Please note that access to Houston House programming requires SXSW credentials (Platinum of Interactive Badge). The Houston House lounge and evening happy hour is available to the general public on a first-come basis.
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Demystifying the Start Up Journey
Starting a company is no easy feat. The road to success is paved with both triumphs and challenges, and there is no one-size-fits-all guidebook to navigate it.
Every startup has a unique path to success, and every founder brings their own perspective and experiences to the table. From building the right team and securing funding, to launching a product and planning for an exit, the startup journey is a wild ride!
Join startup founders at various stages of their journey as they share their experiences, challenges, and advice for navigating the tech world. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this discussion is a must-attend for anyone looking to grow their business and make their mark in the tech world.
- Ted Gutierrez, Founder, SecurityGate.io
- Gaurav Khandelwal, Founder & CEO, Velostics
- Simone May, Co-Founder & CTO, Clutch
- Moderator: Natalie Harms, Editor, InnovationMap
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
The Future is Female: Triumphs of Women in Tech
The modern business landscape is more diverse than ever before. But while the number of female entrepreneurs has more than doubled in the last two decades, only about 3% of venture capital is invested in women annually.
From securing funding to balancing work-life demands, today’s entrepreneurs still face many of the barriers that kept them out of the game for decades… and it breaks down to a trillion-dollar missed opportunity.
Join female founders from the energy, biotech, and consumer sectors as they share the innovative solutions and best practices that have empowered them to succeed in today's competitive landscape. The time is now to support and amplify the voices of women entrepreneurs.
- Lydia Davies, Founder & CEO, TEAMATES
- Taci Pereira, CEO, Systemic Bio
- Janice Tran, Co-Founder & CEO, Kanin Energy
- Moderator: Carrie Colbert, Founding & General Partner, Curate Capital
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Building a Tech Unicorn
The journey to launching a successful company is never easy. But for most entrepreneurs, the reward is worth the risk.
Mere ideas can become billion-dollar companies that disrupt industries, build new markets, create jobs, and drive innovation forward. From leveraging AI-based autonomous systems to help companies transform their finances, to fusing biology, chemistry, and technology to make the materials we need to sustain life on Earth.
Join founders from some of the most prominent unicorn startups as they share their insights and experiences on what it takes to create a billion-dollar startup in today's tech landscape. Their incredible journey will inspire you to dream and take risks.
- Gaurab Chakrabarti, Co-Founder & CEO, Solugen
- Sashi Narahari, President & CEO, HighRadius
- Moderator: Payal Patel, Principal at Softeq Ventures & Director of Softeq Venture Studio
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Unlocking the Power of AI: Insights & Innovations
Once a topic reserved for science fiction enthusiasts, artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the business landscape. From enterprise answer engines to personalized medicine, the power of artificial intelligence is changing the way we live and work.
By leveraging access to vast amounts of data and emerging technologies, organizations can harness the power of AI to make real-time, data-driven decisions that streamline operations, drive innovation, and improve outcomes.
Join tech founders, investors, and industry leaders as we explore the power of AI, and the challenges and opportunities it presents for companies looking to stay ahead of the curve.
- Sidd Gupta, Co-Founder & CEO, Nesh
- Rob Meadows, Founder and CEO, AI Foundation
- Murat Uralkan, Director of Innovation, Houston Methodist
- Moderator: Dave Mathews, Principal Venture Capitalist & CTO Advisor, Softeq
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Connecting Industries, Empowering Innovation
The impact of technology on the business landscape cannot be overstated. With the rapid pace of technological advancement, emerging business models are challenging traditional industry labels, enabling cross-sector collaboration, and driving innovation.
From leveraging industrial biotech and robotics for sustainable resource management to the development of environment-controlled modules for sustainable farming on Earth and life support in space, these high-impact solutions are transforming the world we live in.
Join a diverse group of startup founders as we explore the role technology is having in connecting industries and empowering innovation.
- Barbara Belvisi, Founder & CEO, Interstellar Lab
- Moji Karimi, Co-Founder & CEO, Cemvita Factory
- Nic Radford, Founder, Nauticus Robotics
- Moderator: Brad Rossacci, Creative Director, Accenture
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Innovators Happy Hour
Connect with like-minded professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors. Whether you're an established tech expert or a newcomer to the startup scene, come share ideas, make new connections, and expand your network.
Happy Hour Sponsored by: Softeq Venture Studio
