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/nasa.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230623T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230623T103000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230417T193033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230606T190448Z
UID:10000306-1687509000-1687516200@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Cup of Joey
DESCRIPTION:Cup of Joey is a coffee Happy Hour for Innovative Ideas.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/cup-of-joey-12/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Academic Network,All Communities,Corporate Innovators,Founders & Startups,General Community,Investors & Capital,Register on Eventbrite
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230623T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230623T113000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230417T193103Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230606T190516Z
UID:10000484-1687514400-1687519800@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Ion Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:Join us for our Office Hours at the Ion\, where we will talk to you about how the Ion is here to help you as an entrepreneur.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/ion-office-hours-47/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Academic Network,All Communities,Founders & Startups,General Community,Register on Eventbrite
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230623T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230623T140000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230417T193101Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230606T190603Z
UID:10000445-1687514400-1687528800@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Ion Prototyping Lab Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:Join us at the Ion Prototyping Lab Office Hours to discuss how to build your ideas!
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/ion-prototyping-lab-office-hours-23/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:All Communities,Founders & Startups,General Community,Ion Prototyping Lab
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230627T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230627T170000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012748
CREATED:20230417T193101Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230606T190747Z
UID:10000446-1687870800-1687885200@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Ion Prototyping Lab Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:Join us at the Ion Prototyping Lab Office Hours to discuss how to build your ideas!
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/ion-prototyping-lab-office-hours-24/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:All Communities,Founders & Startups,Investors & Capital,Ion Prototyping Lab
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230628T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230628T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012749
CREATED:20230417T193058Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230606T190824Z
UID:10000405-1687946400-1687953600@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Poptarts & Pitches
DESCRIPTION:Join us on Wednesdays at 10 AM on the Lower Level to learn about the art of pitching and get valuable feedback on your deck!
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/poptarts-pitches-10/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:All Communities,Founders & Startups,Investors & Capital,Register on Eventbrite
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230628T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230628T193000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012749
CREATED:20230523T150641Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230621T215022Z
UID:10000562-1687977000-1687980600@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Ion Bike Club
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a 45-minute guided cruise led by Bike Houston around the expanding Ion District and Midtown neighborhoods. We’ll meet up on the Ion Plaza just outside of Second Draught. The ride is suitable for all ages; Limited BCycle bikes are available onsite for rental. \nFollowing the ride\, participants are eligible for a 10% discount on beverages at Second Draught!
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/ion-bike-club-6-28/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:General Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_3409-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230629T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230629T170000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012749
CREATED:20230601T204158Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230601T204223Z
UID:10000569-1688054400-1688058000@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Innovation on Tap: Marcia O'Malley\, Rice University
DESCRIPTION:Featured Speaker: Marcia O’Malley\, Associate Dean for Research and Innovation\, George R. Brown School of Engineering\nThomas Michael Panos Family Professor in Mechanical Engineering\, Rice University.  \nConveying touch feedback via wearables \nVibrotactile haptic feedback is ubiquitous for notifications and alerts in portable devices such as phones\, smart watches\, and fitness trackers\, but the set of possible notifications is limited by the nature of the small vibration motors so often used to deliver such cues. Wearable haptics refers to systems worn on the body or integrated into clothing that can provide haptic feedback to the wearer in a wide range of forms\, such as vibrotactile\, skin stretch\, pressure\, and kinesthetic feedback. The potential for wearable haptics is supported by technological advancements in sensing and actuation that allow for the design and deployment of flexible materials\, fabrics\, and small-footprint actuators that can augment and enhance human performance. While rigid and grounded haptic feedback devices have been explored as a means to train new motor skills\, rehabilitate movement coordination after neurological injury\, and even augment human force output capabilities in tasks such as lifting or running\, the application space is limited due to the weight and scale of such devices. Wearable haptic devices seek to overcome the limitations of rigid and grounded haptic devices. In recent years\, my group has been designing novel wearable haptic systems that provide multiple haptic modalities of feedback to the user\, including vibration\, skin stretch\, pressure\, and kinesthetic feedback\, all packaged in bands that can be worn on the arm. We have developed these systems to enhance communication\, provide haptic feedback to amputees using prosthetics\, to train surgeons using virtual reality simulators\, and to enhance user experiences in VR. In this talk\, I will present some of our wearable haptic systems\, describe our target applications\, and highlight the distinguishing features our hardware and haptic rendering paradigms. \nWe invite attendees to join the featured speaker and event attendees for networking at Second Draught after the talk. \nMarcia O’Malley is the Thomas Michael Panos Family Professor in Mechanical Engineering\, Computer Science\, and Electrical and Computer Engineering\, and the Associate Dean for Research and Innovation in the George R. Brown School of Engineering at Rice University. In July of 2023\, she will transition from Associate Dean to Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Rice. She is also an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at both Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. She received her BS in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University\, and her MS and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt University. Her research is in the areas of haptics and robotic rehabilitation\, with a focus on the design and control of wearable robotic devices for training and rehabilitation. She has twice received the George R. Brown Award for Superior Teaching at Rice University. O’Malley was a recipient of both the ONR Young Investigator award and the NSF CAREER Award. She is a Fellow of the ASME\, the IEEE\, and the AIMBE. \nAbout Innovation on Tap: Disruptive Technology Talks with Houston’s Leading Researchers \nIndustrial innovation is in the DNA of Houston (energy\, health\, space\, and transportation)\, and the Ion is at the forefront of moving the city to become a technology destination\, a central place where we support bold moves that embrace the innovation economy at an industrial scale. The Ion is a place where we accelerate disruption by connecting people and ideas to create a future that will not only change Houston but change the world. \nIon Innovation on Tap lecture series is focused on bridging world-leading academic research to the broader innovation ecosystem\, creating connections and partnerships that will not only accelerate translation and commercialization but form relationships that will drive future fundamental advances needed to address fundamental problems like decarbonization\, personalized health care\, and create resilient and sustainable livable communities. \nExamples of disruptive technology include but are not limited to AI and machine learning\, robotics\, synthetic biology\, neuro-engineering\, nano-materials\, cyber security\, imaging\, blockchain\, and quantum computing. \nThe lecture series will feature leading researchers spanning engineering\, science\, and design\, showcasing advanced technology and innovation from academic research labs and programs. Largely inaccessible and buried in journals and conference proceedings\, technology will be presented in an accessible TED-style lecture format with ample networking opportunities. The disruptive technology lecture series will serve as a magnifying glass connecting fundamental technology to people and organizations that can benefit and help activate technology through commercialization. More than that\, the lecture series will serve as a front door for collaboration between researchers and industry partners and/or the formation of new technology startups that will help establish Ion and Houston as a global hub for innovation.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/innovation-on-tap-marcia-omalley-rice-university/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Academic Network,Corporate Innovators,Founders & Startups,General Community,Hardware,Human Performance,Investors & Capital,MedTech/HealthTech
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/230629-Marcia-OMalley-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230630T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230630T103000
DTSTAMP:20260404T012749
CREATED:20230417T193033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230606T190959Z
UID:10000307-1688113800-1688121000@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Cup of Joey
DESCRIPTION:Cup of Joey is a coffee Happy Hour for Innovative Ideas.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/cup-of-joey-13/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Academic Network,All Communities,Corporate Innovators,Founders & Startups,General Community,Investors & Capital,Register on Eventbrite
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR