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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260805T153000
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DTSTAMP:20260715T160758Z
CREATED:20260713T205415Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260715T160758Z
UID:10005180-1785943800-1785952800@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Summer Venture Studio Preview Day @ Ion District
DESCRIPTION:Register here: https://luma.com/6jbyeu9f \nCheck-in begins at 3:30 PM. Event begins at 4:00 PM. \nBe among the first to see what’s next 👀\n​Join us for the inaugural Summer Venture Studio Preview Day\, where this year’s cohort of ambitious student founders will pitch the ventures they’ve spent the summer building.\n​Hosted by the Ion District and in partnership with Rice Alliance\, SVS Preview Day is both a showcase and a celebration of Houston’s innovation community. \n​Meet founders\, connect with fellow entrepreneurs\, investors\, mentors\, and supporters\, and help us celebrate the next generation of student innovators at Rice. \n​Meet the 2026 SVS Cohort!\n​Actile Technologies\n​Founder: Barclay Jumet \n​Actile develops wearable smart fabrics that communicate critical information through the language of touch\, helping operators’ eyes and ears stay focused on their environment in national defense and other demanding settings. \n​DHI Tech\n​Founders: Dev Sanghvi\, Madhuvani Thatiparti\, Aneesh Thatiparti \n​DHI Tech is developing a plug-and-play edge AI layer for surveillance networks that makes every camera a smart device\, covering 25-plus safety\, compliance and security use cases out of the box. \n​Kairos Health\n​Founders: Adhira Tippur\, Sanjana Kavula\, Tanush Chintala\, Aditya Jain \n​Kairos have developed an AI-powered patient intake platform built specifically for independent dental practices. \n​Lucero Health\n​Founders: Halbert Kim\, Rohan Dharia \n​Lucero connect patients to supplemental resources\, turning non-medical needs into actionable care beyond the clinic via a digital platform. \n​MedIQ Health\n​Founders: Suran Somawardana\, Jacob Lei\, Patrick Bednarz \n​MedIQ is developing hardware and software solutions that help asthma patients and their doctors better manage their condition. \n​Codene\n​Founders: Adam Towner\, Saul Brauns \n​Codene are building the AI platform for go-to-market engineering. They Codene discovers ideal customers\, executes personalized outreach and accelerates the journey from launch to revenue. \n​Vantage\n​Founders: Gavin Firestone\, Nolan Connolly \n​Vantage have developed an AI motion coach that uses computer vision to deliver instant\, actionable feedback on exercise technique and programming. \n​Magma Health\n​Founder: Ramtin Shahzanian \n​Magma clones real companies into high-fidelity RL environments. \n​Coop\n​Founders Adithiya Balaguru\, Arnav Bhalla \n​Coop are building an early respiratory disease detection system for poultry farms using AI to analyze audio feeds collected from poultry houses. \n​Learn more \n​About Summer Venture Studio\n​Summer Venture Studio (SVS) provides an immersive three-month experience where Rice student entrepreneurs receive $15\,000 in non-dilutive funding\, individualized mentorship\, workspace and access to an extensive network of experienced founders\, investors\, and industry experts. \n​Since launching in 2023\, SVS has become one of Rice’s premier pathways for translating student innovation into high-growth companies. More than half of participating ventures have gone on to raise pre-seed or seed financing\, while alumni companies have earned acceptance into some of the world’s most competitive accelerators programs\, including Y Combinator and Tech Stars. \n​For more information\, visit Lilie Summer Venture Studio! \n​About Liu Idea Lab for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Lilie)\n​The Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Lilie) is the home for entrepreneurship and innovation at Rice University. As the center for entrepreneurship on campus\, Lilie runs courses and co-curricular programs to help develop students\, researchers\, faculty\, and alums into entrepreneurs for life.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/summer-venture-studio-preview-day-ion-district/
LOCATION:Ion – Forum Stairs\, 4201 Main St.\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Founders & Startups,General Community,Networking,Start Here
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260805T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260805T183000
DTSTAMP:20260730T190432Z
CREATED:20260126T191924Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260730T190432Z
UID:10004773-1785951000-1785954600@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Angel Investing 101
