Houston Methodist establishes Bookout Center for medical innovation - InnovationMap
A groundbreaking new institution is coming to Houston Methodist.| InnovationMap
A groundbreaking new institution is coming to Houston Methodist.| InnovationMap
Eight Houston companies have been named to Fortune’s third annual list of America’s Most Innovative Companies, joining another 16 from the state of Texas.| InnovationMap
Dozens of Houston-based companies have undergone explosive growth in revenue over the last few years, with one such business landing near the top of the prestigious 2023 Inc. 5000 list.| InnovationMap
by the numbers| InnovationMap
One hundred businesses in the Houston area — including the top-ranked company in Texas — have been named to the 2024 Inc. 5000 list of the country’s fastest-growing private companies.| InnovationMap
Startup activity in the Houston metro area has dipped since its pandemic peak, according to a new study. Dating back to 2005, the volume of applications to form new businesses in the Houston area hit its highest level in 2021 (151,804). Since then, though, the application volume has fallen, according to the study, conducted by business debt collection agency The Kaplan Group. Here's the breakdown from the last few years: Applications dropped to 130,011 in 2022 Climbed to 145,926 in 2023 Dropp...| InnovationMap
Editor's note:Houston's business and innovation events are back in session. From the return of Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week to a send-off for an impactful innovation leader and several health conferences, here's what not to miss and how to register. Please note: this article may be updated to include additional event listings. Sept. 5-7 — Houston Hackathon Impact Hub Houston is bringing back the Houston Hacakthon this month, where developers of all skill sets can work together to...| InnovationMap
It's no secret that Texans are hardworking people. To align with the Labor Day holiday, a new WalletHub study asserts that the Lone Star State is one of the five most hardworking states in America for 2025. The report ranked Texas the fourth most hardworking state this year, indicating that its residents are working harder than ever after the state fell into seventh place in 2024. Texas previously ranked No. 4 in 2019 and 2020, slipped into No. 5 in 2021 and 2022, then continued falling into ...| InnovationMap
Editor's note: The top innovation news for the second of half of August includes the Inc. 5000, a big contract from NASA, a new energy accelerator's launch, and innovative brain health treatment. Here are the five most-read InnovationMap stories from August 15-31: 1. How a Houston company is fighting anxiety, insomnia & Alzheimer’s through waveforms A Houston-based company is taking a medicine-free approach to target brain neurologically associated with mental illness. Nexalin Technology’...| InnovationMap
Houston-based femtech company Work&, previously known as Work&Mother, has introduced new products in recent months aimed at supporting working mothers and the overall health of all employees. The company's new Lactation Pod and Hybrid Pod serve as dual-use lactation and wellness spaces to meet employer demand, the company shared in a news release. The compact pods offer flexible design options that can serve permanent offices and nearly all commercial spaces. They feature a fully compliant la...| InnovationMap
Editor's note: Innovators hailing from both Rice University and University of Houston made headlines in August by developing a new biomaterial that could replace plastic and deploying a new flood scale to help Houstonians stay safe. Plus, one local innovator has a big move on the horizon. Here are five Houston innovators to know right now. M.A.S.R. Saadi and Muhammed Maksud Rahman, Rice University and University of Houston Collaborators from two Houston universities are leading the way in ...| InnovationMap
RBL LLC, which supports commercialization for ventures formed at the Rice University Biotech Launch Pad, has secured an investment from Houston-based Modi Ventures. Additionally, RBL announced that it has named Sahir Ali, founder and general partner of Modi Ventures, to its board of directors. Modi Ventures invests in biotech companies that are working to advance diagnostics, engineered therapeutics and AI-driven drug discovery. The firm has $134 million under management after closing an over...| InnovationMap
If computer scientist and mobile applications developer Arfhan Ahmad has his way, his burgeoning Houston-based startup, QuickPantri, will be directly responsible for adding to the definition of what it truly means to be neighborly. “Fast delivery from next door” — that’s the tagline for Ahmad’s hyperlocal grocery platform, which focuses on solving last-mile access, neighborhood commerce and food affordability. “I’m passionate about combining technology with real-world problems, ...| InnovationMap
Two top-tier Houston universities have been inducted into a new "hall of fame" list of the best colleges in the U.S. for 2026. Rice University and theUniversity of Houston were both praised in The Princeton Review's "The Best 391 Colleges: 2026 Edition." Released August 12, the comprehensive guide annually ranks the best universities across 50 categories based on a survey of 170,000 current college students. Survey questions cover topics such as a school's academics and administration, studen...| InnovationMap
