Ion District

Cup of Joey
2024-03-29 08:30 - 10:30, 2024-04-05 08:30 - 10:30, 2024-04-12 08:30 - 10:30, 2024-04-19 08:30 - 10:30 (America/Chicago) | Ion – Forum Stairs, 4201 Main St., Houston, TX, 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.

SCORE Office Hours
2024-03-29 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-04-05 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-04-19 10:00 - 11:30 | Ion – Academic Flex Space, 4201 Main St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
SCORE is the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors. Office Hours with SCORE take place each Friday morning. Additional partners will be on-site the second Friday of each month (excluding holidays)
Resource tables include:
The Small Business Administration
SCORE
Small Business Development Center

Ion Prototyping Lab Office Hours
2024-03-29 10:00 - 14:00, 2024-04-05 10:00 - 14:00, 2024-04-12 10:00 - 14:00, 2024-04-19 10:00 - 14:00 | Ion Prototyping Lab, 4201 Main St., Suite 170, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
What is the Ion Prototyping Lab (IPL)?
The Ion Prototyping Lab is where your ideas meet the designers, engineers, and fabricators that can make them a reality. Located at The Ion, the intersection of Houston’s culture, creativity, and innovation. Our 6,500-square-foot site offers access to equipment, engineers, and technical training–a must for every inventor, innovator, and creator.
The Ion Prototyping Lab Office Hours offer entrepreneurs a chance to engage an expert one-on-one and explore options for building or producing their devices. Everyone from seasoned entrepreneurs to educators or “just a person with an idea” is welcome. Walk-ins are served on a first-come, first-served basis.
The initial discussion is at no cost, but subsequent meetings may require a consultation fee.
For more information about the IPL – be sure to check out their website and sign up for their newsletter to stay connected! The IPL 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

Sewn Goods Office Hours at Ion Prototyping Lab
2024-03-29 11:00 - 13:00 | Ion Prototyping Lab, 4201 Main St., Suite 170, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Do you have a new product idea you want to bring to life but don’t know where to start?
IPL+HTX Sewn Goods Office Hours are here to help!
Ion Prototyping Lab is partnering with HTX Sewn Goods team to turn your idea into a tangible prototype. During office hours, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss cutting, sourcing, material, construction, and production options. Plus, you’ll leave with a clear understanding of the prototyping process and the next steps you need to take to bring your product to market.

FanTechstic Mixer
2024-03-29 17:30 - 21:00 | Second Draught, 4201 Main St. Suite 130, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Greetings Tech Trailblazers,
Prepare for a transformative experience that transcends the ordinary! FanTechstic Mixer-Spring Edition is here.
🌐: Connecting Innovators, Igniting Opportunities:
At FanTechstic Solutions Ltd., we believe in the power of synergy, and that’s why we’re bringing together the brightest minds in the tech universe. Our mission is clear: to foster an environment where tech professionals and enthusiasts collide, sparking innovation, forging connections, and paving the way for unparalleled career opportunities.
🔗: Networking Beyond Boundaries:
Step into a realm where the buzz of excitement meets the hum of opportunity. FanTechstic Mixer is not just an event; it’s a dynamic platform where ideas flourish and collaborations thrive. Engage in meaningful conversations with industry pioneers, exchange insights with like-minded tech aficionados, and create connections that will propel your career to new heights.
Why Attend FanTechstic Mixer 2024?

Cutting-edge Insights: Immerse yourself in discussions led by tech visionaries, gaining valuable insights into the latest industry trends and innovations.
Powerful Networking: Connect with potential employers, collaborators, and mentors who can shape the trajectory of your career.
Job Opportunities: Discover exciting career prospects with as you mingle with professionals actively seeking top-tier talent like yours.
Innovative talk: Witness groundbreaking tech conversations and discussions around the future of technology.
Interactive Atmosphere: Hone your skills and stay ahead of the curve with focus zones led by experts in diverse tech domains.
For tech enthusiats, nothing beasts experience. Ask the professional hot to breack in to tech.
Above all, make friends and have fun.

