Leadership at The Texas Heart Institute has two major things to celebrate. First, it just received a $32 million donation from a patient — the largest charitable donation in its history.| InnovationMap
The Texas Heart Institute announced that it had received a two-year, $1.14 million grant from The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to develop a novel, first-in-class drug to treat the cardiovascular disease that arises from atherosclerosis.| InnovationMap
material science matters| InnovationMap
Two local professors are among the newly announced recipients of funding from the Houston-based Welch Foundation, which finances chemical research projects.| InnovationMap
Chemical researchers at seven institutions in the Houston area are receiving nearly $12.9 million grants from the Houston-based Welch Foundation.| InnovationMap
A new hub at the University of Houston is being established with a crystal-clear mission — and fresh funding.| InnovationMap
It's Adam Kuspa's job to provide support to Texas researchers as they attempt to create innovative chemical and biochemical solutions for the betterment of mankind.| InnovationMap
They say it’s all in the timing. For CellChorus, it’s all in the TIMING. That’s Time-lapse Imaging Microscopy In Nanowell Grids. TIMING is a visual AI program that evaluates cell activation, killing and movement, which allows scientists to better understand how cells function.| InnovationMap
A clinical-stage Houston health tech company with a novel therapeutic device has raised venture capital funding and secured a grant from the National Institutes of Health.| InnovationMap
The NIH has bestowed a Houston medtech company with a $2.2 million Fast-Track to Phase 2 award. InformAI will use the money for the product development and commercialization of its AI-enabled organ transplant informatics platform.| InnovationMap
The National Institute of Health has awarded a $4 million grant to a Houston-area initiative in the name of sparking biomedical activity.| InnovationMap
Port Houston’s initiatives to reduce emissions have shown some positive results, according to new data from the Port of Houston Authority. Pulling from the Goods Movement Emissions Inventory (GMEI) report, which tracks port-related air emissions, Port Houston cited several improvements compared to the most recent report from 2019. The port has seen total tonnage and container volumes increase by 16 percent and 28 percent, respectively, since 2019. However, greenhouse gas emissions have incr...| InnovationMap
Innovation is often celebrated for speed or curiosity, but genuine progress is about inclusion and expanding the populations that benefit from new technologies. For example, at Yale University, nursing students are now utilizing a hyper-realistic patient mannequin with Down syndrome, which not only mimics appearance but also fosters both empathy and competence in medical professionals who will treat people of all abilities. Tools like this remind us that innovation is not only about what is n...| InnovationMap
Houston has long been touted as the energy capital of the world, and it's now it's also a leading player in the energy transition — home to numerous startups and innovators working toward a cleaner future. As part of the 2025 Houston Innovation Awards, our Energy Transition Business category honors innovative startups that are providing solution within renewables, climatetech, clean energy, alternative materials, circular economy, and more. Seven energy transition companies have been named ...| InnovationMap
Rice University researchers have teamed up with South Korean scientists to develop the first eco-friendly technology that captures and destroys toxic “forever chemicals,” or PFAS, in water. PFAS have been linked to immune system disruption, certain cancers, liver damage and reproductive disorders. They can be found in water, soil and air, as well as in products like Teflon pans, waterproof clothing and food packaging. They do not degrade easily and are difficult to remove. Thus far, PFAS ...| InnovationMap
Six months after promoting Tejpaul Bhatia from chief revenue officer to CEO, commercial space infrastructure and human spaceflight services provider Axiom Space has replaced him. On Oct. 15, Houston-based Axiom announced Jonathan Cirtain has succeeded Bhatia as CEO. Bhatia joined Axiom in 2021. Cirtain remains the company’s president, a role he assumed in June, according to his LinkedIn profile. In a news release, Axiom said Cirtain’s appointment as CEO is a “strategic leadership change...| InnovationMap
Houston billionaires Rich and Nancy Kinder plan to donate an astounding 95% of their multi-billion-dollar wealth to charities, they told ABC13's Melanie Lawson. The news comes as the Kinder Foundation announced an $18.5 million expansion project for Emancipation Park in the heart of Third Ward. That historic park was founded by slaves in 1872. The Kinders are one of the wealthiest couples in the nation, worth $11.4 billion, according to Forbes. You've certainly seen the Kinder name on buildin...| InnovationMap
Texas billionaire Mark Cuban—whose investment portfolio includes Houston-based Holliball, a startup that makes and sells large inflatable holiday ornaments—believes AI is leveling the playing field for budding low-income entrepreneurs. At the recent Clover x Shark Tank Summit in Las Vegas, the Shark Tank alum called AI “the greater democratizer.” Cuban told Axios that free and low-cost AI tools enable disadvantaged teenagers to compete with seasoned professionals. “Right now, if you...| InnovationMap