Intuitive Machines, a Houston-based space technology, infrastructure and services company, has forged a partnership with San Jacinto College to develop a program for training workers to handle biopharmaceutical materials delivered to Earth on Intuitive Machines’ re-entry vehicle. Intuitive Machines is working with biotech company Rhodium Scientific on the project. Rhodium, also based in Houston, is developing biomanufacturing payloads for Intuitive Machines’ re-entry vehicle. “Deliverin...| InnovationMap
Houston-based The Welch Foundation has issued $700,000 in additional funding to support chemical research through two of its newest grant programs. The foundation has named the recipients of its Welch eXperimental (WelchX) Collaboration Retreat and Pilot Grants and the Welch Postdoctoral Fellows of the Life Sciences Research Foundation Grants. The WelchX grants were awarded to teams of two Texas researchers who presented "innovative and collaborative ideas" addressing challenges in the clean ...| InnovationMap
A Houston-based company is taking a medicine-free approach to target brain neurologically associated with mental illness. Nexalin Technology’s patented, FDA-cleared frequency-based waveform targets key centers of the midbrain to support the normalization of neurochemicals through a process known as Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS). Delivered via a non-invasive device, the treatment gently stimulates the hypothalamus and midbrain, helping to “reset networks associated wi...| InnovationMap
Energytech Nexus, a Houston-based hub for energy startups, has named its inaugural cohort of 14 companies for the new COPILOT accelerator. COPILOT partners with Browning the Green Space, a nonprofit that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the clean energy and climatech sectors. The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN²) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory backs the COPILOT accelerator. The eight-month COPILOT program offers mentorship, training and networking for start...| InnovationMap
Paul Cherukuri, Rice University's top innovation executive, responsible for some of Rice’s major innovative projects like the Rice BioTech LaunchPad and Rice Nexus, will leave the university next month to accept a position at the University of Virginia. Cherukuri, Rice’s first vice president for innovation and chief innovation officer, will become the University of Virginia’s Donna and Richard Tadler University Professor of Entrepreneurship and the school's first chief innovation office...| InnovationMap
One of the selling points of Houston's Space City Weather (SCW) blog and app has always been its hype-free forecasts. Meteorologists Matt Lanza and Eric Berger inform and soothe the 5 million annual visitors to the site in search of information about the latest weather events around Houston — without hyperbole. But when severe weather alerts happen, how can SCW reach people in the Greater Houston area in such a way that they know it is time to take action and seek shelter? And when they do,...| InnovationMap
Dozens of Houston-area businesses appear in this year’s Inc. 5000 ranking of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S., with a security software provider capturing the region’s No. 1 spot on the list.| InnovationMap
Rice University and Houston Methodist have established through a multi-year joint effort the Digital Health Institute, which aims to transform healthcare through advanced technology and the collaborative expertises of the university and hospital.| InnovationMap
Bioengineers at Rice University have developed a “new construction kit” for building custom sense-and-respond circuits in human cells, representing a major breakthrough in the field of synthetic biology, which could "revolutionize" autoimmune disease and cancer therapeutics.| InnovationMap
Houston Methodist Academic Institute has named cancer clinician and scientist Dr. Jenny Chang as its new executive vice president, president, CEO, and chief academic officer.| InnovationMap
The University of Houston and Rice University have claimed spots on the National Academy of Inventor's Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted Utility Patents. The list is based on data obtained from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and ranks U.S. academic institutions that are advancing innovation by the number of utility patents issued in the prior year. Utility patents are among the world’s most valuable assets because they give inventors exclusive commercial rights to produce and use thei...| InnovationMap
What’s being promoted as the world’s first large-scale affordable housing development built using 3D technology is taking shape in Houston. Houston-based 3D construction company HiveASMBLD has teamed up with Houston-based Cole Klein Builders and the City of Houston on the Zuri Gardens project. Located near Hobby Airport on Martindale Road, the first 3D-printed home at Zuri Gardens is set to be completed in October. “Zuri Gardens was born from the frustration of watching hardworking fami...| InnovationMap
