Global Sponsors

Google for Startups

Google is committed to empowering entrepreneurs around the world through programs, partnerships, and our products.

Heroku

Heroku is a cloud-based, platform-as-a-service (PaaS) that gives startups a powerful solution for building, deploying, and operating their business-critical apps. The Heroku platform is fully-managed, meaning that we take care of servers, hardware, and infrastructure, so you can keep your team lean and focused on product. Heroku grows with your business — use a range of free services to get established and then scale up with increased usage.

Local Sponsors

True Wealth Ventures

Investing in Gender Matters. We see value in the impact of women. True Wealth Ventures invests in smart female entrepreneurs, from consumer health innovators to sustainable product pioneers. Women-led companies have proven they deliver higher returns. It’s time to invest in new perspectives.

Decode Digital

Decode Digital is a full-service digital marketing agency headquartered in Houston, TX. Our focus on data, analytics, and audience insights has fueled our success. Over the past two years, we have been awarded more AMA Crystal Awards than any other agency in Houston. These awards are 100% based on results—not just who has the flashiest campaign. Our commitment to meaningful results above all else is what sets Decode Digital apart.

AWIS ACH

The Association for Women In Science Gulf Coast Houston chapter (AWIS GCH) is dedicated to supporting women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEM) across all disciplines and employment sectors in the Texas Gulf Coast and Houston region by providing opportunities to participate in professional networking, mentoring, and leadership activities.

Jack Gill Foundation

In 1997, Linda & Jack Gill established The Gill Foundation of Texas to formalize the Gill family’s involvement in education. The Gill Foundation of Texas focuses on providing Scholarships for economically disadvantaged students; creating Centers of Excellence in technical fields (e.g., cardiovascular sciences, neurosciences and entrepreneurial programs for scientists, engineers & physicians); and creating seminars and programs to promote Interdisciplinary Collaboration at universities.

The Goose Society of Texas

The GOOSE Society has a proven track record, diverse expertise and an extensive network that reaches both coasts. The GOOSE Society of Texas was established in 2005 by Jack Gill, a legendary Silicon Valley venture capitalist, and Rod Canion, the founder and CEO of Compaq computers. GOOSE is now comprised of twenty-one members.

Longwood Ventures

Longwood Ventures is an advisory firm focused on identification and resolution of organizational, structural, and operational concerns for businesses in a wide variety of industries. The foundation of our business is based upon advising in service industries with a current focus in healthcare and environmental services.

Zoho

Interested in learning best practices to streamline your business' finances? Join one of Zoho's free finance seminars to learn how you can successfully manage everything from expense policies and analytics to approval workflows, invoicing, inventory, and more with one suite. Register now. Free breakfast and lunch included!

Breakthrough Radio

Breakthrough radio delivers weekly knowledgeable expertise and real-life examples for how to master the inner and outer game of business. Breakthrough Radio connects entrepreneurs globally, nationally, regionally and locally.

Plasyn

Plasyn is a viable business tool that functions for our customers to improve their business. At it's center, our service provides revenue to Hosts who then provide access for Guests at market rates into their unique workplaces

Houston Professional + Young Professionals

The Houston Professional + Houston Young Professionals mission is to foster business development by building relationships for career progression via educational events and power networking mixers.

Partners

Young Hustler Coffee

Young Hustler delivers the best-handpicked coffee from around the world, and motivation messages from up and coming entrepreneurs directly to your door with free shipping. Unlike motivational Apps that offer a daily dose of inspiration. YHC offers genuine motivation by up-coming entrepreneurs. It's like having a mentor with your every step of the way.

Plug and Play Tech Center

Plug and Play is the ultimate innovation platform, bringing together the best startups and the world’s largest corporations.

Red Labs

RED Labs is the University of Houston's coworking space, startup accelerator, and technology entrepreneurship program. Supported by the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship, we work with UH-affiliated founders (faculty, students, and recent alumni of the past 6 months) to turn their startup ideas into reality.

Alcove

A laptop case that unfolds into a mobile workstation.

Owl Spark

Established in 2012, OwlSpark was founded to ignite a passion for entrepreneurship within the Rice community. OwlSpark provides hands-on entrepreneurship experiences and a roadmap from innovation to commercialization.

Rice University

Set in the heart of Houston, Texas, the nation’s fourth-largest city, Rice is a comprehensive research university that fosters diversity and an intellectual environment that produces the next generation of leaders and advances tomorrow’s thinking.

Grant Source

We can simply help any business or non-profit get acess to grants and resources to secure therm. It is a modern platform in a mobile app that even a kid could use!

