Skip to main content

Greentown Labs Selects Midtown Site for Houston Incubator

Published Sep 22, 2020 by A.J. Mistretta

Greentown Labs Announcement, Houston TX

Greentown Labs, the cleantech startup incubator that earlier this summer announced plans to open a Houston facility in 2021, has chosen a spot on the south side of Midtown near the much-anticipated Ion innovation hub to build its incubator. 

Greentown Houston is expected to open in spring 2021 with more than 40,000 square feet of prototyping lab, office, and community space for about 50 startup companies, totaling 200 to 300 employees. The facility will be within the footprint of Rice Management Company’s 16-acre Innovation District, anchored by the 300,000-square-foot Ion. 

Greentown Labs announced its first-ever national expansion to Houston in June 2020, with the goal of accelerating the energy transition through entrepreneurship, innovation, and collaboration. Greentown is the largest climatech and cleantech incubator in North America, headquartered just outside of Boston and providing space for about 100 member companies.

"In order to meet the urgent challenge of climate change, we must engage the talent and assets of major ecosystems around the country,” said Greentown Labs CEO Emily Reichert. “We look forward to catalyzing the Houston ecosystem's support for climatetech startups as we work together toward a sustainable future for all.”

Greentown Houston joins a growing number of startup support organizations and startup companies already located or locating in the Midtown Innovation District, as well as Houston-based accelerator programs. Greentown will be located on the site of a former Fiesta grocery store. 

"What we love about Greentown Labs as much as its commitment to helping Houston become a leader in energy transition and climate change action is its proven track record of job creation through the support of local visionaries and entrepreneurs," said Ryan LeVasseur, Managing Director of Direct Real Estate at RMC, the developer of The Ion and the Innovation District. "Greentown Houston, like The Ion, is a great catalyst for growing the Innovation District and expanding economic opportunities for all Houstonians. We're thrilled Greentown Labs selected Houston for its first expansion and are honored it will be such a big part of the Innovation District moving forward."

The location in the Innovation District also positions Greentown Houston close to local universities with strong energy- and cleantech-focused programs, including Rice University, the University of Houston, Houston Community College, and other leading educational institutions. The site is less than two miles away from downtown Houston, and will provide entrepreneurs with access to investors and corporate and civic leaders. Finally, it’s located steps away from a Houston METRORail stop and accessible by a new, on-street protected bikeway.

"We are so pleased that Greentown Houston will locate in the heart of the Innovation District, where they will seamlessly integrate into the region's robust energy innovation ecosystem of major corporate energy R&D centers, corporate venture arms, VC-backed energy startups, and other startup development organizations supporting energy technology," said Susan Davenport, Chief Economic Development Officer at the Greater Houston Partnership. "Houston truly is the hub of the global energy industry, and Greentown Houston will ensure we continue to attract the next generation of energy leaders who will create and scale innovations that will change the world."

Learn more about Greentown LabsHouston innovation and the energy industry
 

Related News

Digital Technology

Cart.com Returns Home to Houston, Eyes Future Growth

11/20/23
E-commerce unicorn Cart.com has announced the relocation of its global corporate headquarters to Houston, returning to its roots after a brief stint in Austin.  The end-to-end e-commerce services provider, originally founded in Houston in late 2020, experienced unprecedented growth fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic. The startup officially hit unicorn status earlier this year after a $60 million Series C round raised its valuation to $1.2 billion.  According to the company, Houston’s central location and transportation infrastructure will facilitate improved connectivity among its seven corporate offices, including international offices in Poland and Mexico, and 14 distribution centers nationwide. In addition to those key factors, Houston’s status as a dynamic business hub also played a significant role in the company’s decision to return home.  “I couldn’t be happier to bring Cart.com back home to Houston as we continue to revolutionize how merchants sell and fulfill products to meet customers anywhere they are,” said Cart.com Founder and CEO Omair Tariq. “The idea for Cart.com was born in Houston and we’ve always maintained a strong local presence with the majority of our executive team and board based here. As our customer mix increasingly moves upmarket and our own needs evolve, I’m confident Houston has what we need as we look towards the next stage of Cart.com’s growth story.”  The move will also unlock a deeper talent pool as the company augments key back-office functions including accounting, finance, HR and legal in one of the top cities nationally for Fortune 500 companies and talent.  According to the Partnership’s 2022 Houston Business Insider publication, Houston is home to more than 1.1 million millennials, reflecting a 25 percent increase over the last decade. With its population in that age group continuing to grow, Houston ranks among the top 10 cities in the U.S. for attracting millennials and retaining college graduates.  “Cart.com’s homecoming is a testament to why companies repeatedly choose Houston to scale their business with its diverse and dynamic economy along with its unparalleled talent pool that cuts across technology, professional services and global trade,” said Bob Harvey, Partnership President and CEO. “We’re excited to support Cart.com’s continued growth and look forward to the company’s contribution to Houston’s growing tech community.”  Boasting one of the nation's largest ports and two international airports, complemented by a robust talent pool and the cultural richness of one of the most diverse cities, Houston is a prime destination for companies aiming to maximize growth and efficiency. Cart.com’s relocation is not merely a shift in headquarters but a testament to the city’s capacity to foster success at every stage of business development.   Learn more about Houston’s talent pool and workforce. 
Read More
Energy

Learning From Denmark: An Energy Transition Journey

10/31/23
The Trade Council of Denmark in North America - Energy and Environment recently hosted a few US-Denmark Green Hydrogen Alliance members from the US and Canada to explore the Danish energy sector firsthand.   The trip was more than just a fact-finding journey, it transformed into a comprehensive crash course on the intricacies of the energy transition and how Denmark, a global forerunner in energy is actively establishing partnerships with key countries for emission reductions.   “It was a humbling experience meeting like-minded colleagues from US and Canada with a common mission to collaborate on accelerating our energy transition goals,” said Sara Muhammad Malik, Sr. Director, Global Energy Transition, Greater Houston Partnership.   The primary purpose of this visit was to gain insight on Denmark’s pioneering energy transition initiatives and exploring various projects led by Danish companies like Maersk, Rambøll, Topsoe, Ørsted, Energinet, European Energy, GreenLab, Green Hydrogen Systems and Stiesdal.  A few highlights from the delegation included:   Visiting A.P. Moller - Maersk’s headquarters and learning about their mission to decarbonize the shipping industry and e-fuels.  Meeting Green Hydrogen Alliance members Topsoe and Ramboll, discussing the future of energy, the role of Power-to-X in the energy transition and public and private knowledge sharing in the energy industry.   Experiencing Danish technology up close during a site visit to Alliance member Ørsted’s H2RES project - exploring how to pair offshore wind with hydrogen production. Visiting Amager Bakke (partnership between Ramboll and Copenhagen-based utility) to produce electricity and district heating for homes and companies in the Danish capital from waste.  Overall, the journey to Denmark provided a unique perspective on the energy transition. By exchanging knowledge and engaging in discussions on the present and future of energy across the Atlantic, we can make a joint solid foundation for creating the best conditions for collaboration and developing a sustainable energy sector.   As Houston looks to lead the global energy transition, the lessons learned from Denmark will undoubtedly inspire the region's path to build a more sustainable energy landscape.    Learn more about the Energy Capital of the World.    
Read More

Related Events

Executive Partners