🎟️ Secure Your Spot Today!
Don’t miss the chance to be part of this extraordinary tech convergence! Secure your spot at FanTechstic Mixer – 2024 Spring Edition and embark on a journey where connections turn into collaborations, ideas transform into innovations, and opportunities unfold at every corner.

IPL Presents: Leveraging AI for IP Development
2024-04-01 12:00 - 13:00 | Ion Prototyping Lab, 4201 Main St., Suite 170, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Join us at the Ion Prototyping Lab for an exclusive Lunch & Learn by Anindyo Sarkar from Global Intellectual Property Software Service (GIPSS).
AI-enabled searches make the innovation process more efficient by filtering invention ideas , offering valuable feedback to inventors and offers a path to IP protection. In this Lunch & Learn we explain how these tools can be applied most effectively to new startups. Practical examples will be showcased.
Lunch will be provided for those who register.
Reserve your spot now!

How to be an Owl Series: Smart Social Skills
2024-04-01 17:45 - 19:15 | TX
Setting Yourself up for Future Stability: Benefits, Retirement, Personal Finance – Acquire the fundamental skills and tools necessary to establish a robust foundation for enduring financial success and stability.
Speaker: Rachel Buckhoff, CFP® Financial Advisor, Financial Synergies

This event is part of a series called How to be an Owl: Smart Social Skills. This series is designed to expose early career professionals in any industry to the skills needed to build the foundation for a successful career. Join Rice University and esteemed guest speakers who will cover three separate topics: Professional Presence, Balancing Emotional Intelligence in Life and Work, and Financial Stability and Retirement Planning.

Ion Prototyping Lab Office Hours
2024-04-02 13:00 - 17:00, 2024-04-09 13:00 - 17:00, 2024-04-16 13:00 - 17:00 | Ion Prototyping Lab, 4201 Main St., Suite 170, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
What is the Ion Prototyping Lab (IPL)?
The Ion Prototyping Lab is where your ideas meet the designers, engineers, and fabricators that can make them a reality. Located at The Ion, the intersection of Houston’s culture, creativity, and innovation. Our 6,500-square-foot site offers access to equipment, engineers, and technical training–a must for every inventor, innovator, and creator.
The Ion Prototyping Lab Office Hours offer entrepreneurs a chance to engage an expert one-on-one and explore options for building or producing their devices. Everyone from seasoned entrepreneurs to educators or “just a person with an idea” is welcome. Walk-ins are served on a first-come, first-served basis.
The initial discussion is free, but subsequent meetings may require a consultation fee.
For more information about the IPL – be sure to check out their website and sign up for their newsletter to stay connected! The IPL 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

Houston Methodist Tech Hub - Change Management Presentation
2024-04-04 16:30 - 18:00 | Ion, 4201 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
This session will be hosted by Dr. Evan D. Collins, MD MBA, Chief of the Houston Methodist Hand & Upper Extremity Center at the Texas Medical Center. Dr. Collins will share a short presentation about his clinical work and how change management may be healthcare’s biggest hurdle to innovation implementation.

Houston Robotics Group at Ion Prototyping Lab
2024-04-06 14:00 - 17:00, 2024-04-13 14:00 - 17:00, 2024-04-20 14:00 - 17:00 | Ion Prototyping Lab, 4201 Main St., Suite 170, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Innovate, Collaborate, and Learn: Weekly Meetings at Ion Prototyping Lab!
Join the Houston Robotics Group for an exciting exploration of a diverse range of projects! Whether you’re interested in software development, AI/Deep Learning, electronics, mechanics, drones, or automation, our group offers a welcoming and supportive community to pursue your passions.
Should you require assistance with your projects, fear not! The Houston Robotics Group is composed of highly skilled experts in various domains, including Arduino, Raspberry Pi, motor controls, 3D printing & design, coding, electronics, board assembly, and debugging.
Additionally, we’re well-versed in Jetson Nano, Deep Learning, and various cutting-edge technologies. Our passion for robotics and related fields drives us to continuously push boundaries and explore new possibilities together.
Join the Houston Robotics Group today and immerse yourself in a community of like-minded individuals dedicated to the world of robotics and beyond!

