AI Tech & Startup Night I Houston

Kick off Houston Energy & Climate Startup Week in the Ion District! Join founders, investors, corporate leaders, researchers, and innovators from across Houston and beyond as we officially launch a week dedicated to advancing the future of energy and climate innovation. The evening begins with a keynote program featuring leaders from Houston's energy and climate ecosystem who are helping shape what's next for the industry. Following the program, explore the Ion during a building-wide Open House featuring startup showcases, corporate partners, technology demonstrations, and opportunities to connect with the organizations driving innovation across the region. Then head outside for our signature Block Party on the plaza with live music, drinks, bites from Ion District restaurants, and networking with the people building Houston's innovation ecosystem. Whether you're attending Houston Energy & Climate Startup Week for the first time or returning for another year, this is the perfect way to connect, discover, and kick off an exciting week of programming. Schedule 4:30 PM | Check-in 5:00–6:00 PM | Kickoff Program 6:00–8:00 PM | Ion Open House & Block Party

Join us to celebrate the launch of Activate Houston's 2026 Cohort and discover the breakthrough technologies they're building to solve some of the world's biggest challenges. Anning Corporation: Pioneering geologic hydrogen through advanced geoscience and stimulation technologies, creating a scalable low-cost, clean energy Brint Tech: Building optical sensing systems that quantify hydrogen, giving infrastructure operators the data to scale safely and credibly Simora Core: Building rare-earth free, contact-free electric motors with wireless rotors for everything from small appliances to vehicles and heavy industry Nivera: Developing natural composite coatings and packaging materials that reduce food waste and sustainably extends the shelf life of fresh food Orbital Arc: Creating electric propulsion on a microtrip to power movement in space at an unmatched scale, speed, and cost Renesin: Developing advanced materials that enable faster, more efficient AI hardware Selerra Separations: Engineering high-performance membranes that cut the cost and energy consumption of water treatment without compromising durability or water quality SwieNitro Recovery: Transforming nitrogen-rich waste streams into valuable fertilizer through a low-energy ammonia recovery platform Also, learn more about our C25 cohort: Biosimo: Enabling the chemical industry's net-zero transition by replacing fossil-based essential chemicals with identical quality ones made from bio-ethanol Brightlight Photonics: Replacing tabletop laser systems with chip-scale titanium:sapphire lasers—bringing lab-grade performance to quantum technologies, diagnostics, and advanced manufacturing in a package that’s 100x smaller and cheaper Deep Anchor Solutions: Compact anchor making offshore energy viable in new and remote markets worldwide by enabling faster, cheaper deployment of floating renewables FlowCellutions: Chemistry-agnostic diagnostics for grid-scale batteries KIRA: Reimagining desalination expanding access t

Back by popular demand—join us for the THIRD annual New Climate Ventures Afterparty, a can't-miss evening of informal mingling during Houston Energy + Climate Startup Week. We're taking it outdoors this year for an open-air night of drinks, music, and unfiltered connection at Axelrad, a short walk from the Ion and Greentown Labs. (Don’t worry - there’s cover if it rains). No panels. Just cold drinks, food, and good vibes with the people building the future of energy + climate tech. Featured Startups: XGS Energy Nxlite Mariana Minerals Helix Earth Dimensional Energy Syzygy Plasmonics Many thanks to our sponsors, led by Stifel with special thanks to Fluor, H&C Search, Goodwin & Energytech Cypher for their continued sponsorship support. Also, thank you to our global ecosystem partner Investors 4 Climate and our Texas ecosystem partner Crowley Capital. Finally, thank you to the partners organizing HECSW: Greentown Labs, Houston Energy Transition Initiative, Rice Alliance, Activate, Halliburton Labs, The Ion, and TEX-E. Stay tuned for more exciting updates over the coming weeks!

Networking and check in are from 11:30am - 12pm Lunch and presentation are from 12pm - 1pm