Houston Innovators Podcast

Houston tech innovator Sid Upadhyay joins the show to discuss how the pandemic affected his recruitment software company, its recent $7.5 million series A round, and where the company is headed.

Joining the podcast at the start of Women's History Month, Samantha Lewis says now more than ever there is a need for more female representation at venture capital firms.

In light of last week's winter storm that wrecked havoc on Houston and Texas as a whole, Richard Seline joins the show to discuss the call for innovation in mitigating damage from weather-related crises.

Houston is no stranger to picking itself up by the bootstraps, and both non-Houston natives Christine Galib and Courtney Cogdill of The Ion have seen that so clearly. The duo, which works on programs and accelerators at The Ion, join the show to discuss the organizations four programs and how they really represent Houston. Note: This podcast, though timely in that the guests and host discuss Houston's resiliency and weather challenges, was recorded ahead of of this week's winter storm.

For Black History Month, Ashley Small is making sure her team at her Houston-based PR and branding company is aware of Black innovators and the roads they paved across industries. And, she's reminding her fellow business owners to bring diverse voices to the table.

Deanna Zhang focuses on energy technology business at Houston-based financial adviser Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co., and last year, she saw the energy transition hugely affected by both the pandemic and the drop in oil prices. She joins the show to share a bit about what she observed.

Houston-based InformAI is creating technology that taps into hospital data to better predict and diagnose medical issues, and CEO and Founder Jim Havelka says Houston and the Texas Medical Center have been essential to his company's success.

Mercury Fund was founded to find and fund the underrepresented entrepreneurs, and now Heath Butler, newly named network partner, is hoping to continue this effort by is focusing on entrepreneurs of color and female entrepreneurs, as well as the future of work.

The HX Venture Fund is working with several Houston organizations to host a February summit that will shine a national spotlight on Houston startups and bring venture capital to town. Guillermo Borda and Sandy Guitar, managing directors at the fund of funds, join the podcast to discuss Venture Houston — as well as the conference's $1.7 million pitch competition.

Companies across industries are looking to increase transparency and sustainability — and Validere's technology can do just that. The Canadian energy tech startup is growing at a rapid pace, and its Houston office is expanding as a result. Senior Vice President Nicole Rogers joins the show to discuss ESG, Houston, energy tech, and more.

Blair Garrou says he's never been busier, and while venture capital deals have been on a rollercoaster this year, he's looking forward to 2021. On this episode of the podcast, Blair discusses Houston's VC scene, recent Mercury Fund investments, and more, as well as what he's looking forward to in 2021.

Joy M. Hutton wears a lot of hats. The entrepreneur and consultant has also just joined Houston's Grow with Google Digital Coach program as the local leader and on the podcast today, she shares more details on the inclusion-focused program as well as some of the challenges she's overcome this year amid the pandemic.

As the COVID-19 vaccine begins being distributed to frontline workers this week, Adam Kuspa, president of Houston-based nonprofit, The Welch Foundation, discusses the years of research and support it's taken to make the quick response possible.

Deanea LeFlore joins the show to discuss the future of The Ion — opening in just a few months — and how she’s striving to make sure it represents Houston’s diverse population.

Fresh off of its seed round, NanoTech’s co-founder Mike Francis joins the show to discuss fireproofing California, why Houston is the place to be an entrepreneur, and more.

Jani Tuomi, co-founder of Imaware, a Houston-based digital testing and screening provider, and his team quickly released on of the first at-home COVID-19 tests earlier this year. Jani joins the show to discuss how he’s had to scale his startup amid a pandemic as well as how the health care industry has evolved in these unprecedented times.

In honor of InnovationMap’s second birthday, we’ve decided to turn the tables for this episode. Earlier this week, InnovationMap's editor, Natalie Harms, sat down with Grace Rodriguez, CEO and executive director of Impact Hub Houston, for a virtual fireside chat.

The newest member to Houston's bustling life sciences arena is Fiona Mack, recently named head of JLABS at TMC. Fiona joined the Houston incubator a few months ago and has been focused on getting familiar with the Houston innovation ecosystem. We’ll discuss what she has on her radar right now and what her early impressions of Houston have been.

When starting a business, driving social impact and profits aren't mutually exclusive anymore. Durg Kumar realized that and founded Knightsgate Ventures in Houston in 2018 to invest in companies hitting that sweet spot. Now, along with his business partner, Allen Bryant, Kumar is headed into Knightsgate's second fund.

Introducing The Listies — a new awards program from HX and InnovationMap. Harvin Moore and Serafina Lalany of HX join the show to discuss nominations and what to expect at the event next month.

Ayse McCracken founded the Ignite Healthcare Network to shine a spotlight on female entrepreneurs in the medical world. Join her and 35 startups for a pitch competition like none other — beginning tomorrow, October 22.

Marcelo Cordini, co-founder of December Labs, joins the show to talk about his company — a full-service design and development company with offices in Uruguay and Houston — and what the pandemic has meant for business and the evolution of the workforce.

Seamus Curran, a physics professor at the University of Houston and CEO and founder of Integricote and Curran Biotech, joins the show to discuss his nanotechnology work and a patented coating substance that he has invented and first used in construction industry. Now, he’s using the same technology to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by coating face masks and air filters.

Re:3D was founded to accomplish two goals: grow access to larger-scale 3D printing and seek sustainable options for manufacturing new items. Now, that's exactly what this Houston startup is doing — in its own fun and modern way. Samantha Snabes, co-founder, and Charlotte Craff, who oversees community relations, join the show to share what makes their company different and where the industry is headed.