Angel Investing 101
2024-04-10 17:30 - 18:30 | Ion – Conference Room 030, 4201 Main St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
In 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 team at Urban Capital Network believes the key to closing income and wealth gaps globally is to democratize access to opportunities across the investment ecosystem.
Join the Urban Capital Network team for an evening of learning, discussion, and possibilities as we explore the basics of angel investing, 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.
This session is ideal for the following investment-related stakeholders:

Prospective Angel Investors who want to learn more about the world of Angel Investing
Investment Advisors (RIA/FA) who are looking for alternative investments for their clients
Entrepreneurs who want to learn more about what Angels are looking for in their deals
Entrepreneurs who want to meet/network with Angel Investors

About the speaker
Lenny Saizan is co-founder and Managing Director of Urban Capital Network (UCN), an investment firm focused on democratizing premium investment opportunities for a broader pool of investors.
In addition to his role at UCN, Lenny owns and operates Murphy Business Sales – Southwest Houston, where he helps business owners exit plan, maximize value, and sell their business. Lenny also works with buyers interested in business acquisition or franchising.
Prior to launching UCN and his Business Brokerage, Lenny worked 10 years in Oil and Gas, leading teams in Financial and Operational Controls, and Audit. Lenny started his career as an Electrical Engineer, specializing in automation and controls, and systems integration.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from L.S.U. and his MBA from Tulane University.

Rice University OEDK 2024 Engineering Design Showcase
2024-04-11 16:30 - 19:00 | Ion, 4201 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
This showcase and competition highlights many of the school’s engineering design projects and represent our students’ success.
The competition is open to all engineering design projects from each discipline of engineering. The evening will host 80+ judges made up of engineering alumni and local industry to help with the poster session competition.
The event will be open from 4:30-7:00pm, awards will be announced around 6:30pm. Everyone is welcome!
For more information: https://oedk.rice.edu/showcasepublic
Hosted by the Rice University Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen (OEDK). OEDK provides a space for Rice University undergraduate students majoring in bioengineering, chemical and biomolecular engineering, civil and environmental engineering, computational and applied mathematics, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, materials science and nanoengineering, mechanical engineering and statistics to design, prototype and deploy solutions to real-world engineering challenges. To create the full circle of real-world experience that has societal impact, interdisciplinary teams tackle problems proposed by industry and partners in the Texas Medical Center and abroad.

SBDC Office Hours
2024-04-12 10:00 - 11:30 | Ion, 4201 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
What is an SBDC?

Small Business Development Centers provide counseling and training to small businesses, including working with SBA to develop and provide informational tools to support business start-ups and existing business expansion.

How can an SBDC help my small business?

SBDC Programs deliver professional, high-quality, individualized business advising and technical assistance to existing small businesses and pre-venture entrepreneurs. SBDCs provide problem-solving assistance to help small businesses access capital, develop and exchange new technologies, and improve business planning, strategy, operations, financial management, personnel administration, marketing, export assistance, sales and other areas required for small business growth and expansion, management improvement, increased productivity and innovation.

How to Start a Startup
2024-04-16 17:00 - 19:00 | Ion – Forum Stairs, 4201 Main St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
You have an idea…now what? Before you start looking for funding, it’s important to ensure that your idea is both viable and valuable — if it doesn’t have a sound model and a market willing to pay for it, investors won’t be interested anyway.
Target Audience:

Startups and Entrepreneurs: early-stage entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs testing ideas for a pivot
Community Members: people with an idea for a startup but unsure what to do next, small business owners
Corporate Innovators: intrapreneurs, decision-makers tasked with creating and leading sustainable change
Academic Partners: students or faculty with an idea for a startup