Editor's note: We're looking back at the top Houston innovation news for the first half of October 2025, including the big reveal of our 2025 Houston Innovation Awards finalists. Here are the five most-read InnovationMap stories from Oct. 1-15, 2025: 1. Announcing the 2025 Houston Innovation Awards finalists InnovationMap is proud to reveal the finalists for the 2025 Houston Innovation Awards. Taking place on November 13 at Greentown Labs, the fifth annual Houston Innovation Awards will honor...| InnovationMap
The Austin-based Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, which provides funding for cancer research across the state, has hired Ruth Rechis as its chief prevention officer. She comes to CPRIT from Houston’s University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she led the Cancer Prevention and Control Platform. Before joining MD Anderson, Rechis was a member of the executive leadership team at the Livestrong Foundation, an Austin-based nonprofit that supports people affected by ca...| InnovationMap
Female-founded businesses reached a new milestone last year. According to payroll company Gusto, female founders launched 49 percent of new businesses in 2024, reaching near parity with male-founded businesses for the first time. And though they still face challenges, with access to VC funding at the top of the list, those women-led companies are driving major impact in the startup and innovation ecosystem. The fifth-annual Houston Innovation Awards will honor six women-led startups that are ...| InnovationMap
Retired Air Force colonel and former NASA astronaut Pamela Melroy, who previously served as deputy administrator of NASA, recently joined the board of directors at Houston-based Venus Aerospace. Venus Aerospace, a startup founded in 2020, develops rocket engine technology, including rotating rocket detonation engines for hypersonic flights. These engines promise higher power, greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions than conventional rocket engines or jet engines, according to the Interest...| InnovationMap
Austin-based startup Base Power, which offers battery-supported energy in the Houston area and other regions, has raised $1 billion in series C funding—making it one of the largest venture capital deals this year in the U.S. VC firm Addition led the $1 billion round. All of Base Power’s existing major investors also participated, including Trust Ventures, Valor Equity Partners, Thrive Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Altimeter, StepStone Group, 137 Venture...| InnovationMap
As the energy capital of the world, Houston has been at the forefront of innovation, powering industries and communities for generations. Many Houston families, however, are facing a reality that undermines our leadership: high energy bills and ongoing concerns about grid reliability. Affordability and reliability are not just technical issues; they’re equity issues. To remain the world leader in energy, we must ensure that every household has access to affordable and dependable power. Affo...| InnovationMap
University of Houston College of Optometry Professor John O’Brien has received a $2.6 million grant from the National Eye Institute to continue his research on the retina and neurological functions. O’Brien is considered a leading expert in retinal neuroscience with more than 20 years of research in the field. The new funding will allow O’Brien and his team to continue to study the dense assembly of proteins associated with electrical synapses, or gap junctions, in the retina. Gap junct...| InnovationMap
Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the nation, and that trend carries over into its innovation and startup ecosystem. As part of the 2025 Houston Innovation Awards, our Minority-founded Businesses category will honor an innovative Houston startup founded or co-founded by BIPOC or LGBTQ+ representation. Five minority-founded businesses have been named finalists for the 2025 award. The finalists, selected by our esteemed panel of judges, range from a wearable health tech device compan...| InnovationMap
The Ion has named John "JR" Reale as its director for startups and investor engagement. In his new role, Reale, a longtime leader in Houston’s startup ecosystem, will work to strengthen the innovation district's founder and investor network. "Here’s what I’ve come to believe: the Ion is not just a building, not just a real estate play, and not just another innovation district. COVID, remote work, and shifting market dynamics changed the rules. Key ingredients like co-working, events, an...| InnovationMap
Here's news that'll make a flight delay at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport a bit more palatable: IAH arrives at No. 12 in a new ranking of the country’s best airports for food and beverage options. The 2025 study by commercial furniture manufacturer Restaurant Furniture relied on Google reviews of food and beverage establishments at the busiest U.S. airports to come up with its list. The study included only those restaurants and bars with at least 20 Google reviews. IAH earne...| InnovationMap
Axiom Space, a Houston-based commercial spaceflight and space infrastructure company, has launched initiatives in two very different spheres — semiconductors and astronaut training. On the semiconductor front, Axiom has signed a memorandum of understanding with Japanese chemical company Resonac Corp. to collaborate on semiconductor R&D and manufacturing projects carried out in space. Among Resonac’s products are materials used in chip manufacturing. Axiom said the deal “paves the way to...| InnovationMap