New to his role of executive director of Rice University’s Liu Idea Lab for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Kyle Judah joins the show to discuss what all is on his to-do list and his first impressions of the Houston innovation ecosystem.

It's not a secret that the pandemic has had a great effect on coworking companies. However, The Cannon, which exists to help startups in more ways than just providing office space, has a solution: Virtual coworking.

Based on research from the Greater Houston Partnership, Josh Pherigo has identified Houston's tech niches — and some of them might surprise you.

Lenny Saizan and his team at Urban Capital Network launched their organization to foster inclusion among Houston's venture capital scene.

Sandy Guitar, who serves as managing director of the HX Venture Fund, wanted to create an organization for women in venture capital in Houston. So, she did. Now the collaborative of women is meeting virtually at a time where support is needed more than ever.

A former NASA specialist in robotics, Nicolaus Radford founded Houston Mechatronics to focus on developing cloud robotics that can operate underwater. Now, he's taking his company global.

Serafina Lalany has been working toward launching the HTX TechList — a one-stop shop for Houston innovation connections and data — for over a year. Now, the platform launches this week with a huge can't-miss virtual event on Thursday, August 13.

The innovations and Houston startups that came out of Hurricane Harvey are no coincidence. Richard Seline of ResilientH2O Partners joins the show to explain how he's helping foster new hurricane and flood prevention technologies in the Bayou City.

Is Houston on track to be a hub for autonomous vehicles? Sola Lawal of Nuro thinks so. The artificial intelligence and robotics company is focused on Houston growth — and even serving residents in low-income food deserts around town.

Most medical devices aren't connected to the internet, and Chris DuPont of Galen Data is creating a turn-key solution for the emerging medical device companies that are prioritizing connectivity and data. And, amid a global pandemic, this sort of quick solution is more important than ever.

Rebecca Vaught started her biotech company just ahead of COVID-19, but she shares on the Houston Innovators Podcast that it's meant more opportunities than challenges.

Denise Hamilton's life work is helping women navigate their careers and now is writing the book on how to be an ally amid #BlackLivesMatter — or rather, she's helping allies write it themselves. As the founder of WatchHerWork, she joins the show to share her thought leadership for women and for the African American community.

Juliana Garaizar was recently named to the team for Greentown Labs' Houston launch. She joins the show to discuss her focus on diversity and inclusion, what she's looking for in startups and corporate partners, and more.

As the pandemic hit, most entrepreneurs had only their own company to focus on keeping afloat. Aimee Woodall had her own creative agency — The Black Sheep Agency, a brand strategy for exclusively impact-based businesses — as well as its entire client list. On the show, she shares resources for advocates and social impact startups, as well as her thoughts on how companies and individuals can be more cognizant moving forward.

Travis Parigi isn't afraid of an oil downturn, but he couldn't have foreseen the effect COVID-19 would have on demand. He join the show to discuss how he's watching the market and looking to team up with a fellow Houston innovator through a strategic partnership.

Chris Buckner, co-founder and CEO of Mainline, a Houston-based esports software startup, shares how the pandemic has afforded his company both opportunities gor growth as well as challenges.

Eléonore Cluzel, director of gBETA Houston, joins the Houston Innovators Podcast to share how the cohort has been going — and to introduce each member of the inaugural cohort.

Camppedia — which Tudor Palaghita founded with his sister, Ana, in late 2018 — is an online marketplace that acts as a one-stop shop for parents looking for and managing local programming and activities for their kids. As the pandemic began to derail after school activities and summer plans, Palaghita quickly pivoted to provide essential needs like virtual offerings and connecting community members with new resources.

Fresh off a $17 million series B fundraising round for his SaaS startup, Liongard, Joe Alapat joins the show to discuss raising money during a pandemic, the growth of the Houston innovation ecosystem, and more.

Dean Paul Pavlou of Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston shares how the school quickly pivoted to online classes and services amid the COVID-19 crisis — and how he's taking that tech into future semesters.

Similar to other startups across town that have made pivots amid the COVID-19 crisis, Accel Lifestyle, a Houston-based athletic wear company, has quickly designed facemasks and created them by the thousands for individuals, companies, and hospital systems. Founder and CEO Megan Eddings and Director of Operations Amanda Cotler share their story on today's episode.

Amanda Ducach has been juggling leading her startup, entertaining her toddler, and caring for the rest of her family — and she is not alone. SocialMama, which just launched a new expert program that allows users access to health care professionals, exist to help support and connect moms — especially in the time of the COVID-19 crisis.

It's not the best time to be in the coworking business, and Lawson Gow, founder of The Cannon, which has three locations in Houston, has seen better days for his business. What Lawson is more worried about, however, is how Houston's innovation ecosystem will weather the storm that is COVID-19.

COVID-19 forced closed the majority of small businesses' physical space, which takes away from their ability to generate revenue. But, rent is still due — as are landlords' payments to their lender. Josh Feinberg discusses this quandary and how he thinks relief efforts will play out. Plus, he introduces his new fintech startup that could provide a solution.

Sean Guerre of Innovate Energy joins the Houston Innovators Podcast to share how energy startups are especially challenged in the current climate — from how COVID-19 is affecting business events to how the oversupply of oil is reeking havoc on the energy industry.

Kim Raath has transitioned to CEO of the startup she co-founded. She takes the helm of the blockchain-as-a-service company just as a global pandemic and expected recession is sweeping the planet, but to her, it's game on.