Ion Bike Club
2025-08-27 17:30 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Ion, 4201 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Join us for a 45-minute guided cruise, suitable for all ages, 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.
Following the ride, join us inside at Second Draught – participants’ first beer is on the house.

NASA Tech Talks: Lunar Innovations
2025-08-28 18:00 - 19:00 | Ion, 4201 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
We want HOU! Join us to discover NASA’s toughest tech challenges—and apply your skills and expertise to solve them.
At this month’s NASA Tech Talk, we’re going to learn more about patents, innovation, and space exploration.
How do you get patents for systems used on the Moon? How do you even think of something new? In “Lunar Innovations,” Julie N. Strickland shares two of her patent-awarded systems and the story behind them. From a way to rescue an astronaut to a system that removes heat from a lunar habitat, Strickland explains the thought process that went into developing these ideas. She breaks down the process from finding a problem worth solving to the amount of detail needed for a patent application.
Please join us after the talk for drinks and networking at Second Draught!

About the Speakers
With almost 20 years in the aerospace industry, Julie N. Strickland is an experienced engineer, project manager, and innovator. She earned her degree in mechanical engineering so that she could facilitate space exploration. She worked on the design of the next generation spacesuit, the Orion capsule, and the Space Launch System (SLS). She is a space enthusiast to her core.
Ms. Strickland holds multiple patent awards in the US and internationally. She mentored junior employees over the years, teaching them how to develop ideas that may become patents. Under her leadership, the business unit increased invention disclosures by 10%.
Today, she works as a Research & Development Project Manager, teaching a new team how to better innovate. Her business, Strawberry Innovation, provides coaching, presentations, and workshops. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, writing, and traveling. Her grand goal is to hike in every state in the nation with 60% of the states hiked so far.
Learn more about Strickland on her company website at StrawberryInnovation.org
Montgomery 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 current role as Assistant Director of the JSC Engineering Directorate, he has established a framework to better focus Engineering’s efforts towards Human Spaceflight technology and systems development consistent with JSC and Agency goals for exploration. He has used this framework to guide Engineering’s internal investments and external partnerships supporting Lunar and Mars Exploration. Mr. Goforth was born in East Texas, raised in Southern California and Arizona, and graduated from Rice University (BSME 1982, MSME 1987).
About NASA Tech Talks
In 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:

From Space to Startup: Leveraging NASA Technology and Innovation to Propel Your Growing Enterprise
Disruptive Filter Technology for Spacecraft Water Treatment: The New Promise of Graphene
Lunar dust capture using novel multiplexed inertial filter
Lunar Passive Fuel Cell Technologies:
Microbes in Space

Ion Networking with Cup of Joey + Persona AI
2025-08-29 08:30 - 10:30 | Ion – Lobby, 4201 Main St., Houston, 77002, United States
What is the purpose of Cup of Joey? It is to create a connected culture of coffee shop-open networking across our region. Every Friday morning, you’ll have the opportunity to meet new and expand your current networks, talk about tech, inspire innovation, and create community.
So, what is the difference between a cup of joe and a Cup of Joe-Y? It is the WHY. It’s not what you do. It is why you do it!
At the Ion, these are questions that we want to explore with the tech and innovation community. So, show up, be friendly, and make new connections. Know your why, and we will get to the future together.
Join us as Nic Radford, Co-Founder & CEO of Persona AI takes the stage at Houston’s signature startup networking event – The future is only a cup away.
☕ Networking over coffee
🎯 Vision for humanoid robotics and Al
🤝 Opportunities to connect with the Persona Al team
Register Here: https://www.cupofjoey.org/

TXRX Office Hours
2025-08-29 08:30 - 10:30, 2025-09-05 08:30 - 10:30, 2025-09-12 08:30 - 10:30 | Ion – Lobby, 4201 Main St., Houston, 77002, United States
TXRX is Houston’s non-profit makerspace.

Join the Ion’s Engineer-in-Residence, Larry Ciscon, for TXRX Office Hours every Friday at the Ion.
TXRX has a diverse network of creators, artist, and inventors coupled with tools and knowledge, enable dreams to become reality.
They teach people of all ages and backgrounds the skills they need to build a future full of novelty and inspiration.

