Houston saddles up for the Tech Rodeo, a week of events and empowerment for the local startup ecosystem
Throughout the first week of March, Houston startups, angel investors, accelerators, and other local players in the tech arena will convene for a host of pitch competitions, empowering entrepreneurial workshops, and panels that address everything from marketing to the nuts and bolts of angel investing. This week-long Tech Rodeo kicks off at Karbach Brewery on Monday, where you can sip a Weekend Warrior and hear what makes Houston's venture capital culture different from other innovation ecosystems. Panelists will also talk about their own experience raising funds in this local culture.
The schedule includes event tracks in the following six areas:
- Networking
- Investors
- Founders
- Women in Tech
- Sports Tech
- Diversity and Inclusion
There are events curated for every experience range, from entrepreneurs with their newly-minted elevator pitches to the VCs looking to invest in company #364.
1. Networking Event Highlights
New to the startup scene and want to dig in sans social anxiety?
Regardless of how you’d like to plug in to the tech community, there’s a party or panel for that this week.
Intro to Fundraising in Texas and Ask Me Anything
What: An overview from experienced entrepreneurs and angel investors
When: March 1 | 12-1p
Where: Station Houston
Houston Tech Rodeo Kickoff Event
What: A panel event- with beer, yay!- where venture capitalists will talk about Houston’s startup ecosystem and give advice about raising funds
When: March 1 | 4 - 6:30p
Where: Karbach Brewery
Houston Super Meetup
What: Nine local tech meetups have joined forces for a night of VR, drinks, and networking. If you’re into data visualization, data science, IOT, or hackster hardware, you’ll find your tribe here.
When: March 1 | 6 - 8p
Where: Ion Houston
2. Investors Event Highlights
Investors Club
What: A happy hour setting for investors to chat
When: March 3 | 4 - 6p
Where: The Square with Industrious (pictured below)
Tech Rodeo Elevator Pitch Competition
What: Pitchees will literally ride in elevators with investors to get their shot at securing funding. All are welcome to attend this event.
When: March 6 | 5:30 - 6:30p
Where: H-town Incubator
Above: Pitch competitors will literally ride the H-town incubator elevators and pitch their startup to investors from Capital Factory
Angel 101
What: This is an intro to angel investing and includes topics like making your first investment, anticipated returns, executing exits, and more.
When: March 4 | 1 - 3p
Where: Shell Auditorium, Rice University
3. Founders Event Highlights
How do entrepreneurs build their digital or physical production/delivery engine?
What: A workshop that helps founders build a production and delivery engine for their startup in as little as two months.
When: March 3 | 3 - 5p
Where: The Cannon
Conventional Financing for Your Tech Business
What: Hear from business lenders from U.S. SBA on how/if your startup could utilize this funding option.
When: March 3 | 9 - 11a
Where: Houston Exponential
4. Women in Tech Event Highlights
Women in Science and Beyond
What: A panel of women scientists will discuss their challenges and lessons learned as they rose in their fields to help others tackle their career issues as well.
When: March 4 | 5 - 7p
Where: UH Technology Bridge
Premier Talks: Women in Innovation and Technology
What: A panel of distinguished women in the workforce will talk about what is means to work in the male-dominated tech space and why we as females should take the limits off of our thinking
When: March 6 | 9:15 - 11a
Where: Ion Accelerator and Prototyping Lab
5. Sports Tech Event Highlights
HTXsportstech.com Launch Event
What: HTX Sports Tech is a local, innovative consulting ecosystem that builds and scales sports-driven startups. This event is a chance to mingle with the founders.
When: March 3 | 5 - 7p
Where: WeWork Labs downtown
Above: The WeWork Lab located in downtown Houston
6. Diversity and Inclusion Event Highlights
Diversity's Impact on Innovation: An HTX Tech Rodeo Event with DivInc
What: DivInc empowers and enables underrepresented founders and shifts their entrepreneurial mindsets to foster business growth. This event will cover the topic of Inclusion in Tech: Why does it matter?
When: March 3 | 5:30 - 9p
Where: The Ion
baMa Launch Event
What: baMa is a business angels minority association whose mission is to support investment through minority-led startups. This event is an opportunity to learn more about their values, network, and listen to pitches from two diverse startups.
When: March 6 | 8 - 10a
Where: The Cannon Tower- Amegy Conference Center
Get Your Geek On
Whatever your role is in the tech sphere, this city’s got something for you this week. Educated ladies, beer, blockchain, and diversity. Let’s rodeo, Houston!