In its quest to connect people and ideas, the 海角社区 Technology Bridge has emerged as Houston鈥檚 nucleus for technology commercialization and startup development. That distinction has led Tech Bridge to take on several endeavors designed to cultivate the next generation of game-changing technologies, as well as the minds behind them.
One of those endeavors is the Innov8 Hub, a founder-driven series of accelerator programs for early-stage ventures and entrepreneurs within the UH community and the greater Houston region. Run alongside the Texas Gulf Coast Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Tech Bridge鈥檚 鈥淚nnovators to Founders鈥� program helps individuals take their ideas to market, providing the needed tools and guidance along the way.
The latest cohort of that program took its first step toward commercialization earlier this month during the program鈥檚 second Pitch Day. Here, UH professors stood alongside aspiring startups to showcase their solutions in front of peers, potential investors and partners.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a hard transition to go from innovator to founder, and the whole ethos behind this program is to help this group take steps forward to become better founders, salespeople and entrepreneurs,鈥� said Robert Johnson, co-founder of Innov8 Hub and UH Small Business Development Council business advisor. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to put your neck out there and take risks to do that, and this group put its best foot forward tonight. That takes a lot of courage and belief in yourself just to show up and present your ideas to receive hard feedback that impacts you as productive failure. It鈥檚 all about becoming a stronger and better entrepreneur through the process.鈥�
Chrysa Latrick, research assistant professor of biology and biochemistry at UH鈥檚 College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, had the best pitch of the night and was one of two winners, taking home a cash prize as well as six months free membership to The Us Space, a women of color-focused ideation hub for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Latrick is founder of , where she is leading the development of new gene therapies that can be used to treat patients with inherited genetic diseases.
鈥淚 saw a need in the gene therapy field to integrate genes into treatment options, and I鈥檓 excited to move my product forward,鈥� Latrick said. 鈥淪peaking as a scientist, this program was great for me, as it helped me to think more about the business side of everything. It was critical to get me to the right places and better communicate my ideas to the right people.鈥�
Andrew Morris of Accel Activewear was the popular vote winner for best idea, which centers on revolutionary footwear designed to improve the health and output of performing arts athletes. Morris also took home a cash prize as well as membership to The Us Space.
Though there were only two winners, the competition鈥檚 main goal was to empower each innovator and best position them to continue taking their ideas forward, providing the needed feedback from would-be investors and fellow entrepreneurs to continue fine-tuning their ideas.
鈥淲e wanted to champion these individuals 鈥� some of whom were pitching their ideas in front of businesses and crowds 鈥� and connect them to the community and the innovation ecosystem so they can grow from here,鈥� said Tanu Chatterji, associate director of startup development at Tech Bridge and co-founder of Innov8 Hub.