For more information about TXRX – be sure to check out their website and sign up for their newsletter to stay connected! TXRX offers various classes/workshops throughout the month – be sure to check out their calendar to register.
Interested in signing up for a membership? Click here

⭕️Cybersecurity Circle⭕️
2025-08-29 08:30 - 10:30, 2025-09-05 08:30 - 10:30 | Ion, 4201 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
A networking meetup welcoming cybersecurity enthusiasts of all experience levels.
Our mission is to DEFEAT CYBER CRIMINALS by making cybersecurity knowledge accessible and relatable to everyone. This event creates a supportive environment for individuals starting their cybersecurity journey, those transitioning into the field, and professionals navigating job transitions—including those rebuilding confidence after layoffs. Together, we strengthen our collective defense against cyber threats while fostering career growth and community connections.
The Cybersecurity Circle unites practitioners of all levels in an inclusive community committed to defeating cybercrime through shared knowledge, collaboration, and continuous learning. Together, we’re securing our digital world—one hack at a time

SCORE + LSA Global Office Hours
2025-08-29 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-09-12 10:00 - 11:30 | Ion, 4201 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
SCORE is the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors. Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 11 million entrepreneurs start, grow, or successfully exit a business. SCORE’s 10,000 volunteers provide free, expert mentoring, resources, and education in all 50 U.S. states and territories.
Office Hours with SCORE take place each Friday morning. Additional partners will be on-site the second Friday of each month (excluding holidays)

Poses on the Plaza
2025-09-01 18:00 - 19:00 | Ion Plaza, 4201 Main St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Register here: https://mobileyogihtx.as.me/schedule/cdf67533/?appointmentTypeIds[]=79154484
Mobile Yogi is taking over the Ion Plaza every Monday evening with Poses on the Plaza — a brand-new yoga flow in one of the most inspiring spaces in Houston.
🗓️ First class: Monday, July 21
⏰ 6–7 PM
📍 The Ion Plaza (4201 Main St)
🎟️ $10 | All levels welcome | BYO mat & water
Come flow with them outside the studio and into the future. Whether you’re winding down from work or just getting your week started, this class is your Monday reset in the city’s innovation hub.
💫 Creative sequences
🎶 Good music
🌿 Outdoor vibes
🤝 Community connection

Tech + Tequila Talk: Leveraging R&D to Create a Product
2025-09-02 17:00 - 19:00 | Ion – Conference Room 029 – 030, 4201 Main St, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Register Here: https://lu.ma/pui723kv
Not your average R&D talk. And definitely not your average Tuesday night!
​Join Blue People for their next Tech and Tequila event in Houston this September 2nad. This time, this session will dive into how to turn R&D into real products, guided by Alexander Duvall, Co-Founder of Indigo Affect.
Think partnerships, funding, and the steps to get started… all with a delicious tequila in hand!

Buying and Selling Businesses
2025-09-03 17:30 - 18:30 | Ion – Conference Room 032, 4201 Main St, Houston
Join Lenny Saizan, Business Broker and Managing Director of Urban Capital Network, for an informative presentation on selling and buying businesses.
The 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.
Business 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.
During the session, you can expect discussion on the following:

Market overview,
When to prepare to sell or buy,
What makes a company valuable,
How companies are valued,
Overview on how to recast financial statements,
The sales process,
The deal team,
Taxes and insurance considerations.

Presenter:
Lenny 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.
Before 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.
Lenny 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.

Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week 2025 Preview Happy Hour
2025-09-03 17:30 - 19:00 | Ion – Forum Stairs, 4201 Main St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Get ready for Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week! Join us for an informational and networking happy hour as we head into the final preparations for the 2nd annual week! Meet industry leaders, investors, startups, and key partners within Houston’s energy and climate innovation ecosystem while getting the inside scoop on all the exciting events planned for the week.
This event offers a chance to learn more about the events and opportunities available during the official Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week.
If you haven’t already make sure to register for each event across the week and reserve your spot—before the fill up!

Houston Hackathon 2025
2025-09-05 - 2025-09-07 | Elevation Studio, 4201 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77002
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/houston-hackathon-2025-registration-1411282286309
The Houston Hackathon is an opportunity for people with different skills to collaborate on projects to improve life in Houston.
Impact Hub Houston envisions a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable economy, where people are empowered with the skills, capacity, and resources they need to take action. We invite you to be a part of this vision by participating in this annual opportunity to develop systemic and transformative solutions for Houston – solutions that are rooted in local communities so that they are as diverse as Houston, and work for ALL of Houston.
Why Do People Join a Hackathon?

