Ion District

Student Innovation Social
2023-11-10 17:30 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Ion – Academic Flex Space, 4201 Main St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
The Ion Student Ambassadors are excited to introduce the Student Innovation Social — an event designed for forward-thinking students like you.
What to Expect?

An interactive space where students across disciplines can connect and share ideas.
Opportunities to network with peers, fostering collaborations and fresh perspectives.

Don’t miss out on this chance to expand your network and engage in meaningful discussions.
This event is ideal for college students in business adjacent majors.
Join us and be a part of a growing community of innovators!

Ion Prototyping Lab Office Hours
2023-11-10 10:00 - 14:00, 2023-11-07 13:00 - 17:00, 2023-11-03 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 6500 sq. ft. 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 IPL – be sure to check out their website and sign up for their newsletter to stay connected! 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

Sewing 101 at Ion Prototyping Lab
2023-11-10 10:00 - 12:30 | Ion Prototyping Lab, 4201 Main St., Suite 170, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Join us at the Ion Prototyping Lab for Sewing 101, where you’ll learn the basics of sewing in an interactive workshop.
Ion Prototyping Lab has partnered with HTX Sewn Goods to bring you a 2.5-hour workshop where you’ll be introduced to the world of home sewing using a Singer sewing machine. This interactive session will cover essential topics such as threading, bobbin maintenance, and mastering the art of sewing straight and curved lines.
By the end of the Sewing 101 workshop, not only will you have gained hands-on experience, but you’ll also have your very own handcrafted bread basket to take home. Get ready to be inspired and unlock your creativity as you discover the joy of sewing, paving the way for countless future soft goods projects.
Take advantage of this exciting opportunity to learn a new skill and meet other sewing enthusiasts in your community. Register now to reserve your spot!

Ion Office Hours
2023-11-10 10:00 - 11:30, 2023-11-03 10:00 - 11:30, 2023-10-27 10:00 - 11:30 | Ion, 4201 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
How can our Office Hours at the Ion help you?
Office Hours at the Ion aims to support people coming to the Ion who are seeking their next step in taking their idea to an enterprise by creating pathways to the next steps toward success for entrepreneurs and small business owners. For example, maybe you have a draft business plan and need a mentor. Perhaps you are a small business and need funding. Or, maybe you are considering starting a business and need initial marketing support to develop a brand. That is where we can help!
Office Hours at the Ion exist to introduce people to the Ion and our events, resources, and programs that support the entrepreneurial journey.
This event is in collaboration with SCORE and SBA, who will be available to help entrepreneurs and small business owners execute their business idea. The Small Business Administration will be on-site the second Friday of the month. SCORE will have a table on-site each Friday.
Our office hours will occur immediately after our Cup of Joey networking event in the Lobby.

Cup of Joey
2023-11-10 08:30 - 10:30, 2023-11-03 08:30 - 10:30, 2023-10-27 08:30 - 10:30 | Ion, 4201 Main Street, 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.

Code 4 Y'all - Zero to Tech Job: Networking Secrets to Land Your Dream Role
2023-11-08 18:00 - 19:00 | Ion – Classroom 030, 4201 Main St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Have a passion for tech but don’t know where to start?
Networking is critical to landing your dream tech job, even if you have no prior experience. Join William Fermo, founder of 3 Bros Running Company, as he shares the networking secrets that helped him go from zero to a tech job in a month.
About William Fermo
I have an MBA, MD, and transitioned into a career in tech to start my own company. With my MBA it allows me to have a good understanding of what makes a profitable business. During my time in medicine as a global immigrant in the Philippines, I worked in stressful conditions where people’s lives depended on me. I always loved computers growing up and decided to make a career change in the Tech Industry by enrolling in a data science boot camp. Those 3 months were life-changing and I knew that this was what I wanted to do. Data is so important now and we are getting more data than people really know what to do with. Being able to take data to make a difference in the world is what motivates me as a data scientist. If you have a company, you need to be data-driven. I realized life is too short not to go for things you want and decided to start my own company called the 3 Bros Running Company.

The Art of The Possible: Full-Stack Observability
2023-11-08 17:30 - 18:30 | Ion – Forum Stairs, 4201 Main St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Full-Stack Observability: The Art of The Possible brings together industry experts, business leaders, technology enthusiasts, and thought leaders to explore and discuss the latest trends, innovations, and best practices in observability, monitoring, and the importance of understanding business impact and the proactive identification of root causes. Discover the vital role OpenTelemetry plays in collecting, managing, and leveraging telemetry data to gain insights into the performance, availability, and health of modern applications.
Xigent looks forward to discussing The Art of The Possible within the realm of Application Performance Monitoring / Full-Stack Observability.
Don’t miss the opportunity to network, learn, and exchange ideas with experts in the field. Mark your calendars and RSVP today!