About the Speakers:
Heath Butler, Mercury Fund
Heath focuses on B2B SaaS and B2B2C Marketplace investments in future-of-work and fin-tech themes. Heath also manages the organization’s venture studio and network platform, including corporate, service provider, and startup community relationships.
Prior to joining Mercury, Heath co-founded Gestalt Theory Venture Partners, a venture studio and angel investing group. Prior to Gestalt, Heath held leadership roles as a seasoned go-to-market and corporate development executive at Insperity (NYSE: NSP), the nation’s leading HR outsourcing services provider. Prior to Insperity, Heath led business development for EnergyWorkspace.com, founded a fin-tech startup, and developed his foundational management skills at UPS.
Outside of Mercury, Heath is an active angel investor and advocates for democratizing access to private equity opportunities for all investors. He is an active start-up mentor, including the Houston innovation community, and a regular speaker/mentor within The Ion. Heath enjoys traveling with family and likes to read, golf, cycle, and is an avid poker player.
Tré Baker, Techstars Tulsa
Tré Baker is the Managing Director of the Build in Tulsa Techstars Accelerator. He is a serial entrepreneur, investor, non-profit founder, and author of In The Black 2050: A Model for Black Economic Leadership in the 21st Century.
Born and raised in Louisville, KY, Tré is a Vanderbilt University and Harvard Business School graduate. His corporate experience includes various roles at Brown-Forman and renewable energy commercialization at GE Energy.
As an entrepreneur, he has founded/operated several companies in consulting, e-commerce, cpg, entertainment, biofuels, and blockchain. As an angel investor, Tréhas built a portfolio of over 80 startups and counting.

Perfecting Your Pitch
2024-04-17 17:30 - 18:30 | Ion – Conference Room 028, 4201 Main St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
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.
About the Speakers
Dr. Doug Franklin
“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.
Derrell Noris
With 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.
Nicholas Mbaezue-Daniel Jr.
Nick 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.

Houston VR Meetup at Ion Prototyping Lab
2024-04-18 19:30 - 21:00 | Ion Prototyping Lab, 4201 Main St., Suite 170, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Are you captivated by the endless possibilities of Virtual Reality?
Join us at the Ion Prototyping Lab for a monthly Houston VR meetup. Join a diverse community for an engaging session of hardware trials, captivating demos, and engaging discussions, all revolving around the latest trends and advancements in Virtual and Augmented Reality.
All are welcome to attend, regardless of whether you’re a seasoned VR enthusiast, a budding developer, or simply curious about the realm of Virtual Reality.
This month’s meeting includes informative presentations that will delve into the realm of both current and forthcoming VR and AR hardware and software, providing attendees with valuable insights into the evolving landscape of these technologies.
Mark your calendars and become part of the virtual revolution. We look forward to seeing you at the next Houston VR meetup!

Houston Methodist Office Hours
2024-04-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Ion – Lower Level, 4201 Main St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Meet the Houston Methodist Center for Innovation team on select Friday mornings for 1-1 Office Hours.
Do you have an idea for an innovative healthcare solution? Do you work on technology in another industry that could be applicable to healthcare? Do you want to learn more about how hospital systems work with innovators? Come meet with us!
NOTE: Due to limited availability, please sign up for only one session. Each time slot is assigned, so please respect your specific timed session. If you are on the waitlist, we will inform you before the session if a spot is available.

Thank you for your understanding.

Ion Family STEAM Day: Let's Build a Robot!
2024-04-20 10:00 - 13:00 | Ion – Forum Stairs, 4201 Main St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Join us for a hands-on learning experience about electronics and robots and gain insight into the professional skills and concepts needed to excel in an engineering career. Students will learn about the components in electronics that make them work and use toothbrush parts to create their own mini-robot with the STEAM on Demand platform!
This event will be tailored for 9-14-year-olds and their families for a fun STEM experience! We look forward to building and learning with you!
*This workshop includes many small parts that are choking hazards for young children; we do not recommend this project for children under five.*