To make a difference in their community
To learn new skills or work on real problems
To meet other cool people who care about the same things
To turn ideas into action in just a weekend
To collaborate with local government, nonprofits, and startups
To challenge themselves and think creatively
And for a lot of people, it’s just fun! Like summer camp for ideas and action.

Ion Networking with Cup of Joey
2025-09-05 08:30 - 10:30, 2025-09-12 08:30 - 10:30 | Ion – Lobby, 4201 Main St., Houston, 77002, United States
What is the purpose of Cup of Joey? It is to create a connected culture of coffee shop-open networking across our region. Every Friday morning, you’ll have the opportunity to meet new and expand your current networks, talk about tech, inspire innovation, and create community.
So, what is the difference between a cup of joe and a Cup of Joe-Y? It is the WHY. It’s not what you do. It is why you do it!
At the Ion, these are questions that we want to explore with the tech and innovation community. So, show up, be friendly, and make new connections. Know your why, and we will get to the future together.
The future is only a cup away.
Register Here: https://www.cupofjoey.org/

Welcome to the Ion: An Introduction and Tour
2025-09-05 10:00 - 11:00 | Ion, 4201 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Join the Ion’s Mentor in Residence, Wade Pinder, for an engaging tour and introduction to the Ion, Houston’s dynamic hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, powered by Rice University. This event is designed for entrepreneurs, students, professionals, investors, community leaders, and anyone curious about what the Ion has to offer. For those new to Houston and eager to connect with the local innovation ecosystem, this event provides the perfect opportunity to get started.

The tour will begin in the lobby at 10:00 AM and conclude at 11:00 AM. During this time, participants will learn about the Ion’s resources, events, and facilities. Highlights of the tour include the technology showcases, coworking spaces, public areas, and the on-site restaurants and bars.
About Wade Pinder
Wade Pinder is a dedicated advocate for Houston’s innovation community, serving as the Ion’s Mentor in Residence. With a wealth of experience in product management, community building, and fostering entrepreneurial growth, Wade offers invaluable insights into how the Ion serves as a launchpad for ideas and innovation.
The Vision of the Ion
Powered by Rice University, the Ion is the epicenter of the 16-acre innovation district in the heart of Houston’s midtown. Committed to being the home for Houston’s innovation community, the Ion District propels the transformative culture of people, places, ideas, and experiences that build a better quality of life for all of Houston.

The Ion is a beautifully restored building at 4201 Main Street. It connects Houston’s talent, academic, corporate, and entrepreneurial communities in a collaborative environment designed to inspire and grow ideas. The Ion serves as a space where serendipitous collisions lead to meaningful connections and opportunities.
What to Expect

Coworking Spaces: Explore flexible work areas tailored for collaboration and creativity.
Public Spaces: Discover spaces designed for networking, inspiration, and community events.
Restaurants and Bars: Experience the on-site dining options that make the Ion a lively hub.

Through its programs and partnerships, the Ion empowers individuals and organizations to build, solve, and innovate. From prototyping to pitching, accelerating to sustaining, the Ion is Houston’s headquarters for turning ideas into reality.
Whether you have a promising product, an intriguing technology, a budding business idea, or are simply curious about the Ion and its offerings, this tour will provide valuable insights into how the Ion can help connect your “What-ifs” with “What now.” Don’t miss this opportunity to explore and be inspired by Houston’s innovation ecosystem.

#SUPERGirlsInSTEM Induction Ceremony
2025-09-05 18:00 - 19:30 | Ion, 4201 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Join #SUPERGirlsInSTEM on Friday, September 5th, for their Induction Ceremony for the 2025-26 Program Year.
Register Here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=q3A7nQ_4wkC-9bVZAvLEIban7sKZAAtHvmvkeUoFsihUREg3SkRCR1QzVUJaNUgwTlpTWkhPN0JUTiQlQCN0PWcu&origin=QRCode

