Wade's Wayseeker - Ion's Activation Festival 2023 (May 17-19)

AN OPEN INVITE TO SHOW UP!!! May 17-19, the Ion welcomes the Houston innovation community celebrate Activation Festival 2023. This second annual event is designed to showcase the Ion's programs, physical space (including a state-of-the-art prototyping lab) and community.

As a HouTech scene enthusiast and contributor, I often create a Google Doc for myself summarizing the schedule, speakers and session topics for significant events. With Ion Activation Festival 2023 just around the corner May 17-19, I decided to share my notes with the HouTech community here in a LinkedIn article. This year's Activation Festival promises to be a fantastic opportunity for entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, and corporates to network and learn about the latest innovations in various fields.

While I'm planning to be there for most of the sessions, I'll be be directly involved in these: What’s Next, Now: Ion District Showcase?Wed May 17 5:00-7:00pm (stop by the Improving booth!), Cup of Joey: Special 2 Year Anniversary Edition Fri May 19 8:30-10:30, Subject Matter Expert (SME) Office Hours + Mingle Lounges Fri May 19?1:30-2:30pm; Ion Block Party: Innovation on DisPLAY?Fri May 19 5:00-8:00pm (I've list summary of every session further below.)

FAQs - Sound interesting, but not sure it it's for you? Things you might want to know about the Ion and Activation Festival:

• What is the Ion? Houston aims to become a hub for innovation by creating the Ion District to foster collaboration across sectors and skill levels. The Ion, the first of The Ion District's planned office buildings located at 4201 Main St., provides spaces and programs for entrepreneurs, corporate, and academic communities to collaborate and grow their ideas. The Ion offers a state-of-the-art prototyping lab, an investor studio, an accelerator hub, and a network of corporate and academic partners. The district is built to encourage serendipitous collisions and promote equitable businesses, products, and jobs that reflect Houston's diversity and individualism. Many programs are open to the community and I suggest you frequently check their Event Calendar.?
• What's Activation Festival? - Activation Festival 2023, May 17-19, is the second annual event hosted by the Ion. The goal of the festival is to showcase the Ion's capabilities to the Houston innovation community. The festival includes in-depth panels, keynotes, networking opportunities, and chances to get involved with Ion. The events provides a chance for the community to engage with founders and thought leaders in various industries and learn about Houston's innovation ecosystem. The festival aims to showcase how Houston is becoming a leader in transforming the world with innovative solutions and products.
• All Three days? - No, you don't have to commit to the whole thing. It's fine to show up for a single event that interest you. Just be sure to register for the session ahead of time. Unless indicated otherwise below, each session is at the Ion.
• That's right, it's Free - All events during activation are free to attend and open to the public, but be sure to register ahead of time for the sessions you want to attend.
• Uber - I'm gonna go ahead and call it for this event... You should consider Ubering here and back if that's an option for you. Parking isn't usually a problem, but this event is likely to draw a record crowd. There is a bus stop and metro stop near the Ion too.
• Parking - There is free parking for the event right across Fannin Street from the Ion. This lot is referred to as the "Red Lot". Enter 4203 Fannin Street to navigate directly to the "Red Lot". There is a gate, which I suspect will be open all three days. When the "Red Lot" is full, the "Green Lot" is available. The Green Lot is Greentown Lab's parking lot, which they graciously share with the community when large events are happening. While there is a parking lot right in front of The Ion, this one reserved for patrons of the retail/restaurant and is sometimes closed to host "outside events." I assume this lot won't be closed for Activation Festival. There is a map with the layout of the parking lots on each registration page.
• Check out the Art Installation on the way in - To the left of the Fannin entrance doors, there is "The Collective Hive" window display created by artists Lisa Morales and Stacey Gresell. The installation is comprised of hive forms and bees created from sourced materials like keys, old instruments, typewriter parts, and toy cars donated by the Ion community.
• Registration - You register for each individual session over the 3 day event (not for the entire 3 day session all at once.) I've embedded a link to each sessions registration page in it's session title. After seeing this article, Jan E. Odegard , Executive Director of the Ion, offered this advice, "Should anyone forget to register for an event don’t panic, we will take care of you. Just make sure you are registered for at least one event and keep your name badge for access all three days to all Activation Festival programs. Access to each event will be first come first served as space permits."

Wednesday, May 17

Engage VC - 9:00-10:00am

• The discussion will be hosted by HX Venture Fund , in partnership with Ion, and will feature Alexander Niehenke , a partner at Scale Venture Partners , an early-stage venture capital firm that focuses on intelligent business software. Niehenke will discuss Scale Ventures' Scaling Platform, which has helped companies like Box, Bill.com, Hubspot, Docusign, JFrog, and WalkMe move from founder-led growth to a repeatable go-to-market machine. He will also talk about his focus on early investments in vertical software markets where incumbents have failed to invest in advanced technology offerings.