One Houston-based mental health scientist is launching a new app-based approach to continuing education that she hopes will change the way doctors, therapists, and social workers evolve in their field. The app, MHNTI, is named for its parent company, the Mental Health Network & Training Institute. It's a one-stop shop for mental health professionals to find trainers, expert consultations, local providers, webinars, and other tools related to licensure certification and renewal. Free and paid ...| InnovationMap
InnovationMap is proud to reveal the finalists for the 2025 Houston Innovation Awards. Taking place on November 13 at Greentown Labs, the fifth annual Houston Innovation Awards will honor the best of Houston's innovation ecosystem, including startups, entrepreneurs, mentors, and more. This year's finalists were determined by our esteemed panel of judges, comprised of past award winners and InnovationMap editorial leadership. The panel reviewed nominee applications across 10 prestigious catego...| InnovationMap
Two Rice University professors have been recognized by the American Geophysical Union, one of the world’s largest associations for Earth and space science.| InnovationMap
Allison Master, an assistant professor at the University of Houston, is the first from the college to be awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.| InnovationMap
The highest professional distinction awarded to academic inventors, the National Academy of Inventors, have elected two fellows from Rice University and the University of Houston for its 2024 class.| InnovationMap
Rice University announced this month that it has officially launched the new Rice Synthetic Biology Institute.| InnovationMap
HEXAspec, a spinout from Rice University's Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, was recently awarded a $500,000 National Science Foundation Partnership for Innovation grant.| InnovationMap
Trending Houston tech and startup articles on InnovationMap included the Ion growing its coworking space, Cart.com moving its headquarters back to Houston, and more.| InnovationMap
Cart.com, which moved its headquarters from Houston to Austin in December but still maintains a local presence, just landed $240 million in equity and debt funding.| InnovationMap
In the health tech category on InnovationMap, top stories included startup funding raised, IPO plans, FDA clearance, and more.| InnovationMap
It may come as no surprise to anyone who's met Roberta Schwartz that she's a self starter. Schwartz, who is the executive vice president and chief innovation officer for Houston Methodist, was among the group that organized to create what is now the Center for Innovation within the hospital system.| InnovationMap
Virtual reality goes far beyond playing games with titles like Arizona Sunshine, Moss, Robo Recall, and Tetris Effect. VR also is playing an ever-growing role in health care settings. The global market for VR in health care could reach $3.8 billion in 2020, according to one estimate.| InnovationMap
While hospital systems might have a reputation for being slow adaptors to new technologies, Houston Methodist is single-handedly trying to change that theory. From artificial intelligence to virtual reality, the hospital system is making big moves innovating and introducing cutting edge tools and sy| InnovationMap
When it comes to launching a business in Texas, you might want to look into the suburbs that surround the state's major metros.| InnovationMap
The evolution of Houston’s startup scene continues: A new report awards the region a No. 1 ranking for the robustness of early-stage funding among North America’s emerging startup ecosystems.| InnovationMap
Ten percent of the United States workforce — 15.3 million people — work for themselves, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In honor of National Small Business Week, a recent study sought out the best cities for starting a business, and Houston came in at No. 13.| InnovationMap
In a recent report analyzing metrics for best cities for tech hubs, Houston failed to crack the top 20 — unlike a few other Texas cities.| InnovationMap
It’s a tale of two states. A new study from CNBC ranks Texas as the fifth best state for doing business. But CNBC simultaneously puts Texas in second place among the worst states to live.| InnovationMap
Houston-based Axiom Space is helping NASA gear up for human space exploration at the International Space Station and on the moon as part of a spacesuit deal potentially worth billions of dollars.| InnovationMap
The Space City is starting 2022 off strong with news launching out of the Houston Spaceport — a TK-acre space in TK Houston.| InnovationMap
Collins Aerospace has cut the ribbon on its new 120,000 square-foot facility located at the Houston Spaceport in Houston — all that's left for the global aerospace and defense company is to move in.| InnovationMap
Editor's note: Let's roundup the top Houston innovation news from the week. Trending Houston tech and startup articles on InnovationMap included news of a Houston company acquiring an Amazon partner, Houston events not to miss this month, and more.| InnovationMap
A Dallas-based biosciences startup whose backers include millionaire investors from Austin and Dallas has reached decacorn status — a valuation of at least $10 billion — after hauling in a series C funding round of $200 million, the company announced this month.| InnovationMap
Houston-based Cart.com, a provider of fulfillment and logistics services for B2C and B2B brands, has raised $50 million in venture capital, pushing its valuation to $1.6 billion. Since it was founded in 2020, Cart.com has raised $475 million.| InnovationMap