NASA’s Johnson Space Center awarded Houston-based aerospace technology and engineering services company Barrios Technology the Mission Technical Integration Contract (MTIC). The two-year contract is worth $450 million and will begin Oct. 1, 2025. Barrios will provide technical and management support to some of NASA’s human spaceflight programs, which include the Orion and Gateway programs, the International Space Station (ISS) and possibly more human spaceflight initiatives. The contract ...| InnovationMap
Calling all Houston innovators: The Houston Innovation Awards return this fall to celebrate the best and brightest in the Houston innovation ecosystem right now. Presented by InnovationMap, the fifth annual Houston Innovation Awards will take place November 5 at TMC Helix Park. The awards program will honor the top startups and innovators in Houston across 10 categories, and we're asking you to nominate the most deserving Houston innovators and innovative companies today. This year's categori...| InnovationMap
Editor's note: We're looking back at the top Houston innovation and business news for the first half of August 2025. Intuitive Machines has secured a new contract, a Japanese energy tech manufacturer now has a Houston HQ, tech jobs are on the rise, and more. Revisit InnovationMap's most-read stories from August 1-15 below: 1. Intuitive Machines lands $9.8M to complete orbital transfer vehicle Houston-based Intuitive Machines, which rang the NASDAQ opening bell July 31, has secured a $9.8 mill...| InnovationMap
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Japan’s TOPPAN Holdings Inc. have announced a strategic collaboration to co-develop TOPPAN Holdings’ 3D cell culture, or organoid, technology known as invivoid. The technology will be used as a tool for personalized cancer treatments and drug screening efforts, according to a release from MD Anderson. TOPPAN has committed $10 million over five years to advance the joint research activities. “The strategic alliance with MD Anderson pa...| InnovationMap
Webster-based Arrow Science and Technology is one of six companies picked by NASA to study low-cost ways to launch and deliver spacecraft for difficult-to-reach orbits. In all, nine studies will be performed under a roughly $1.4 million award from NASA. Another Texas company, Cedar Park-based Firefly Aerospace, is also among the six companies working on the studies. “With the increasing maturity of commercial space delivery capabilities, we’re asking companies to demonstrate how they can ...| InnovationMap
Spring-based ExxonMobil, the country’s largest oil and gas company, might delay or cancel what would be the world’s largest low-carbon hydrogen plant due to a significant change in federal law. The project carries a $7 billion price tag. The Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act created a new 10-year incentive, the 45V tax credit, for production of clean hydrogen. But under President Trump’s "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," the window for starting construction of low-carbon hydrogen projects t...| InnovationMap
Texas A&M University's George H.W. Bush Combat Development Complex will receive $59.8 million to develop a way for autonomous helicopters to fight to wildfires in the state. The funds appropriated from the Texas legislature will go toward acquiring up to four UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters and developing their autonomous configuration, as well as to facilities, tools and equipment for research, testing and integration of firefighting capabilities over the next two years, according to a release f...| InnovationMap
Baylor College of Medicine and Rice University have been awarded a $500,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to create the Center for Humanities-based Health AI Innovation (CHHAIN). The new center and three-year initiative aims to create ethically responsible and trustworthy AI for health care that uses history and patient narratives to shape the technology, according to a release. It represents a collaboration between the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy ...| InnovationMap
Only Dallas outpaces Houston for retail construction right now.| InnovationMap
Houston-based space technology, infrastructure and services company Intuitive Machines has agreed to buy Tempe, Arizona-based aerospace company KinetX for an undisclosed amount. The deal is expected to close by the end of this year, according to a release from the company. KinetX specializes in deep space navigation, systems engineering, ground software and constellation mission design. It’s the only company certified by NASA for deep space navigation. KinetX’s navigation software has sup...| InnovationMap
TMEIC Corporation Americas has officially relocated its headquarters from Roanoke, Virginia, to Houston. TMEIC Corporation Americas, a group company of Japan-based TMEIC Corporation Japan, recently inaugurated its new space in the Energy Corridor, according to a news release. The new HQ occupies the 10th floor at 1080 Eldridge Parkway, according to ConnectCRE. The company first announced the move last summer. TMEIC Corporation Americas specializes in photovoltaic inverters and energy storage ...| InnovationMap
