07
May
2019
|
16:02 PM
America/Chicago

Station Houston and UST to Host Summer Accelerator Programs

Station's main working space during their 3.0 Launch event in January 2019Station Houston, an accelerator for startup technology companies, corporate innovation and entrepreneurship, today announced its Summer 2019 Startup Partnerships with higher education institutions. Beginning this May through August, innovators and entrepreneurs from premier institutions Rice University, the University of Houston (“UH”), and the University of St. Thomas will take up residence at Station Houston (“Station”) to work alongside Station member companies and local business leaders.

Rice’s OwlSpark and The University of Houston’s RED Labs were both launched in 2012, and since 2014, the two programs have been co-located with a common curriculum, mentors and Demo Day, the Bayou Startup Showcase.

The purpose of the partnership is to enable the startups from each institutions’ accelerators to achieve success more quickly. The program is designed to build a community for Houston’s next generation of entrepreneurs and to give them the resources to achieve their dreams in Houston and beyond.

As partners, the entrepreneurs will have access to:

  • Station’s network: 200 startups, 400 members, 130 mentors and dozens of high-impact corporate partners
  • Resources they need to make the transition from idea to startup more efficiently, as well as from college student to CEO

“We are thrilled the University of Houston, Rice University, and the University of St. Thomas have chosen to host their entrepreneurial programs at Station in Houston’s Innovation District,” said Gabriella Rowe, CEO, Station Houston. “By partnering, we have the opportunity to convene even more of the city’s talent in one place, and I can’t wait to see how we’ll all work together to drive our programs forward.”

Mayor Turner being given a demonstration of the Houston VR Lab technology

About University of Houston’s RED Labs Accelerator

RED Labs, the University of Houston's startup accelerator, technology entrepreneurship program, and coworking space, was founded in 2012. Supported by the Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship, RED Labs works with the University of Houston’s affiliated founders (faculty, students, and recent alumni) to turn their startup ideas into reality.

About Rice University’s OwlSpark Startup Accelerator

OwlSpark is a leading Rice University resource for helping entrepreneurs launch startups and experience startup life. It provides hyper-targeted training and mentoring and introduces entrepreneurs to disciplined strategies and principles that help fuel and accelerate startup innovation. Through partnerships with universities and leading community organizations, OwlSpark provides best-in-class teaching that enables the entrepreneurial aspirations of students, faculty, staff and recent alumni. To date, OwlSpark has deployed 6 cohorts, trained 125 entrepreneurs, and served 47 startup teams that have raised over $19 million in funding.

“The collective experience, knowledge and respect OwlSpark entrepreneurs develop is a testament to the community that supports them,” said Kerri Smith, managing director of OwlSpark and associate managing director of the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship. “It is through the collaboration and interaction with partners like Station Houston that our entrepreneurs become better positioned to pursue their vision.”

About St. Thomas’ Incubator, The MAX

The University of St. Thomas’ incubator/accelerator is named The MAX@UST after Saint Maximillian Kolbe, the patron saint of innovation. While its primary purpose was to house and create a virtual innovation space, The MAX has spawned new degree programs to include associate degrees in a total virtual online program in technology, with focuses in cybersecurity, network technology and electrical technology. In addition to its summer partnership, The MAX plans to expand its work in virtual innovation with a concrete space at Station Houston for the school’s faculty and staff for research and teaching.

About Station Houston

Station Houston's vision is to transform Houston into a world-leading hub for technology innovation and entrepreneurship. This vision unfolds as a vibrant community where people live, work and play, with Station serving as the connective tissue fostering our culture of innovation. Station launched in March 2016 and now serves over 200 startups, 400 members, 130 mentors, and dozens of high-impact strategic partnerships with corporations and service providers that represent the key industries serving the Houston economy.

Media Contact

stationhouston@finnpartners.com

312-329-3983

The University of St. Thomas is Houston’s Catholic University. For more than 70 years, UST has graduated students into successful careers in medicine, education, business, public administration and more. As Houston grows, UST will continue to provide the strong leaders and skilled workers needed to meet those demands.