InnovationMap is the leading voice of innovation in Houston, covering the latest news in the Houston startup, tech, health, energy, social impact sectors, and more.| InnovationMap
Texas — home to everything from tornadoes to hurricanes — cracks the top 10 of a new report ranking states based on impact from weather-related events.| InnovationMap
Texas has landed itself in the middle of a fierce debate following what's been considered one of the worst winter storm in recent history for the state.| InnovationMap
The past month in Houston has been marked by severe flooding and a sudden storm that left nearly a million residents without power. The Houston Disaster Alliance has established the Severe Weather and Derecho Recovery Fund to help those impacted by the weather.| InnovationMap
Floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey seriously damaged about 600,000 vehicles in the Houston area, driving millions upon millions of dollars in auto insurance claims. Rahel Abraham's 2008 Infiniti G35 was among them.| InnovationMap
Where some might see just a basement, Mayor Sylvester Turner sees an opportunity to tell a story of Houston's resiliency and dedication to sustainability.| InnovationMap
A Houston-based medtech startup with an innovative tool that's aiming to transform lung cancer intervention has closed its series A extension round.| InnovationMap
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Japan’s TOPPAN Holdings Inc. have formed a joint venture to co-develop TOPPAN Holdings’ 3D cell culture, or organoid, technology known as invivoid.| InnovationMap
Three companies based in the Houston area appear on Fortune’s inaugural list of the top adopters of AI among Fortune 500 companies. The three companies are: No. 7 energy company ExxonMobil, based in Spring No. 7 tech company Hewlett Packard Enterprise, based in Spring No. 47 energy company Chevron, based in Houston All three companies have taken a big dive into the AI pool. In 2024, ExxonMobil’s executive chairman and CEO, Darren Woods, explained that AI would play a key role in achieving...| InnovationMap
Two University of Houston science projects have been selected as finalists for the Gulf Futures Challenge, which will award a total of $50 million to develop ideas that help benefit the Gulf Coast. Sponsored by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine’s Gulf Coast Research Program and Lever for Change, the competition is designed to spark innovation around problems in the Gulf Coast, such as rising sea levels, pollution, energy security, and community resiliency. The two ...| InnovationMap
For soccer mom Lana Chase, weekends were a whirlwind of cleats, carpooling, and cheering from the sidelines. Now that her daughter Miah graduated high school in May, the Chase Family’s love for the game hasn't stopped. It's shifted to their living room, where Comcast’s new Xfinity streaming platform brings the global game home. “We’re a soccer family through and through,” says Chase. “Miah played soccer from about age 8 until 16, and we love the World Cup! Xfinity makes it easy fo...| InnovationMap
Houston-based digital advance care planning company Koda Health has closed an oversubscribed $7 million series A funding round. The round, led by Evidenced, with participation from Mudita Venture Partners, Techstars and Texas Medical Center, will allow the company to scale operations and expand engineering, clinical strategy and customer success, according to a news release. “This funding allows us to create more goals-of-care product lines, expand our national footprint, and bring goal-con...| InnovationMap
Several prominent cancer researchers are coming to the Houston area thanks to $22 million in grants recently awarded by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT).| InnovationMap
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has given the go-ahead to the Dallas-based Texas Stock Exchange to operate as a national securities exchange, clearing the way for the TXSE to begin trading stocks and exchange-traded products by early 2026. TXSE is the first fully integrated national securities exchange to receive SEC approval in decades. A release calls it "a milestone decision" that restores competition in America's public markets. The organization has already laid the groundwork...| InnovationMap
Editor's note: Houston's October calendar is packed with informative and impactful events—plus a few fun ones, too. From the fourth annual Tejano Tech Summit to the first-ever Ion Family Tech Festival, here's what not to miss and how to register. Please note: this article may be updated to include additional event listings. Oct. 3 — Houston Methodist Joy in Medicine Initiative Symposium The Houston Methodist Joy in Medicine Initiative Symposium will explore the power of connection in enha...| InnovationMap
AI investments are booming in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott says. And Houston is poised to benefit from this surge. At a recent Texas Economic Development Corp. gathering in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Abbott said AI projects on the horizon in the Lone Star State would be bigger than the $500 billion multistate Project Stargate, according to the Dallas Business Journal. So far, Stargate includes three AI data centers in Texas. Stargate, a new partnership among OpenAI, Oracle, Softbank, and the fede...| InnovationMap