Ion Family STEAM Day: Let's build a ball launcher!
2025-09-06 10:00 - 12:00 | Ion – Forum Stairs, 4201 Main St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Join STEAM on Demand, Persona AI, and the Ion for a hands-on, family-friendly STEAM workshop. Newton’s Second Law of Motion, Force = ma, explains how force, mass, and acceleration interact. In this lesson, students will explore Newton’s ideas by building and testing a ball launcher.
Through hands-on construction led by the STEAM on Demand platform, they’ll see how different forces affect movement and momentum. By the end, they’ll understand how acceleration changes based on an object’s mass and the force applied to it.
Special Guest Partner:
Persona AI
Persona AI’s vision is to be the labor platform for skilled industrial work. Whether the worksite is a shipyard, energy infrastructure, construction site, or another dynamic environment, our humanoids will do the heavy industry 3D jobs — dull, dirty, and dangerous — so that humans don’t have to.
Persona AI’s engineers and team will be leading this workshop, lending their expertise in engineering and robotics. This is the perfect chance for your student to meet people working to create Humanoids at Work!
This event will be tailored for 7-14-year-olds and their families for a fun STEAM experience! We look forward to building and learning with you!

One More Thing: A Send-Off for Paul Cherukuri
2025-09-08 14:30 - 17:00 | Ion, 4201 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
We invite you to join us in celebrating Paul Cherukuri, whose visionary leadership has left a lasting impact on Houston’s innovation ecosystem.
Since becoming Rice’s first Chief Innovation Officer, Paul has launched transformative initiatives — from building the Rice Nexus and Rice Biotech Launch Pad to forging groundbreaking partnerships and championing new venture studios, spaces, and funds. His influence can be seen across the Ion District and throughout Houston’s innovation community.
This special event is both a celebration and a send-off as Paul prepares for his next chapter as the University of Virginia’s first Chief Innovation Officer. While Rice and Houston will miss him dearly, his impact here will continue to be felt for years to come.
Let’s help him blast off to UVA!
🔗 https://news.rice.edu/news/2025/rices-top-innovation-exec-headed-university-virginia

Unlocking Unlimited Deep Search with Agent-as-a-Service
2025-09-09 18:00 - 20:00 | Ion – Conference Room 032, 4201 Main St, Houston
Register Here: https://www.meetup.com/houston-data-and-ai-meetup/events/310655623/?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=yourEvent_savedevents_share_modal&utm_source=link&utm_version=v2
As AI systems move from experimentation to production, the challenge is no longer just building agents—it’s making them interoperable, reliable, and enterprise-ready.
In this session, Houston Data + AI Meetup will introduce BKO AI’s Deep Search Agent and show how the Model Context Protocol (MCP) is enabling a new generation of industrial-grade AI agents. We’ll also share our vision of Agent-as-a-Service (AaaS): a model where organizations don’t just subscribe to software, but to adaptive AI agents that integrate seamlessly into existing systems, governed by open standards like MCP.
What to Expect

Unpack the Deep Search Agent: Learn how BKO AI’s agent conducts domain-spanning research, synthesizes knowledge, and delivers results far beyond traditional keyword search.
Understand MCP in Practice: See how the Model Context Protocol standardizes communication between agents and tools, enabling consistent, scalable, and maintainable integrations across enterprise systems.
From SaaS to AaaS: Explore how enterprises can transition from software subscriptions to agent-driven services that adapt dynamically to workflows, data sources, and operational requirements.
Live Demo: Watch the Deep Search Agent powered by MCP, demonstrating real-world applications and the potential for large-scale deployment.

You’ll leave with a practical understanding of how MCP lays the foundation for interoperable, production-ready AI agents—and how Agent-as-a-Service is poised to reshape enterprise AI adoption.

Houston Methodist Leadership Speaker Series - Dr. Evan Collins
2025-09-11 16:45 - 18:00 | Houston Methodist Tech Hub, 4201 Main St, Houston
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/houston-methodist-leadership-speaker-series-at-ion-dr-evan-collins-tickets-1333321513539
Join the Houston Methodist Tech Hub at Ion for their leadership speaker series presentation by Dr. Evan Collins.
Evan D. Collins, MD,MBA is Chief of the Houston Methodist Hand & Upper Extremity Center at Houston Methodist. He is a practicing Orthopaedic Surgeon. Dr. Collins is also Houston Methodist Center for Innovation’s first Innovator-in-Residency. His presentation will be about the creative process of innovation.