LinkedIn’s 2025 Cities on the Rise list includes two Texas cities in the top 25—and they aren’t Houston or Dallas. The Austin metro area came in at No. 18 and the San Antonio metro at No. 23 on the inaugural list that measures U.S. metros where hiring is accelerating, job postings are increasing and talent migration is “reshaping local economies,” according to the company. The report was based on LinkedIn’s exclusive labor market data. According to the report, Austin, at No. 18, i...| InnovationMap
Houston-based nonprofit The Duncan Fund has awarded a $25 million gift to Houston Methodist's department of medicine to establish new endowed fellowships, streamline complex care and bring artificial intelligence into the fold to develop more personalized treatment plans.| InnovationMap
Houston Methodist is once again the top hospital in Texas.| 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
After raising a seed round of funding, an alternative materials startup is gearing up to move into its new facility.| InnovationMap
A Houston-based next-gen material startup has revealed a new strategic partnership.| InnovationMap
Not many adages stand the test of time quite like this one: to be the best, learn from the best.| InnovationMap
11 Houston companies have been named to the 2025 OwlSpark accelerator, which is hosted in tandem with the University of Houston’s RED Labs.| InnovationMap
Google Public Sector is teaming up with Rice University to drive early-stage artificial intelligence innovation and commercialization via the new Rice AI Venture Accelerator, or RAVA.| InnovationMap
What do labs do when faced with large amounts of imaging data? Powerful cloud computing systems have long been the answer to that question, but a new riposte comes from SPACe.| InnovationMap
A team at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, led by Dr. Kenneth Liao, successfully performed the first fully robotic heart transplant in the United States earlier this year, the Houston hospital recently shared.| InnovationMap
Here are five Houston innovators to know right now.| InnovationMap
Imagine being able to predict the future of retail sales with real-time digital breadcrumbs left behind by consumers.| InnovationMap
Pothik Chatterjee was named executive director of Rice University's and Houston Methodist's Digital Health Institute, effective May 1.| InnovationMap
Two companies known for innovation in energy and home automation, Reliant and Vivint, have teamed up to launch the Smarter Home Bundle: a powerful new offering that simplifies home energy management and enhances everyday living for Texans.With smart technology, seamless app integration, and added en...| InnovationMap
Three Houston startups were granted awards from NASA this month to develop new technologies for the space agency.| InnovationMap
Molecule has completed a successful series B round for an undisclosed amount.| InnovationMap
Innovators from the University of Houston and Texas Heart Institute at Baylor College of Medicine were selected to join the prestigious National Academy of Inventors.| InnovationMap
An educational technology company based out of Rice University has received $90 million to create and lead a research and development hub for inclusive learning and education research. It's the largest research award in the history of the university.| InnovationMap
An assistant professor at Rice University has won one of the highly competitive National Science Foundation's CAREER Awards.| InnovationMap
Another Houston scientist has won one of the highly competitive National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Awards.| InnovationMap
Since the Houston Spaceport secured the 10th FAA-Licensed commercial spaceport designation in 2015, the development's tenants have gone on to secure billions in NASA contracts. Now, the Houston Spaceport is on to its next phase of growth.| InnovationMap
Intuitive Machines is expanding its presence at Houston Spaceport.| InnovationMap
Last month, the Ion Houston welcomed in the greater Houston community to showcase the programs and companies operating within the Ion Innovation District — and the week-long Ion Activation Festival spotlighted just the beginning.| InnovationMap
It's time to look at what's on the agenda for May for Houston innovators — from pitch competitions to networking events.| InnovationMap
An organization that promotes early-stage innovation within the hardtech space has named one of the founding entrepreneurs of Greentown Labs as its local Houston lead.| InnovationMap
Houston’s Ion innovation hub has recruited three heavyweight corporate partners, the hub announced earlier this week.| InnovationMap
The husband-and-wife archaeological team from UH has discovered a Mayan king's tomb in Belize.| InnovationMap
Greentown Labs has named Lawson Gow as its Head of Houston.| InnovationMap
Rice University’s OpenStax and Microsoft are partnering to integrate the nonprofit’s content with the tech giant’s AI innovation, known as Learning Zone.| InnovationMap
Here's the latest update on NASA's Exploration Park, ready for launch in Q4 2026.| 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