DESCRIPTION:Register here: https://luma.com/wdpfdggu \nIn a world where only the very wealthy\, well connected\, and major institutions have access to premium investment opportunities\, which have created massive wealth for a small portion of the population\, the Innovation Center for Urban Entrepreneurship team believes the key to closing income and wealth gaps globally is to democratize access to opportunities across the investment ecosystem. \nJoin the Innovation Center for Urban Entrepreneurship team for an evening of learning\, discussion and possibilities as we explore the basics of angel investing and the role it plays in bringing new products and services to market and the impact it has on wealth and job creation.. At this event\, you’ll learn the key components to successfully navigate the critical-path of investing in private\, early-stage companies. \nThis session is ideal for the following investment related stakeholders: \n\nProspective Angel Investors who want to learn more about the world of Angel Investing\nInvestment Advisors (RIA/FA) who are looking for alternative investments for their clients\nEntrepreneurs who want to learn more about what Angels are looking for in their deals\nEntrepreneurs who want to meet/network with Angel Investors\n\nIon District Investor Activation Program: \nThe Houston Ion District Investor Activation Program along with Urban Capital Network is helping build an equitable climatetech industry capable of rapid deployment by addressing a fundamental challenge: the region’s lack of funding for early-stage climatetech startups\, and especially for those led by underrepresented founders. \nThis program from Greentown Labs and the Ion brings early-stage investors from Greater Houston—a region playing a pivotal role in the energy transition—into the fold\, offering education on climatetech investing\, channeling a pool of capital to young startups\, and catalyzing a thriving climatetech investment ecosystem that prioritizes diversity\, equity\, and inclusion. \nIf you would like to join the program\, please fill out this form\, and if you have additional questions\, please contact Juliana Bernal Martinez at jbernal@greentownlabs.com.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/angel-investing-101-9/
LOCATION:Ion – Conference Room 032\, 4201 Main St\, Houston
CATEGORIES:Founders & Startups,Investors & Capital,Networking
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260807T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260807T113000
DTSTAMP:20260723T060740Z
CREATED:20260723T060708Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260723T060740Z
UID:10005210-1786098600-1786102200@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Startup Circle Houston 💫
DESCRIPTION:Startup Circle Houston 💫 brings together founders\, teammates\, experts and newbies of startups in Greater Houston! Past topics include: \nTraction + Funding Stage Identification – What stage are you really at?\nICP – Seeking your beachhead market\nProblem Identification – Love the problem\, not the solution\nBootstrapping – Knowing your runway and not putting money on fire. 🔥\nFounder capacity\, 10xing and recruiting for your weaknesses. 🚀\n\nLinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/16537030/
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/startup-circle-houston-%f0%9f%92%ab-18/
LOCATION:Ion – Lobby\, 4201 Main St.\, Houston\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:3rd Party Registration,Academic Network,Community Event,Corporate Innovators,Founders & Startups,General Community,Investors & Capital,Networking,Office Hours,Start Here
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Startup-Circle-Houston.jpeg?ver=1769451396
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260811T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260811T190000
DTSTAMP:20260806T173801Z
CREATED:20260728T210546Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T173801Z
UID:10005276-1786462200-1786474800@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Mercury Fund Day at the Ion: AI Product Design and Distribution: Lessons from Building at Scale
DESCRIPTION:Welcome to “Mercury Fund 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: Mercury Fund Day\, previously known as 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\, Mercury Fund 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. \nThis month’s topic: \nEvery enterprise software company says it’s going AI-first. Few have actually rebuilt the product\, the pricing model\, and the team around it. \nJoin us at Mercury Day at Ion Houston on August 11th for a working conversation with three people doing that rebuild from different seats: Mustafa Ali (Growth\, Twilio)\, Zafir Khan (Product\, Meta)\, and Salim Gheewalla (Founder\, Utilitise\, which replaced the IT help desk with AI that fixes problems before anyone notices). \nPanelists will get into what separates a great AI product experience from a clunky one\, when AI should run invisibly in the background versus prompt the user directly\, what consumption-based pricing does to a SaaS business model\, and how hiring changes when a team is building AI-native from day one. \nHosted by Heath Butler of Mercury Fund\, panelists include: \n\nMustafa Ali – Growth @ Twilio\nZafir Khan – Product @ Meta (former Mercury Intern)\nSalim Gheewalla – Founder @ Utilitise\n\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 by Tuesday\, August 4.\n\n“Mercury Fund 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 
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/mercury-fund-day-at-the-ion-how-legacy-software-giants-are-going-ai-first/