Coffee and Conversation with the Swiss Government
2023-11-08 10:00 - 12:00 | Ion, 4201 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Add something Xtra to your day. Enjoy complimentary specialty coffee, collect exclusive Swiss Xtra premium branded merchandise, and meet with members of the Swiss government team to learn more about the World’s most innovative country.*
As part of Switzerland’s new X marks the spot campaign, the Swiss government is coming to Houston to provide something Xtra to business audiences by sharing more about the country’s innovation, partner benefits, and tips for Xponential growth.
Houston and Switzerland maintain strong business connections in various sectors, fostering a robust economic relationship. The free event offers guests the chance to meet with senior government officials including Consul General Urs Brönnimann and Honorary Consul John Bernhard who will be on hand to talk about partnership opportunities to help Texas businesses thrive locally and in Europe.
The Houston event is the third and final leg of the X marks the spot multi-faced marketing campaign roadshow featuring a series of casual and informative gatherings that have taken place across Texas throughout October and November. The campaign features branded electric vehicles, advertising kiosks, local radio advertising, digital advertising, a mobile digital unit touring around Austin, Dallas, and Houston, and sponsored events.
Specialty coffee will be provided by the Common Bond.
* Switzerland was recently listed as ‘World’s Most Innovative Country” for the thirteenth consecutive year by the UN WIPOs Global Innovation Index.
For further details about the events and to receive information on how Switzerland can provide amazing opportunities for Texas businesses and universities to be Xtra and thrive, click here.

Velostics Raise a Glass to Another Round
2023-11-07 17:00 | Second Draught, 4201 Main St., Suite 130, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Join us at Second Draught in celebrating Velostics in the fifth iteration of Raise a Glass to Another Round!
About Velostics
Velostics, Inc., a Houston, TX-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) company specializing in unified scheduling, raised $1.95m in a seed+ funding round.
The round was led by current investors Starboard Star with participation from Flyover Capital, Small Ventures USA, and new investor Capital Mazapil.
The company intends to use the funds to grow its network of shippers and their brokers, freight forwarders, and 3PL providers.
Register today and you will receive one drink ticket that can be redeemed at Second Draught!

Houston Robotics Group at Ion Prototyping Lab
2023-11-04 14:00 - 17:00, 2023-10-28 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!

Aramco Ventures Office Hours at the Ion
2023-11-03 10:30 - 12:00 | Ion – Lower Level, 4201 Main St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Representatives from Aramco North America’s corporate venturing arm, Aramco Ventures, will be onsite at the Ion every other Friday right after “Cup of Joey” from 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM to meet with startups and and entrepreneurs interested in discussing their company or technology with Aramco’s investment team.
Aramco is a world-leading integrated energy and chemicals company. The mission of their strategic venturing program is to invest globally into start-up and high-growth companies with technologies of strategic importance to Aramco, and to accelerate their development and deployment across Aramco’s operations.
Prior to registering, you are encouraged to read more about Aramco Ventures’ investment philosophy and portfolio companies here: https://aramcoventures.com/
Please note that space is limited, and meetings are allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis. Should you have any questions, please email Ragen Doyle, Corporate Engagement Officer, at rdoyle@ionhouston.com.

Houston Methodist Tech Hub Office Hours
2023-11-03 10:00 - 12:00 | Ion, 4201 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Houston Methodist Tech Hub at Ion will host a series of Office Hours through the end of 2023. Interested in meeting the team and sharing your ideas? Fill out our sign-up form in order to be added to our email list, where we will share upcoming events, office hours registration, and our e-newsletter.
Remaining 2023 Office Hours:

Oct 27th, 10am-12pm
Nov 3rd, 10am-12pm
Nov 17th, 10am-12pm
Dec 1st, 10am-12pm
Dec 15th, 10am-12pm