Ion Prototyping Lab + Nexus: Robotics Day - 9:00am-5:00pm

• A day of displays, discussions, and lab tours focused on robotics and presented by the Ion Prototyping Lab and Rice's Nexus Lab. The schedule includes three main events: Innovation Tours, Innovation Discussion on Robotics, and a Hands-On Activity where visitors can interact with a variety of robots and participate in a Robot Battlebots arena. The event will also feature static exhibits showcasing interesting products/projects from the Houston area and industry experts, engineers, and entrepreneurs available to answer questions, brainstorm ideas, and spur innovation.?

Corporate-Startup Partnerships: How to Build Them, Sustain Them, and How They’re Key to Fast-Tracking Innovation and Growth - 11:00am-12:00pm

• The panel discussion at the Corporate-Startup Partnerships event will feature innovation experts from Halliburton Labs , 埃克森美孚 , and Texas Medical Center Innovation Factory (TMCi), along with a moderator from Baker Botts . Scott Gale is the Executive Director of Halliburton Labs and has extensive experience in building relationships between startups and corporations. Thomas Luby , Ph.D., is the Director of TMCi and has a background in venture investing and innovation strategy. Nazeer Bhore , the Manager of Tech Scouting, Innovation and Ventures (TSIV) at ExxonMobil, has expertise in identifying and commercializing new technologies. Together, these experts will provide insights into corporate-startup collaborations, including the different models for collaboration, the benefits and risks of such partnerships, and how to measure success beyond financial indicators. The panel will also discuss how some of the world's largest companies are developing open innovation strategies to explore new ventures and the importance of corporate-startup partnerships for innovation. Whether you're a corporate innovator or a startup interested in working with large enterprises, this discussion will provide valuable information and advice. After the panel, attendees will have the opportunity to visit with several of Halliburton Labs, ExxonMobil, and TMCi's portfolio companies to gain additional perspectives and insights.

ChatGPT Panel: Love It or Hate It: Exploring the Transformative Power of ChatGPT - 2:00-3:00pm

• This panel, moderated by Chris Bronk Chris Bronk, an Associate Professor at the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston , will explore the latest breakthrough in artificial intelligence - Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT). The panel includes: Vicente Ordónez-Román , an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Rice University , and Elizabeth Rodwell, Ph.D. , an Assistant Professor of Digital Media, Information and Logistics Technology at the University of Houston. The speakers will explain what ChatGPT is, how it may be used, and discuss its potential pitfalls. The panel will explore whether we should be excited or fearful about the emergence of AI in society.

Common Desk Happy Hour - 3:00-5:00pm ?

Common Desk is a flexible coworking space located on the second floor of the Ion that offers memberships for individuals, startups, and established companies. The Common Desk Happy Hour is a free event open to both current and potential members of Common Desk's coworking community. I'm guessing things will be routed through Second Draught , a craft beer pub featuring an incredible line-up from Houston's local breweries. It's on the first floor of Ion). The event provides an opportunity to network with like-minded professionals and learn more about the benefits of working at Common Desk. Seasoned members will share their experiences, while Common Desk staff will introduce the organization, its offerings, and ways to get involved. Attendees can sign up for a tour of Common Desk's facilities, which includes shared workspaces, conference rooms, chat booths, coffee stations, communal kitchen, and offices.

What’s Next, Now: Ion District Showcase - 5:00-7:00pm?

• This event features several startups and corporations from Houston's key industries, such as healthcare, energy, finance, and technology. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with the founders and thought leaders of the participating companies, who are driving innovative solutions and products that are transforming the way we live and work. You will also learn about the latest trends and technologies shaping our future and how these innovations are changing the world around us. The participating companies include Improving , aramco , Baker Botts , bp , 埃克森美孚 , GCC , 微软 , Oxy , 斯伦贝谢 INNOVATION FACTORI, and Woodside Energy . This is an excellent opportunity to enjoy the showcase, network with other innovators, and learn more about Ion District and its partners.?

Thursday, May 18

Workforce Development with Per Scholas - 9:00-10:45am ?

• A panel discussion on tech talent development and training the future workforce in Houston. The panel will be moderated by Damien Howard , the Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer at Per Scholas , and will include Angela (Berardi) Thornton , the National Account Manager and Certified Marketplace Diversity Ambassador at TEKsystems , Lavone J. , the Vice President of Human Resources at Comcast , and Janet Pope , the Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at 凯捷咨询 . The panel will cover topics such as upskilling and reskilling, creating a diverse and inclusive tech workforce, and the latest trends and challenges in tech talent. Attendees will also have the opportunity to network with industry professionals and explore Ion's tenants and partners for professional and job placement skills workshops.

Ion Prototyping Lab + Nexus: Open Innovation Day - 9:00-5:00pm ?

• Innovation tours, an open innovation discussion, and a hands-on activity. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the tools and capabilities of both facilities, discuss open source development with industry experts, and produce a small customized part using rapid prototyping tools.?