Mapping Houston's Ecosystem
2025-09-12 10:00 - 11:30 | Ion – Conference Room 027, 4201 Main St, Houston, TX, 77002
Facilitated by Wade Pinder, Ion’s Mentor in Residence
Houston’s startup and innovation ecosystem is as vast and dynamic as the city itself, full of opportunities, resources, and talent. Yet, navigating it can be challenging—especially for those unfamiliar with its many parts. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, educator, student, community leader or curious professional, this session will offer valuable insights into how Houston’s innovation ecosystem works and how you can find your place within it.
Discover the Houston Ecosystem’s Flow
Facilitated by Wade Pinder, the Ion’s Mentor in Residence, this session will help participants map out the journey needed to take an idea from concept to a mature company. Wade brings years of experience in product management, community building, and mentoring entrepreneurs to the table, offering a thoughtful and informed perspective to guide this exploration.
The heart of the session lies in exploring a dynamic mind map that Wade has created and continues to refine—an ever-evolving, community-driven tool that grows alongside Houston’s innovation ecosystem. Attendees will not only learn about the ecosystem’s flow but also have the opportunity to contribute to it by identifying gaps, sharing knowledge, and adding their insights.
This session will center on the stages of a company’s growth journey, exploring the essential elements that drive it forward. Participants will examine the role of financial capital, from early fundraising efforts to securing the resources needed for scaling, and how these milestones align with a company’s progression. The discussion will also delve into the human element of growing a business, highlighting the evolving talent and expertise required to navigate the entrepreneurial journey. Additionally, we’ll explore the importance of “social capital”—the networks, support systems, and relationships that play a critical role in moving ideas to market and sustaining long-term growth.
Ion’s Vision
Helping the community better understand the local ecosystem reflects the Ion’s commitment “to being the home for Houston’s innovation community.” By fostering connections, creating opportunities, and sharing perspectives, the Ion is building a transformative culture that strengthens Houston’s economic resiliency and celebrates the entrepreneurial journey.
From forming an initial entrepreneurial idea to the prototyping phase to scaling a business, this Houston Ecosystem Mapping session aligns with the Ion’s goals to support innovation, attract talent, and build a vibrant ecosystem.
Who Should Attend?
This session is ideal for:

Entrepreneurs looking to understand greater Houston’s resources.
Investors curious about the local startup landscape.
Professionals and students wanting to connect with the innovation community.
Anyone passionate about Houston’s growth as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Innovators who have recently moved to greater Houston and are looking to get “plugged in” to the local scene.
Community leaders and service providers that support (or want to support) the innovation ecosystem.

Register today for this chance to explore Houston’s ecosystem, uncover its flow, and help shape its future.

Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week
2025-09-15 - 2025-09-19 | Ion, 4201 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Join us as Greentown Labs, Halliburton Labs, and The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship are joining forces to host the second annual Houston Climate and Energy Startup Week 2025. This week 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.
For a full list of events throughout the week, check out the official Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week site and then register for each event: https://houstonenergyclimatestartupweek.com/calendar/
Check out the events planned in the Ion District here: http://iondistrict.com/series/houston-energy-and-climate-startup-week/

Houston Energy & Climate Startup Week Kickoff Panel and Block Party
2025-09-15 16:30 - 20:00 | Ion – Lobby, 4201 Main St., Houston, 77002, United States
Start your week at the Ion with the official kickoff to Houston Energy & Climate Startup Week! Join innovators, founders, investors and energy leaders from across the region and beyond as we set the stage for a week of collaboration, conversation and climate-tech momentum.
This high-energy event features:
Opening Remarks: Brad Burke, Associate VP for Industry & New Ventures, Rice Innovation & Executive Director, Rice Alliance
Honoring a Visionary: A tribute to Scott Gale’s vision for Houston Energy & Climate Startup Week, led by Andres Cabada, Managing Director, Halliburton Labs
Houston Energy + Climate Startup Week Video Premiere (yes, it’s a hype video—and you’ll want to see it)
Reflections on Houston’s Innovation Growth with Barbara Burger, Energy Director & Advisor
Connected for Impact: Houston’s Energy & Climate Startup Community — a panel moderated by Jane Stricker, featuring:

Georgina Campbell Flatter, CEO, Greentown Labs
Jason Ethier, Founding Partner, Energy Tech Nexus
Sandy Guitar, Executive Director, TEX-E
Jeremy Pitts, Managing Director, Activate
Kevin Krausert, CEO & Co-Founder, Avatar Innovations

We’ll wrap the program with a block party on the plaza—complete with DJ, drinks, bites from Ion District restaurants and top tier networking.
Whether you’re new to the scene or a longtime ecosystem builder, this is the place to connect before Houston Energy & Climate Startup Week hits full stride.