LOCATION:Ion – Forum Stairs\, 4201 Main St.\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Founders & Startups,Investors & Capital,Keynote,Mentorship,Networking
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/26_ION_MercuryBuildDay_Aug11_Website@2x.jpg?ver=1785879716
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260814T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260814T120000
DTSTAMP:20260803T174414Z
CREATED:20260610T202506Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260803T174414Z
UID:10005119-1786701600-1786708800@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:NASA Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:NASA is bringing its expertise to Houston’s innovation hub! Every other Friday\, join us for NASA’s office hours\, designed to bridge the gap between Houston’s innovators\, entrepreneurs\, and startups with NASA’s elite experts\, capabilities\, and technology.  \n\nLicense the Future: Discover how to utilize NASA-developed technologies and intellectual property for your own projects.\nPartner for Growth: Explore how to grow your own goals and NASA’s mission together by leveraging unique human spaceflight capabilities and expertise from NASA Johnson Space Center.\nBuild the Sector: Help us grow Houston’s commercial space ecosystem.\n\nCome with a vision\, leave with a partnership. \nJust come walk up and say hello\, or sign up in advance here.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/nasa-office-hours-15/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/32-Image-Placeholder.png?ver=1777486289
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260814T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260814T113000
DTSTAMP:20260723T061127Z
CREATED:20260721T155322Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260723T061127Z
UID:10005202-1786703400-1786707000@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Startup Circle Houston 💫
DESCRIPTION:Startup Circle Houston 💫 brings together founders\, teammates\, experts and newbies of startups in Greater Houston! Past topics include: \nTraction + Funding Stage Identification – What stage are you really at?\nICP – Seeking your beachhead market\nProblem Identification – Love the problem\, not the solution\nBootstrapping – Knowing your runway and not putting money on fire. 🔥\nFounder capacity\, 10xing and recruiting for your weaknesses. 🚀\n\nLinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/16537030/
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/startup-circle-houston-%f0%9f%92%ab-13/
LOCATION:Ion – Lobby\, 4201 Main St.\, Houston\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:3rd Party Registration,Academic Network,Community Event,Corporate Innovators,Founders & Startups,General Community,Investors & Capital,Networking,Office Hours,Start Here
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Startup-Circle-Houston.jpeg?ver=1769451396
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260818T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260818T130000
DTSTAMP:20260728T202934Z
CREATED:20260728T192855Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T202934Z
UID:10005275-1787054400-1787058000@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:The Technology Leadership Advantage Series
DESCRIPTION:Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1995696286315?aff=oddtdtcreator \nTechnology Isn’t Your Competitive Advantage Anymore. Leadership Is. Why High-Growth Companies Win Long Before They Write Another Line of Code \nTechnology has never been more powerful or more accessible. \nCloud infrastructure\, enterprise software\, AI models\, development tools\, and specialized technical capabilities that once separated companies are now available to almost everyone. \nYet companies with access to remarkably similar technology continue to produce very different results. \nThe difference is increasingly leadership. \nAs companies grow\, technology decisions stop being purely technical decisions. They become decisions about growth\, capital\, customers\, product direction\, risk\, organizational design\, and competitive position. \nAnd the leadership model that helped a company reach one stage of growth may not be the leadership model it needs for the next. \nJoin Ram Prasad\, CEO of Delence\, for an executive conversation about where competitive advantage is moving and why high-growth companies need to build technology leadership before growth exposes the gap. \nThis isn’t a technical presentation about tools\, platforms\, or the latest AI trend. \nIt’s a conversation about leadership\, growth\, technology\, and the decisions that shape enterprise value. \nWhat We’ll Discuss \nWhy access to technology is becoming less differentiated \nWhy leadership and judgment become more valuable as technology becomes more accessible \nHow growth changes what companies need from technology leadership \nWhy organizations can add engineers\, platforms\, and tools without improving execution \nWhy companies sometimes outgrow the leadership model that got them here \nWhy AI creates an executive leadership challenge\, not simply a technology opportunity \nHow strong technology leadership connects business strategy\, product\, technology\, AI\, and