Entrepreneurship as a Business Style by Hap Klopp, Founder of The North Face - 11:00am-12:00pm

• Hap Klopp, founder and former CEO of The North Face , will give a keynote speech titled "Entrepreneurship as a Business Style" at Ion in Houston, TX. Klopp will argue that entrepreneurship is not just a stage in a business but a style and mindset that can benefit any business. He will explore the importance of innovation, risk-taking, urgency, passion, and creating something new in driving economic growth and success in business. Klopp will draw on his experience and research to discuss the differences between established businesses and startups and offer insights from Silicon Valley's innovation lessons.

Back to the Future of Innovation - 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm CDT -

• A short presentation on how the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation & Entrepreneurship Office of Innovation at Rice University is creating tech startups quickly and efficiently through public-private partnerships. Followed by a panel discussion on Innovation in Institutions of Higher Education, with perspectives from academia, startups, and industry. The panelists include Paul Cherukuri , Vice President for Innovation and Adjunct Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship, and the panelists include Michelle Stansbury , Vice President of Innovation and IT Applications at Houston Methodist .

Innovation on Tap: EntrepreNeuro - 5:00-7:00pm

• One-hour TEDx-style presentation that's part of the InterfaceRice 2023 conference. The presentation features three speakers, Jacob Robinson , Paul Cherukuri and Erika Ross Ellison Vice President of Research and Development at ONWARD Medical . The speakers will discuss their personal experiences and transitions between academic labs, startups, and established companies in the neurotech and biomedical industry. They will also explore the future of academic/industry relationships and the lessons that can be learned from their experiences.

Friday, May 18

Cup of Joey: Ion District Edition - 8:30-10:30am - At the Ion and Greentown Labs simultaneously!!!

• The Ion's unique weekly open networking event "Cup of Joey" hosted by Joey Sanchez is celebrating its 2nd anniversary!!! (I try not to miss this event and am usually there each Friday.) We usually buy our own coffee each week, but to help celebrate this milestone Capital Factory and Greentown Labs will be co-hosting the event. We expect a HUGE turnout, so it will be going on simultaneously at the Ion and Greentown Labs (right across the street from the Ion). Attendees will have an opportunity for open networking with the entire Ion District community, and the event will showcase the newest partners of Ion. The event will also include a family photo and a conversation with GCC (Global Customer Commerce), United Airlines , Woodside Energy , and others. The organizers encourage attendees to show up, be friendly, make new connections, and find your "why."

Greentown Labs + Ion Activation Festival 2023 8:30-3:30pm

Greentown Labs is hosting events throughout the day on May 19 as part of the Ion Activation Festival 2023. The day will include the Cup of Joey 2 Year Anniversary (8:30-10:30am), a Houston Innovation District panel, and a showcase of Greentown Labs members (1:30-3:30pm). The panel will feature leaders from Houston’s Innovation District discussing the future of energy transition in Houston and what startups need from industry stakeholders to keep momentum going. The showcase will highlight Greentown Labs member companies innovating in the key carbon-emitting sectors, such as electricity, agriculture, buildings, manufacturing, and transportation, and on resiliency, adaptation, and platform solutions. The event will also have The Fry Guy and Pit King BBQ food trucks at lunchtime from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM.

Ion Prototyping Lab + Nexus: Space Day - 9:00-5:00

• Innovation tours of both facilities, a space discussion focusing on the new commercial space market, and a hands-on activity where visitors can learn about rapid prototyping tools and produce a small customized part. There will also be a range of static exhibits showcasing interesting products/projects from the Houston area and industry experts, engineers, and entrepreneurs to answer questions and spur innovation.

The Future of Space Tech by Douglas Terrier - 11:30am-12:30pm

Douglas Terrier , Associate Director for Vision and Strategy at NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration ’s Johnson Space Center, will be speaking on the future of space tech, including opportunities for startups and students, during a fireside chat hosted by Alicia Llewellyn, Lead, Strategy and Formulation, Business Development & Technology Integration Office, NASA JSC.

SME (Subject Matter Expert) Office Hours + Mingle Lounges - 1:30-2:30pm ?

• The SME (Subject Matter Expert) Office Hours and Mingle Lounges participants can seek advice on their innovative ideas and meet the with Ion's community of subject matter experts in marketing, storytelling, and pitch deck preparation and SCORE Mentors Houston (Service Corps of Retired Executives) representatives. Additionally, the Ion's Mingle Lounges will provide networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, SMEs, researchers, corporates, and investors. The Mingle Lounge topics will cover a range of areas, including Music, Film, Media Tech, Food Tech, Aerospace, Med & Health Tech, FinTech, Funded Founder, Female Founder/Female Investors, Clean Energy, and Transportation, and Web3.

Ion Block Party: Innovation on DisPLAY - 5:00-8:00pm ?

• The Ion Activation Festival 2023 will end with the Ion Block Party: Innovation on DisPLAY, a community-wide block party that features local entrepreneurial businesses displaying their products and technologies. The event includes hands-on opportunities for guests, food trucks, and a "battle of the bands" competition between The Slags and The Outsiders, with the crowd deciding the winner. The event is free and open to the public, and guests are encouraged to stay for the winning band's spectacular visual component reveal.