NordicLink: Where Nordic Innovation Meets the U.S
2025-09-16 13:00 - 15:00 | Ion – Conference Room 032, 4201 Main St, Houston
Whether you’re seeking solid ideas, global partnerships, or investment opportunities, this event will allow you to tap into what’s going on in the climate tech innovation space—paired with unmatched opportunities to connect with leading voices from both the US and Norwegian innovation ecosystems.

Four standout Norwegian tech startups will take the stage to pitch their cutting-edge solutions. Expect bold ideas, fresh perspectives, and a glimpse into the future of Nordic innovation.
Enjoy snacks and drinks as you mingle with a dynamic crowd of American and Norwegian industry leaders, venture capitalists, and innovation experts. Whether you’re a founder, investor, or tech enthusiast, this is your chance to build meaningful connections.
Opportunities for American startups: Learn how to tap into the thriving Norwegian startup ecosystem and explore potential partnerships, market entry, and funding pathways.
Let’s build bridges, spark ideas, and accelerate innovation—together.
Register Here: https://businessnorway.com/events/nordiclink-where-nordic-innovation-meets-the-us?tab=event-information

About Innovation Norway
Innovation Norway promotes nationwide industrial development to both the business economy and Norway’s national economy, and helps release the potential of different districts and regions by contributing to innovation, internationalisation, and promotion.
Successful businesses
Norwegian enterprises have access to a broad business support system as well as financial means. Innovation Norway provides competence, advisory services, promotional services and network services. The marketing of Norway as a tourist destination is also considered one of the organizations important tasks.
By combining local industry knowledge and international networks with the business ideas and the motivation of entrepreneurs, the foundation for new successful businesses is created.
Local and global presence
Innovation Norway is the Norwegian government’s official trade representative abroad. We aim to assist Norwegian businesses grow and find new markets. Local presence is therefore of crucial concern to us.
It is easy to get in touch with us. We are represented in many countries worldwide and in all Norwegian counties. Our head office is in Oslo. We are closely affiliated with the Norwegian embassies and consulates. You can find our representatives and advisors worldwide.

Powering the Future: The Grid, Load Growth, and Data Centers
2025-09-16 15:30 - 17:00 | Ion – Forum Stairs, 4201 Main St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Register Here: https://lu.ma/01386qka
How can we meet surging energy demand from AI / data center growth, plus the strains it will place on our grid, while reducing emissions? How can we balance reliability, competitiveness, climate imperatives, and speed? How can we modernize our grid, at speed and scale?
​And, critically – what are all the headlines on this topic getting wrong?
Join 4 leading practitioners in the space for a look behind the curtain on what’s really happening to meet this load-growth moment.
​Panelists
​Michael Skelly; CEO, Grid United
David Berry; CEO, Cloverleaf Infrastructure
Arushi Sharma Frank; Senior Advisor, Emerald AI
Tom Nudell; CEO, Piq Energy
Thank you to Houston Energy + Climate Startup Week for putting together an excellent schedule; we’re glad to be part of it. Please consider sticking around for Activate’s “Meet the Cohort” event immediately after, also at the Ion. And make sure to register for New Climate Ventures’ HECSW Afterparty after Activate at Axelrad Beer Garden, a short walk from the Ion – a chance to meet and mingle with 200+ other climate tech leaders from around Houston, free of cost.

About New Climate Ventures

New Climate Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm investing in innovative carbon reduction and avoidance technology companies. We take an active and diversified investment approach that leverages our energy, food/ag tech, climate tech, traditional tech, finance, regulatory, market analysis, and investing experience. At New Climate Ventures, we partner with entrepreneurs to navigate the early stages of company development and growth by applying our operational, investment, team-building, and mentoring experience and providing access to our global network of investors, startups, and corporations to help founders achieve success.