The Great Energy Transfer| InnovationMap
A Houston-area project got the green light as one of the seven regions to receive a part of the $7 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to advance domestic hydrogen production.| InnovationMap
Editor's note: Another week has come and gone, and it's time to round up the top headlines from the past few days. Trending Houston tech and startup news on InnovationMap included overheard advice from corporates to startups, a rising hub for innovation at UH, and more.| InnovationMap
taking home the W| InnovationMap
A new breakthrough prototype out of the University of Houston was inspired by science fiction.| InnovationMap
Houston entrepreneurs, take note. Rice University and the University of Houston again are at the top of their class among the country’s best entrepreneurship programs.| InnovationMap
A group of Rice University student-founded companies shared $100,000 of cash prizes at an annual startup competition.| InnovationMap
The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and the Jones Graduate School of Business have announced the 42 student teams that will compete in the 2022 Rice Business Plan Competition, which returns to an in-person format on the Rice University campus in April.| InnovationMap
Rice University brought back its international student startup competition to its in-person format in a big way, giving out nearly $2 million in investment and in-kind prizes to over a dozen student teams.| InnovationMap
getting pitch perfect| 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
Over the weekend, Houston hosted what is known as the world’s largest and richest intercollegiate student startup competition, and a Texas team took the overall win and over $3 million in investment prizes were given out at the annual banquet.| InnovationMap
In its 21st year, the Rice Business Plan Competition hosted 54 student-founded startups from all over the world — its largest batch of companies to date — and doled out over $1.4 million in cash and investment prizes at the week-long virtual competition.| InnovationMap
According to a new report from CBRE, Houston is on track to be a top market for life sciences. The report factored in size and growth of life-sciences employment, the venture capital and National Institutes of Health funding, and more."Interest in Houston's life sciences sector from developers, inve...| InnovationMap
How do you bring promising cancer research to the masses? TMC Innovation's Accelerator for Cancer Therapeutics was established with that question in mind.| InnovationMap
Editor's note: Let's roundup the top Houston innovation news from the week. Trending Houston tech and startup articles on InnovationMap included NanoTech moving into its new space, two health tech companies with big wins, and more.| InnovationMap
A Houston startup that has developed an innovative coating material that can reduce energy consumption has raised fresh funding for its cross-country expansion.| InnovationMap
Ramanan Krishnamoorti has had a varied career in academia, from an engineering professor to nanotech research. While he never made the transition from researcher to entrepreneur, he managed to snag a CEO title at the university about a decade ago: Chief energy officer.| InnovationMap
HOUSTON INNOVATORS PODCAST EPISODE 181| InnovationMap
Innovation isn't always tinkering with tech or programming software, although serial entrepreneur Erik Ibarra knows that world well. Sometimes it's about rethinking how a community improves and develops without doing the residents a disservice.| InnovationMap
For years, Hello Alice has been helping small businesses across the country get equitable access to funding and support. Now, the Houston tech company is facing its own obstacle: An affirmative action lawsuit.| InnovationMap
HOUSTON INNOVATORS PODCAST EPISODE 255| InnovationMap
Rheom Materials presented its bio-based alternative, Shorai, a 93 percent bio-based leather, at the Houston Rodeo and plans to scale it up this year.| InnovationMap
Hundreds of innovators from Houston and beyond flocked to the Ion Houston's annual Activation Festival, and one of the topics discussed at the series of programming was the relationship between corporates and startups.| InnovationMap
As part of its 25th anniversary celebrations, the Center for Houston’s Future has named its first-ever group of Top 25 Business/Civic Leadership Forum Alumni, including energy transition CEOs and legendary craft brewery founders.| InnovationMap
A program with a mission to translate research into innovative startups has named its 2023 cohort of fellows.| InnovationMap
A group of Rice researchers have tapped into the sense of touch to improve how wearable technology can communicate with its user.| InnovationMap
Rice University has named 11 successful business leaders with ties Houston to its inaugural council focused on entrepreneurship.| InnovationMap
student founders| InnovationMap
The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship announced the 42 student-led teams worldwide that will compete in the highly competitive Rice Business Plan Competition this spring.| InnovationMap
For Houston’s life sciences sector, 13 is a very lucky number.| InnovationMap