Visionary Voices: Innovating for the Future with United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby
2023-11-01 10:00 - 11:30 | Ion – Forum Stairs, 4201 Main St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Join us at the Ion on Wednesday, November 1 for an unmissable morning with one of the aviation industry’s foremost leaders, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby.
This unique event, led by Rice University President Reginald DesRoches with United Airlines Ventures Managing Director Andrew Chang, offers a unique opportunity to hear from a Fortune 500 CEO and gain insights into United Airlines’ unwavering commitment to sustainability and innovation, and the company’s strategic initiatives for addressing climate change within the aviation industry. Discover how United is harnessing technology and investing in emerging companies that have the potential to influence the future of travel sustainably. Limited tickets are available, so reserve your spot today!
During the fireside chat, Scott Kirby will share the inspiring story of United Airlines’ journey towards sustainable aviation, its cutting-edge innovations to reduce environmental impact and why United is investing in Houston’s rapidly growing innovation ecosystem. Additional networking opportunities will be available pre and post-event to continue the dialogue and expand your network among forward-thinking peers.
For questions related to this event, please email Ragen Doyle, Corporate Engagement Specialist, at rdoyle@ionhouston.com.

Greentown Labs Houston Climatetech Summit 2023
2023-11-01 08:00 - 19:00 | Greentown Labs, 4200 San Jacinto St, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
The Greentown Labs Climatetech Summit is a deep dive into accelerating deployment through collaboration. Climatetech entrepreneurs are developing the solutions that are the core of global decarbonization, yet they need support and partnership from investors, policymakers, and the growing climatetech workforce in order to scale their critical technologies. The energy transition is here, and the climatetech ecosystem needs your involvement to propel climatetech out into the world.
On Wednesday, November 1 and Thursday, November 2, we’re inviting you, your colleagues, and all the climate champions in your life into Greentown Labs’ Houston, TX and Boston, MA incubators for a day of hands-on exploration with our 200+ startups and their climatetech solutions; keynotes and sessions featuring leaders across climatetech, finance, policy, and justice; and networking with key climate action pioneers.
We’ll highlight the momentum our startups, corporate partners, and ecosystem champions have been building together, how these collaborations will chart the course for climatetech deployment, and how everyone can play a role in commercializing climate technologies.

Ion Prototyping Lab Office Hours
2023-10-31 13:00 - 17:00, 2023-10-27 10:00 - 14:00 | Ion, 4201 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77002, United States

Hispanic Heritage Month: Plaza Tec - Celebrating Hispanic Innovators
2023-10-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Ion – Forum Stairs, 4201 Main St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Join us for a networking reception with Houston-area graduates of Tec de Monterrey (Mexico). The event features a fireside chat with Tec de Monterrey alum Fernando de la Peña discussing advances in “holographic teletransportation.”
Fernando serves as Chief Executive Officer of Aexa Aerospace, which provides creative solutions for training and operational support using mixed reality and virtual reality through their HoloWizard application. Tec de Monterrey alum Javier Carro, COO, Blue People will moderate the discussion.
Plaza Tec is an educational and networking series at the Ion designed to spotlight and celebrate Houston’s Latinx community.
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Agility at Scale (P. 1)
2023-10-27 10:00 - 11:00 | Ion – Classroom 029-031, 4201 Main St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Global Custom Commerce (GCC), a Home Depot company, in collaboration with Ion, is thrilled to present a new, educational event series, “Agility at Scale,” designed to equip startups and corporates alike with the knowledge and strategies to thrive in today’s dynamic market. In this four-part series, industry experts from GCC, a trailblazing tech company formerly known as Blinds.com, will guide you through the dynamic landscape of innovation mindsets, the art of recruiting for a culture of excellence, strategies for scaling effectively, and the best practices for achieving agility at scale.
Discover new insights, gain actionable strategies, and connect with like-minded professionals who are passionate about fostering innovation and growth. Whether you’re a startup looking to establish a strong foundation or an established corporation seeking to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing business environment, “Agility at Scale,” is for you.
Series topics and dates include:
October 27, 2023 – Agile Mindset and Culture: Embark on a transformative journey into the world of agility at scale with this introductory session. Gain a foundational understanding of the principles and concepts that will set the stage for a dynamic series, and then dive deep into cultivating an agile mindset across your organizations, from recruitment to metrics. Learn why burns up trump Gantt charts and explore the power of BUM.
November 17, 2023 – Fireteams: Uncover the history and principles of these high-performing teams with discussions on passing down autonomy while maintaining responsibility. Learn why there is no “chief architect,” and why the product manager (PM) ≠ CEO of a product.
January 05, 2024 – Scaling Up: Navigate the complexities of scaling, from managing budgets and deadlines to defining clear boundaries for stories, epics, and projects.
February 09, 2024 – Common Mistakes and Lessons Learned: Benefit from GCC’s agile journey by examining their mistakes and lessons learned. Gain valuable insights to avoid common pitfalls in your own agile transformation.
For more information about the series, email Ragen Doyle, Corporate Engagement Officer, at rdoyle@ionhouston.com.