execution \nHow to recognize leadership gaps before they become growth constraints \nWho Should Attend \nThis session is specifically designed for CEOs\, seeded startup founders\, presidents\, investors\, private equity leaders\, operating partners\, and board members of growth-stage B2B technology and technology-enabled companies. \nIt will be particularly relevant if your organization is experiencing rapid growth\, increasing technology complexity\, product scaling challenges\, AI investment\, or questions about whether the current leadership structure is ready for the next stage. \nIf technology decisions are increasingly becoming CEO\, board\, investment\, or growth decisions\, this conversation is for you. \nOne Question to Consider Before You Arrive \nIs your leadership team built for the next three years and not the last three? \nAbout Ram Prasad \nRam Prasad is CEO of Delence and an executive technology leader focused on the intersection of technology\, product\, AI\, and business growth. \nThroughout his corporate career\, Ram has worked with executive teams navigating the decisions that emerge as organizations grow when technology becomes more complex\, product priorities compete\, AI creates new possibilities\, and decisions that were once technical begin affecting growth\, risk\, and enterprise value. \nHis perspective is built around a simple idea: \nGrowth has a leadership problem. \nRam speaks and advises on executive technology leadership\, AI strategy\, product strategy\, scaling\, and the leadership decisions that turn technology into business advantage. \nAbout Delence \nDelence provides executive technology leadership to growth-stage B2B technology and technology-enabled companies. \nThrough Fractional CAIO\, CTO and CPO leadership\, Delence works alongside CEOs and executive teams when the business needs senior technology\, product\, or AI leadership\, but a permanent executive hire may not yet be the right answer. \nDelence connects business strategy\, technology\, product\, AI\, and execution\, bringing executive ownership to the decisions that become more consequential as companies grow. \nThis isn’t staffing or recruiting. It is executive leadership for the stage the business is entering.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/the-technology-leadership-advantage-series/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260820T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260820T190000
DTSTAMP:20260812T203911Z
CREATED:20260812T203911Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260812T203911Z
UID:10005309-1787216400-1787252400@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Houston Startup Speedrun
DESCRIPTION:Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wades-houston-startup-speedrun-at-the-ion-tickets-1988360089553?aff=erelexpmlt \nThe Houston Startup Speedrun is an intensive and fast-paced program designed to provide both early-stage founders and aspiring entrepreneurs with a comprehensive understanding of the Startup Founder’s Journey and the Houston startup ecosystem through a carefully curated curriculum consisting of 10 consecutive 50-minute sessions. Wade Pinder\, your host and facilitator\, is an experienced and trusted ecosystem guide for many Houston-based stakeholders. With a focus on efficiency and accommodating the schedules of full-time working professionals\, this program aims to quickly give you a “lay of the land” while preparing you for your entrepreneurial journey.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/houston-startup-speedrun-7/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/avif:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Wade-Houston-Startup-Speedrun.avif?ver=1741041257
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260820T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260820T190000
DTSTAMP:20260723T062551Z
CREATED:20260723T062525Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260723T062551Z
UID:10005208-1787247000-1787252400@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Tech Transfer Thursdays
DESCRIPTION:Register here: https://mailchi.mp/rice/aug-20th-ion-event-landing-page \nUniversities and research institutions produce some of the most valuable discoveries in the world\, yet navigating the path to commercialize them is not always clear or well known. Houston’s universities and research institutions are partnering to to simplify the commercialization process. \nMark your calendars for Thursday\, August 20th for the launch of Tech Transfer Thursdays at The Ion District! \nI’m thrilled that the Rice University Office of Technology Transfer is teaming up with the tech transfer offices at Baylor College of Medicine and Houston Methodist for our first event in this monthly series. Together\, we are partnering to spotlight the breakthrough innovations and technologies developed across our respective institutions\, and show you exactly how to leverage this intellectual property (IP) to launch new ventures or create strategic growth opportunities for your business. \nEach month will feature a different domain focus\, and we are kicking off August with Digital Health! \nWho Should Attend?\n💡 Founders & Operators: Looking for breakthrough technology to serve as the foundation for your next venture or strengthen your IP moat. \n🏢 Corporate Innovators: Seeking external research to bridge technical gaps\, accelerate roadmaps\, or unlock new business models. \n📈 Investors & VCs: Searching for vetted\, high-barrier-to-entry university spinouts and deep-tech startups. \nEvent Snapshot:\n5:30 PM: Open Networking & TTO Booths\n6:00 PM: TTO Panel on the licensing & commercialization roadmap\n6:40 PM: University Startup Pitch Spotlight\n7:00 PM: Free Networking