Editor's note: We're looking back at the top Houston innovation news for the second half of September. Catch up on the latest from the Ion District, Oxy, Eli Lilly, and more. Here are the five most-read InnovationMap stories from September 15-30: 1. Houston's Ion District to expand with new research and tech space, The Arc Houston's Ion District is set to expand with the addition of a nearly 200,000-square-foot research and technology facility, The Arc at the Ion District. Rice Real Estate Co...| InnovationMap
NASA has selected 10 new astronaut candidates, including one whose hometown is Houston, for its 2025 training class. The candidates will undergo nearly two years of training before they can assume flight assignments. The 10 future astronauts were introduced during a recent ceremony at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, whose facilities include an astronaut training center. NASA received more than 8,000 applications for the 10 slots. “Representing America’s best and brightest, this astronaut c...| InnovationMap
CNSide Diagnostic's CSF assay tests cerebrospinal fluid for cancers that have metastasized to the spine or brain.| InnovationMap
Memberships run $100/month and include 24/7 access.| InnovationMap
Following a “generous philanthropic gift” by Farid and Asha Virani, the undergraduate business program at Rice University will be named after the family. The building where the business program is housed, McNair Hall, will remain unchanged.| InnovationMap
A Houston energy tech startup has raised a $21.5 million series a round of funding to support the advancement of its automated technology that converts field wastes into stable carbon.| InnovationMap
Rice University can barely keep up with the interest of students in entrepreneurial classes and programming — even in the summer.| InnovationMap
Researchers at Rice University are making cleaner water through the use of nanotech.| InnovationMap
Undergraduate students from Rice University were awarded the top prize in a health innovation challenge.| InnovationMap
After receiving applications from over 440 startups from around the world, the Rice Business Plan Competition has named 54 startups to compete in the 2021 event.| InnovationMap
SeebeckCell Technologies University of Texas at ArlingtonFor the 20th year, the Rice Business Plan Competition has awarded prizes and investments to student-led startups from around the ward. While this year's competition was postponed and virtually held, the show went on with 42 startups pitching v| InnovationMap
Taking control of your health can be a difficult path to walk on your own. A new startup, created by eight female Rice University students, is aimed at wading through the health care system.| InnovationMap
If you haven't noticed, the moon is having a bit of a moment — and Tim Crain of Intuitive Machines is here for it.| InnovationMap
Houston-based space exploration company Intuitive Machines soon will be the Uber of space.| InnovationMap
A privately owned lunar lander touched down near the moon’s south pole Thursday, but as the minutes ticked by, flight controllers could not confirm its condition or whether it was upright.| InnovationMap
Houston has received a big thumbs-up in a new study ranking the country’s top metro areas for life sciences companies to launch or grow.| InnovationMap
Flex office space is finding favor with businesses in Houston.| InnovationMap
Of the top 25 United States metros ranked as the best for life science, Houston came in at lucky No. 13.| InnovationMap
Fannin Partners has done it again. The Houston-based life science development group behind medtech companies Procyrion and Allterum Therapeutics announced yesterday that it has launched Radiomer Therapeutics.| InnovationMap
Using technology to solve big problems has always been Kelly Pracht's career, but she never thought she'd be able use her skills for the sports world she's a lifelong fan of.| InnovationMap
A Houston immuno-oncology company has recently made major headway with the FDA, including both a fast track and an orphan drug designation. It will soon start a phase 2 trial of its promising cancer fighting innovation.| InnovationMap
A Houston-headquartered space tech company that's working on technology to enable hypersonic travel has announced a partnership with NASA to test its tech.| InnovationMap
Two astronauts recently received Presidential Medals of Freedom from President Joe Biden for their leadership in space.| InnovationMap
Houston continues to prove it hosts the best of the best employers in Texas as NASA tops Forbes' 2023 list of "America’s Best Employers By State."| InnovationMap
Two Houston space tech companies are suiting up thanks to an expanded relationship with NASA.| InnovationMap
While the world rushes to find a COVID-19 vaccine, scientists from the University of Houston have found a way to trap and kill the virus — instantly.| InnovationMap
Researchers across the country are focusing on all things COVID-19 — from biotherapies and treatment to vaccines and prevention. A handful of researchers based out of the University of Houston are doing their best to move the needle on a cure or reliable vaccine.| InnovationMap
Trending Houston tech and startup articles from InnovationMap and its daily newsletter included a few reports ranking Houston and its influential companies, new funding for a digital health care platform, and more.| InnovationMap
A Houston-born COVID-19 vaccine has gotten the go-ahead to be produced and distributed in Indonesia.| InnovationMap
A vodka distiller based in Austin has sent funds to a Houston research group that's working on a vaccine to fight the coronavirus.| InnovationMap
Houston’s Baylor College of Medicine has received a total of $12 million in grants from the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas to attract two prominent researchers.| InnovationMap