NASA Tech Talks
2023-10-26 18:00 - 19:30 | 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.

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 (JSC) 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.

Join us after the talk for drinks and networking at Second Draught!

Past NASA Tech Talks have included : Montgomery B. Goforth discussing NASA Intellectual Property suitable for commercialization by small/start-up companies and Jared Daum discussing Orion’s parachutes and risk identification and mitigation that are showstoppers for the spaceflight parachute industry. Future NASA Tech Talks will include: dual-use (space/terrestrial) technologies in the areas of:

Avionics / Communication / Sensors
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for ultra-long lived wireless sensors
Power Storage and Distribution
Autonomous & Robotics Systems
Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) Systems
Virtual/Augmented Reality in Human Spaceflight Training & Execution
Human Health & Performance / Human Systems Research

The 2023 series finale will feature Dr. Tim Crain, Co-Founder and CTO of Intuitive Machines (IM) presenting a Tech Talk in three acts:

From Napkin to NASDAQ: IM’s hero’s journey story as one of the few companies in the HTX ecosystem to go from an idea written on a napkin, through two pivots as a struggling startup, to a publicly traded company about to make history.
The “Reverse Pitch”: Tim gives three or four examples of areas of common need amongst space companies (including IM) that some enterprising/innovative/bold entrepreneurs in this ecosystem could rise to the challenge and meet. It could start as a small business where you have a customer or customers almost from day one. But then maybe it can grow to something bigger. So, if there is a Steve Jobs in the audience who knows a Steve Wozniak, perhaps they can put their minds together and start the next Apple for the new Space age.
Q&A

The objective is to expand the horizon of the JSC-support aerospace community in HTX to include tech entrepreneurs and the tech-oriented public. It’s time to get excited about what’s happening in commercial space right here in HTX as we show how JSC is enabling these opportunities to flourish — because Houston is still in the moonshot business!

About the Speakers
Dr. Timothy P. Crain: Tim received his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas, a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow and Assistant Instructor. He began his professional career in 2000 at the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, TX, where he was a lead engineer in the Engineering Directorate’s Aeroscience and Flight Mechanics Division. During his tenure at JSC, he worked on the navigation design for Mars Science Lander and was the Orbit Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) System Manager for the Orion spacecraft. In 2009, Crain became the Flight Dynamics lead for NASA’s Project Morpheus that followed a low-cost, lean project development model to build and flight test a terrestrial version of a lunar lander incorporating advanced liquid methane propulsion, precision landing, and autonomous hazard detection and avoidance. The experience on Morpheus demonstrated how small teams of motivated engineers could rapidly innovate and apply available and emerging technologies to solve tough technical problems effectively. This was a primary motivation for Crain co-founding Intuitive Machines with Kam Ghaffarian Ph. D and Mr. Steve Altemus in 2013. Dr. Crain is a recipient of the NASA JSC Center Director’s Commendation Award, the Outstanding Young Texas Ex Award, UT Outstanding Young Engineering Graduate Award, Orion Flight Dynamics Leadership Award, and a finalist for the NASA Rotary Mid Career Stellar Award. He is a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the American Astronautical Society (AAS), where he is an annual national chair, and he’s on the board of directors at the AAS Rocky Mountain section’s Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference.
Montgomery B. Goforth serves as the Assistant Director, Strategic Pursuits & Partnerships – Engineering Directorate, NASA JSC.
Mr. Goforth has more than 30 years of experience as both Engineer and Manager in a variety of highly technical space and defense-related efforts. He joined NASA in 1990 as part of the Mission Operations Directorate, working on planning systems and automated procedure execution tools for the International Space Station (ISS). He became Deputy Project Manager for the Portable Computer System, the laptop used for command and control of the ISS, in 1996, and ultimately became Chief of the Branch responsible for all laptops onboard ISS and the Space Shuttle.
In 2002 he moved to the ISS Avionics and Software Office as Manager of the Flight Software Development Office and later served as Chief Engineer. In 2005 he spent several months at NASA Headquarters working in the Robotics Lunar Exploration Program. In 2006 he joined the Constellation Program as Chief of Avionics and Software Test and Verification and became Chief of the Software and Avionics Integration Office in 2007. In this role he was responsible for leading a large nation-wide Systems Engineering & Integration (SE&I) organization which provided program-level coordination, oversight, integration and management of the system-of-systems avionics and software, including the coordination of integrated modeling and simulation and test activities across the Constellation program and the technical integration of Constellation’s Command, Control, Communications, and Information (C3I) architecture.