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/tech-transfer-thursdays/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Tech-Transfer-Thursdays-Flyer-2.png?ver=1784747442
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260821T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260821T113000
DTSTAMP:20260723T061424Z
CREATED:20260721T155337Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260723T061424Z
UID:10005203-1787308200-1787311800@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Startup Circle Houston 💫
DESCRIPTION:Startup Circle Houston 💫 brings together founders\, teammates\, experts and newbies of startups in Greater Houston! Past topics include: \nTraction + Funding Stage Identification – What stage are you really at?\nICP – Seeking your beachhead market\nProblem Identification – Love the problem\, not the solution\nBootstrapping – Knowing your runway and not putting money on fire. 🔥\nFounder capacity\, 10xing and recruiting for your weaknesses. 🚀\n\nLinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/16537030/
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/startup-circle-houston-%f0%9f%92%ab-14/
LOCATION:Ion – Lobby\, 4201 Main St.\, Houston\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:3rd Party Registration,Academic Network,Community Event,Corporate Innovators,Founders & Startups,General Community,Investors & Capital,Networking,Office Hours,Start Here
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Startup-Circle-Houston.jpeg?ver=1769451396
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260825T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260825T193000
DTSTAMP:20260817T194115Z
CREATED:20260817T194115Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260817T194115Z
UID:10005148-1787677200-1787686200@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Latino Founders Forum - Lymbar Hosted
DESCRIPTION:Register here: https://luma.com/xbl14rq2 \nLFF is a monthly gathering for Latino startup founders\, operators\, investors\, and ecosystem leaders building and scaling real companies.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/latino-founders-forum-lymbar-hosted-2/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/LLF-Social.png?ver=1780339552
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260827T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260827T180000
DTSTAMP:20260730T221331Z
CREATED:20260723T062808Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260730T221331Z
UID:10005211-1787819400-1787853600@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Illuminate: The Official Launch Experience
DESCRIPTION:Register here: https://luma.com/LaunchExperience \n​Illuminate is the official public launch experience for Lumino. Join founders\, merchants\, creators\, investors\, and community leaders for a full day of keynotes\, industry breakout sessions\, and networking as we unveil the Lumino ecosystem and the future of Local Conscious Commerce. \n​The day moves through three keynote acts — Past\, Present\, and Future — tracing Lumino’s founding story\, what’s live today\, and where the platform is headed. From there\, guests choose an industry-specific breakout session\, hear from a lineup of champion speakers\, and close the day at a happy hour with our first-floor restaurant partners. \n​Agenda \n​8:30 AM Guest arrival \n​9:00–10:00 AM Past — Lumino State of the Union \n​10:00–11:00 AM Present — The Lumino Launch Keynote \n​11:00 AM–11:30 AM Future — The Future of Lumino & Global Conscious Commerce \n​11:30–12:30 PM Lunch\, served in Lower Lobby \n​12:30–1:30 PM Breakout sessions: Non-Profit\, Hospitality\, Online Coaching\, Startup\, Payment Processing \n​2:00–2:30 PM Eric Rock – Mission Project \n​2:30— 3:00 PM Champion Keynote (Coming Soon) \n​3:00–4:00 PM Micro keynotes (15 min each) \n​4:00–6:00 PM Happy hour — 1st floor restaurant partners
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/illuminate-the-official-launch-experience/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:3rd Party Registration
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Ion-Website-Design_1080x830.png?ver=1785449581
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260827T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260827T190000
DTSTAMP:20260820T010431Z
CREATED:20251215T174830Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260820T010431Z
UID:10004384-1787853600-1787857200@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:NASA Tech Talks: Rice University’s Space Humanities Initiative