Patient Fire

At Patent Fire we break away from the conventional model of filing patents. We handle your innovation as state of the art technology project. We have moved patent filing to an efficient workflow task based process

MassChallenge Texas

MassChallenge Texas is the second domestic and sixth international location in MassChallenge’s global network. The region launched in 2018 in Austin, Texas and accelerated 84 companies from 5 continents, 11 countries, and 5 major Texas cities. In 2019, the program expanded to Houston, attracting more startups from around the world to the Lone Star State.

Alice

Meet Alice, the business advisor who knows just what you need to grow your company

SXSW

From March 9-17, the SXSW Conference provides an opportunity for global professionals at every level to participate, learn, and network.

Lone Star Veterans Association

Building the community of veterans means creating opportunities for veterans to come together, to connect, to share stories, to feel a part of a whole, and to help one another. We've Been There, and we'll be there for you too.

B3ond

B3OND surveys efficiently establish a baseline of current gaps or potential issues across a range of risk areas, including sexual harassment.

Benjys in the Village

American Restaurant · New American Restaurant · Bar

Local Foods

Local Foods is a culinary expression of all things local, reflecting the soul of our community. We work with our local farmers, growers and purveyors to source products with integrity and flavor, which results in honest, straightforward food.

GotSpot

GotSpot is a company that exists to help enterprises & communities grow through an innovative sharing of resources. We've created a platform that connects small enterprises with available, commercial spaces being underutilized during off-peak hours.

Tea & Victory

Board Game Cafe featuring over 600 games, fantastic English-inspired food, tea, coffee, beer, & wine.

Accenture Innovation Hub

Located in the heart of downtown Houston, we’re leading the digital revolution for resources and industrial companies as well as for our city.

Founder Institute

The world's largest pre-seed accelerator.

Cubio Innovation Center

CUBIO is where you can find your business partner, employee, mentor, vendor or investor. CUBIO membership provides more than a professional, all-inclusive, fully furnished office suite. It’s about becoming part of a local community that has a global reach. Our 16,000 square feet of co-working space provides a physical location that gathers entrepreneurs, startups, investors, pharmaceutical and consulting companies, and many more from the US and China to collaborate in Houston’s Medical District.

The Artemis Fund

Capitalizing on the proven value of gender diversity, The Artemis Fund is the first female-focused VC fund in Houston.

Bunker Labs Houston

Bunker Labs – a 501(c)(3) non-profit – is a national network of veteran entrepreneurs dedicated to helping new veteran entrepreneurs start their own business.

The Cannon

A co-working ecosystem for Houston's entrepreneurs, small businesses, freelancers, and creatives.

Capital Factory

Working at Capital Factory is about being part of a community. We meet the best entrepreneurs in Texas and introduce them to their first investors, employees, mentors, and customers.

Enventure

Through interactive programming, Enventure provides inspiration, hands-on learning, networking, and the tools to support and grow a life science venture.

Goose Society of Texas

The GOOSE Society has a proven track record, diverse expertise and an extensive network that reaches both coasts.

The Houston Angel Network

The Houston Angel Network (HAN) is the oldest angel network in Texas and most active angel network in the USA.

Houston Exponential - HX

HOUSTON SOLVES PROBLEMS THAT MATTER Houston Exponential (HX) is a non-profit organization created to accelerate the growth of Houston’s innovation ecosystem.

Impact Hub Houston

Impact Hub Houston is a locally rooted, globally-connected, nonprofit organization that inspires, connects and empowers people working to solve social problems in our city and around the world.

Let's Launch

Lets Launch is an online community that provides investors with access to investment opportunities in private businesses seeking capital and support

Mercury Fund

Mercury Fund is an early-stage venture capital firm. With over $275 million under management, Mercury focuses on entrepreneurs and technology innovation originating in the U.S. Midcontinent. Our investment themes target SaaS, Cloud, and Data Science/AI platforms that make the industrial ecosystems of Middle America more competitive and efficient

Pitch-a-Kid-Houston

Our MIssion - To connect every kid around the world to entrepreneurship. Our Goal - Teach our kids entrepreneurship and help entrepreneurs communicate effectively by delivering a pitch competition where the kids are the judges and they tap into their critical thinking skills. We serve in three ways with our educational based driven startup: Schools/educators Entrepreneurs/Startups Companies/internal teams Which one of those doors are you?

Nefer Games

OUR MISSION We are dedicated to creating tools and environments of play which are beautiful and wonderful. #SEDIS is in a kickstarter right now. http://bit.ly/sedisgame

My Family Plan

Help 21st Century Families Stay Connected With FamPlan, the same technologies that once isolated individuals can be used to draw you closer together. Advance Family Effectiveness At MyFamilyPlan, we are passionate about doing everything we can to make your family more effective… so you can focus on #DoMoreHappy! Prepare Digital Children Our children are the first generation in history to grow up with Smartphones in their hand. We must teach them to use them responsibly.

Group Raise

Fundraising made easy. Fundraise at Local Restaurants and organize delicious restaurant fundraisers for non-profit groups online!