In 2011, he joined the Avionic Systems Division to support their Strategic Planning and Partnership efforts. In 2015, he moved on to Engineering Directorate Staff to support Strategic Pursuits and Partnerships. In this role, he put together a framework to better focus Engineering’s efforts toward Human Spaceflight technology and systems development consistent with JSC and Agency goals for exploration. This framework guides 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). Prior to coming to Johnson Space Center, he was employed by a small defense contractor specializing in anti-submarine warfare.

Biketoberfest
2023-10-26 17:00 - 20:00 | Ion Plaza, 4201 Main St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Celebrate fall in Houston on Thursday, October 26, from 5 – 8 PM with a coordinated bike ride with BikeHouston and a happy hour on the Ion Plaza. This 7-mile ride through Midtown, Downtown, and the Museum District will start and end at Second Draught. There will also be sponsor booths, face painting, inflatable games, and live music on the plaza provided by The Slags. Come early to snag an Ion bicycle water bottle, event t-shirt, and free pretzels provided by The Lymbar, while supplies last!
This event is free to attend, but registration is required at the link below. Any option to donate when registering is available and the proceeds go back to local non-profits BikeHouston, Bunker Labs, and HTX4Ukraine.

Innovation on Tap: Anshumali Shrivastava, Rice University
2023-10-26 17:00 - 19:00 | Ion, 4201 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Featured Speaker: Anshumali Shrivastava, Associate Professor, Computer Science, Rice University, and CEO and Co-Founder of ThirdAI.
Anshumali Shrivastava’s research focuses on Large Scale Machine Learning, Scalable and Sustainable Deep Learning, Randomized Algorithms for Big-Data and Graph Mining. ThirdAI builds hash-based processing algorithms that accelerate training and inference of neural networks. The technology is a result of 10 years of innovation in finding fundamental ways to make deep learning more efficient. Our research has demonstrated how we can make commodity x86 CPUs 15x faster than state of the art NVIDIA GPUs for training large neural networks. This demonstration has shaken the common knowledge prevailing in the AI community that specialized processors like GPUs are superior to CPUs for training neural networks.
We invite attendees to join the featured speaker and event attendees for networking at Second Draught after the talk.
In Partnership with Rice University’s Office of Alumni Relations series – Brains in a Bar. Brains in a Bar mixes mixes socializing and learning in a fun and casual environment. Grab a drink and hear from a lineup of incredible Rice faculty and staff!
About Innovation on Tap: Disruptive Technology Talks with Houston’s Leading Researchers
Industrial innovation is in the DNA of Houston (energy, health, space, and transportation), and the Ion is at the forefront of moving the city to become a technology destination, a central place where we support bold moves that embrace the innovation economy at an industrial scale. The Ion is a place where we accelerate disruption by connecting people and ideas to create a future that will not only change Houston but change the world.
Ion Innovation on Tap lecture series is focused on bridging world-leading academic research to the broader innovation ecosystem, creating connections and partnerships that will not only accelerate translation and commercialization but form relationships that will drive future fundamental advances needed to address fundamental problems like decarbonization, personalized health care, and create resilient and sustainable livable communities.
Examples of disruptive technology include but are not limited to AI and machine learning, robotics, synthetic biology, neuro-engineering, nano-materials, cyber security, imaging, blockchain, and quantum computing.
The lecture series will feature leading researchers spanning engineering, science, and design, showcasing advanced technology and innovation from academic research labs and programs. Largely inaccessible and buried in journals and conference proceedings, technology will be presented in an accessible TED-style lecture format with ample networking opportunities. The disruptive technology lecture series will serve as a magnifying glass connecting fundamental technology to people and organizations that can benefit and help activate technology through commercialization. More than that, the lecture series will serve as a front door for collaboration between researchers and industry partners and/or the formation of new technology startups that will help establish Ion and Houston as a global hub for innovation.

Perfecting Your Pitch
2023-10-25 17:30 - 18:30 | Ion – Classroom 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.

Transwestern's Tech on Tap
2023-10-25 17:00 - 20:00 | Ion – Forum Stairs, 4201 Main St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Transwestern’s Technology Properties Group presents a data-centric happy hour on Wednesday, October 25 from 5 – 8 PM at the Ion. Join them for a thought-provoking panel, including individuals from 11:11 Systems, Data Canopy, Digital Realty, and Netrality to discuss the state of the Texas Data Center Market. Drinks and light bites will be available.
Register today!