Meet the Activate Houston Cohort 2025 Fellows!
2025-09-16 17:00 - 19:00 | Ion – Forum Stairs, 4201 Main St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Register Here: https://lu.ma/rca5g1jj
Join us to meet Activate Houston’s C25 cohort and discover the innovative technologies their companies are driving forward.

​Biosimo: Enabling the chemical industry’s net-zero transition by replacing fossil-based essential chemicals with identical quality ones made from bio-ethanol

​Brightlight Photonics: Replacing tabletop laser systems with chip-scale titanium:sapphire lasers—bringing lab-grade performance to quantum technologies, diagnostics, and advanced manufacturing in a package that’s 100x smaller and cheaper

​Deep Anchor Solutions: Compact anchor making offshore energy viable in new and remote markets worldwide by enabling faster, cheaper deployment of floating renewables

​EarthFlow AI: AI-powered platform for subsurface modeling making sophisticated analysis instant and affordable enabling the rapid scaling of carbon storage, geothermal energy, and lithium extraction to meet global demand

​FlowCellutions: Chemistry-agnostic diagnostics for grid-scale batteries

​KIRA: Reimagining desalination expanding access to clean water and decarbonizing industries from oil and gas to agriculture

​Lift Biolabs: Replacing costly purification tools with buoyant protein reagents making therapeutic manufacturing more affordable while also enabling biotech to scale

​Semion: Transforming pest control by restoring crops’ natural defenses with plant-based compounds, reducing chemical use and environmental impact, and offering farmers more sustainable and resilient ways to protect their crops

​Also, learn more about our inaugural C24 cohort below:

​Atolla Tech: Identifying and quantifying airborne insects through lidar and machine learning

​Bairitone Health: AI-driven, sonar-based diagnostic imaging technology for home use reduces healthcare costs while improving accessibility

​Coflux Purification: Destroying PFAs through a photocatalytic reactor

​Elysium Robotics: Developing breakthrough low-cost, high-dexterity muscle like robotic hands for large-scale robotic deployment

​LumiStrain: Novel nanotube technology for mechanical strain mapping

​Nanoscale Labs: High-throughput and low-cost self-assembly based nanomanufacturing

​Phoenix Materials: Working to decarbonizing concrete using industrial waste

​Raven Space Systems: Modernizing composite manufacturing with breakthrough 3D printing

​Newfound Materials: Identifying new and unconventional inorganic synthesis recipes for efficient material synthesis

​Solidec: Manufacturing chemicals and fuels using only air, water, and renewable electricity

​​This event is a part of Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week and sponsored by MKB and Impact Science Ventures.

From Local to Global: Helping Climatetech Startups Succeed Internationally
2025-09-17 08:00 - 10:30 | Ion – Forum Stairs, 4201 Main St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Join us for a panel discussion at the Ion on helping startups expand abroad, sponsored by Woodside Energy!
​Expanding across borders is an exciting growth opportunity for climatetech startups, but it comes with regulatory, cultural, and operational challenges.
​In a dynamic panel discussion, we’ll hear perspectives from a U.S.-born climatetech startup that successfully expanded abroad, a startup incubator supporting Nordic ventures, and a representative from Australia offering governmental insight into international support frameworks. Together, they’ll explore the opportunities and roadblocks of global growth and the essential role that ecosystem support, like incubators and public-sector partnerships, plays in helping climate innovators scale impact beyond borders.
​Get ready for a high-energy series of flash pitches featuring groundbreaking climatetech startups from Norway, Australia, and Houston. Each founder will take the stage for a rapid three-minute pitch, showcasing bold technologies and global ambition in areas like clean energy, decarbonization, and sustainable industry solutions.
​Whether you’re looking for new ideas, international partnerships, investment opportunities, or more, this event offers a front-row seat to the next generation of climate innovation, spanning continents and scaling impact worldwide.
Register Here: https://lu.ma/rh3ns4si
About Woodside Energy
​Woodside Energy is a global energy company providing reliable and affordable energy to help people lead better lives.
Questions?
​​Reach out to Chloe Rose, Partnerships Coordinator, at crose@greentownlabs.com or Manon Chappat-Alarcón, Director of Partnerships, at mchappatalarcon@greentownlabs.com.
​Please note: By registering for this event, you consent to your name, title, and company/organization being shared with other event attendees. You consent to your image or likeness being used in content associated with the event. You release Greentown Labs and all partners from any and all liability stemming from any event-related incident.