DESCRIPTION:We want HOU! Join us to discover NASA’s toughest tech challenges—and apply your skills and expertise to solve them. \nThis month\, NASA Tech Talks will feature Rice’s new Space Humanities Initiative\, co-led by Alexander Regier\, the William Faulkner Professor of English and chair of the Department of English and Creative Writing\, and David Alexander\, director of the Rice Space Institute and professor of physics and astronomy. \nLong before rockets\, satellites or space stations\, humans were already in a relationship with outer space. People looked up and named constellations. They told stories about the moon. They wrote poems\, mapped stars and built myths around lights in the sky they could not touch. Across cultures and centuries\, outer space functioned as more than a scientific mystery; it was a mirror for human longing\, fear\, imagination and hope. \nThe Rice Space Initiative brings scholars across disciplines together to examine how culture\, language\, ethics and imagination shape space exploration\, and how space exploration shapes them in return.  Please join us for a discussion of how the Initiative came to be\, and how it might provide a sustained space where questions about ownership\, settlement\, commercial use and planetary responsibility can be addressed in an interdisciplinary manner. \nPlease join us after the talk for drinks and networking at Second Draught! \n  \nAbout the Speakers \nDr. David Alexander is an astrophysics professor at Rice University and a faculty scholar at the Baker Institute for Public Policy. He also serves as the Director of the Rice Space Institute. Alexander was awarded an OBE by her majesty Queen Elizabeth in 2018 for services to the space industry and was named a Chevalier of the National Order of Merit by the French Republic in 2026.  He received a Presidential Early Career Award in 2004 and was appointed a Kavli Frontiers Fellow by the National Academy of Sciences in 2006. Alexander has served on many professional committees including the NASA Advisory Council’s Heliophysics Subcommittee\, and the NASA Solar Heliospheric Management and Operations Working Group.  He was named a GlobalScot by the Scottish government and served as an elected member of the Board of Directors of the American Astronautical Society from 2018-2022. He served as Chair of the Aerospace Industry Committee of the Greater Houston Partnership\, been on the Board of the Houston Spaceport Development Corporation since 2021 and was recently appointed to the Texas Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium Executive Committee.  Alexander received his Bachelor’s degree and doctorate from the University of Glasgow. \nAlexander Regier is the William Faulkner Professor of English in the Department of English and Creative Writing. He also holds a full appointment in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages\, Literatures and Cultures. Regier is the author and editor of multiple books and articles on literature\, art\, and culture. His publications cover a range of subjects\, from eighteenth-century philosophy and Romantic literature to outer space\, awkwardness\, fragmentation\, ruins\, and sports. In recent years\, Regier has received an Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship for Experienced Researchers\, as well as Fellowships at the National Humanities Center\, the Center for Research in the Arts\, Social Sciences\, and Humanities at the University of Cambridge\, and a Visiting Fellowship at the University of Exeter. He has also won multiple awards\, amongst others\, from the National Endowment for the Humanities. From 2023 to 2026\, he was chair of the Department of English and Creative Writing at Rice and is now co-director of the Space Humanities Initiative. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDario Robleto is an artist\, writer\, and filmmaker based in Houston\, Texas. His work has been exhibited widely and is held in prominent collections\, including the Harvard Art Museum\, the Whitney Museum of American Art\, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington\, D.C. He has held research fellowships and residencies at institutions including the Smithsonian Museum of American History\, the SETI Institute\, and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University. From 2018 to 2023\, he served as Artist-at-Large at Northwestern University’s McCormick School of Engineering and the Block Museum of Art. In 2020\, he served as a research consultant for the popular science television series Cosmos: Possible Worlds. In 2016\, Robleto was appointed Texas State 3-D Visual Artist\, and in 2025\, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Middlebury College. He is currently working on his first book\, The Heartbeat at the Edge of the Solar System: Science\, Emotion\, and the Golden Record\, co-authored with Harvard art historian Jennifer Roberts. It will be published by Scribner in 2027. \nRyn Delpapa is a change-maker who believes in impact. A neuroarts tech founder\, interdisciplinary artist\, and speaker on a mission\, they honor life’s biodiversity\, from plants to people. Ryn is a recent 2026 TEDxHouston Countdown speaker\, 2025 4.0 Tiny Fellow\, and CXC Changemakers for the Planet Fellow\, bridging creativity\, health\, and environmental stewardship within their venture\, AR+E COMETS\, a global health studio. As a 2024 City of Houston City Initiative grant awardee\, their Art for Climate Resilience community arts-in-health program shaped community health in Houston’s Third and Fifth Wards. With a B.S. in International Nutrition from the University of Texas at Austin and a kaleidoscope career from Houston to Chengdu\, China\, their global health background\, 8 years in B2B SaaS tech\, and arts-in-health research enable them to bridge creativity and planetary health. Work they share through their venture\, consultancy\, and Earthly Bonds podcast\, where they explore health\, from brain to biosphere\, for creative\, resilient living. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMontgomery B. Goforth has more than 40 years of experience as both Engineer and Manager in a variety of highly technical space and defense-related efforts.  After working for a small defense contractor specializing in anti-submarine warfare\, he joined NASA’s Johnson Space Center in 1990.  He has held leadership positions in multiple JSC Directorates and Program Offices. In his previous role as Assistant Director of the JSC Engineering Directorate\, he established a framework to better focus Engineering’s efforts towards Human Spaceflight technology and systems development consistent with JSC and Agency goals for exploration. Mr. Goforth is now serving as Acting Director of the Business Development & Technology Integration Office at JSC\, and as the JSC Chief Technologist.  In these capacities he will be helping to expand the Houston Aerospace Community through the identification of opportunities to develop space/terrestrial technologies of interest to JSC and Human Space Exploration.  Mr. Goforth was born in East Texas\, raised in Southern California and Arizona\, and graduated from Rice University (BSME 1982\, MSME 1987). \nAbout NASA Tech Talks \nIn these presentations\, occurring the fourth Thursdays of the month\, Mr. Montgomery Goforth and other aerospace subject matter experts will discuss the technology development challenges faced by NASA’s Johnson Space Center and the surrounding Aerospace community in our ongoing efforts as the hub of human spaceflight. Presentations will focus on the ways in which these challenges\, and the associated opportunities\, can be leveraged by Houston’s innovation community. We will continue to identify potential space/terrestrial technologies of interest to Human Spaceflight.  Past NASA Tech Talks have included topics such as: \n\nFrom Space to Startup: Leveraging NASA Technology and Innovation to Propel Your Growing Enterprise\nDisruptive Filter Technology for Spacecraft Water Treatment:  The New Promise of Graphene\nLunar dust capture using novel multiplexed inertial filter\nLunar Passive Fuel Cell Technologies:\nMicrobes in Space
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/nasa-tech-talks-21/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Aerospace,Founders & Startups,General Community
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SUMMARY:NASA Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:NASA is bringing its expertise to Houston’s innovation hub! Every other Friday\, join us for NASA’s office hours\, designed to bridge the gap between Houston’s innovators\, entrepreneurs\, and startups with NASA’s elite experts\, capabilities\, and technology.  \n\nLicense the Future: Discover how to utilize NASA-developed technologies and intellectual property for your own projects.\nPartner for Growth: Explore how to grow your own goals and NASA’s mission together by leveraging unique human spaceflight capabilities and expertise from NASA Johnson Space Center.\nBuild the Sector: Help us grow Houston’s commercial space ecosystem.\n\nCome with a vision\, leave with a partnership. \nJust come walk up and say hello\, or sign up in advance here.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/nasa-office-hours-20/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
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DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260828T113000
DTSTAMP:20260821T200842Z
CREATED:20260721T155358Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260821T200842Z
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SUMMARY:Canceled - Startup Circle Houston 💫
DESCRIPTION:Startup Circle Houston 💫 brings together founders\, teammates\, experts and newbies of startups in Greater Houston! Past topics include: \nTraction + Funding Stage Identification – What stage are you really at?\nICP – Seeking your beachhead market\nProblem Identification – Love the problem\, not the solution\nBootstrapping – Knowing your runway and not putting money on fire. 🔥\nFounder capacity\, 10xing and recruiting for your weaknesses. 🚀\n\nLinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/16537030/
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/startup-circle-houston-%f0%9f%92%ab-15/
LOCATION:Ion – Lobby\, 4201 Main St.\, Houston\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:3rd Party Registration,Academic Network,Community Event,Corporate Innovators,Founders & Startups,General Community,Investors & Capital,Networking,Office Hours,Start Here
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