Houston Innovators Podcast

In this episode, listeners get a chance to revisit an episode from 2023 with Josh Teekell, founder and CE of SmartAC.com. A lot has happened with SmartAC.com since Josh joined the show, and the most recent milestone the company has reached is an additional funding round closed last month with support from Houston-based Mercury. SmartAC.com's expanded platform enables contractors in the HVAC and plumbing industries monitor, manage, and optimize their maintenance memberships through advanced sensors, AI-driven diagnostics, and proactive alerts. Josh will be using the fresh funding to continue growth for the company. Original episode aired in May 2023. Link to read about SmartAC’s latest raise: https://houston.innovationmap.com/smartac-mercury-follow-on-round-2670691230.html

In this episode, listeners get a chance to revisit an episode from last year with Tim Latimer. 2024 was an incredible year for Tim and his company Fervo Energy, which raised a cumulative $600M in multiple rounds of investment, financing, and federal support. Fervo wrapped up the year announcing $255 million dollars of fresh funding to continue its growth in the new year. When Tim joined the show, it was right in the middle of this successful year, and he shared on the show how Fervo’s momentum is leading to 100x growth with its latest geothermal project, Project Cape, which is fully permitted up to 2 gigawatts and will begin generating electricity in 2026. Original episode aired in May 2024. Link to read about Fervo’s latest raise: https://houston.innovationmap.com/fervo-energy-capricorn-geothermal-raise-2670498267.html

Samantha Lewis, partner Mercury, joins the show today for a record fourth time to discuss some of the venture capital trends in Houston and beyond — from fintech exits to GenAI and blockchain. We also take a moment to reflect on Houston’s innovation ecosystem and its progress over the past several years.

Phillip Yates is the CEO of Equiliberty and chairman of Impact Hub Houston. Phillip, who also is a practicing lawyer, shares a bit on his background and how he evolved his career in law into an entrepreneur in the tech and startup space to create his fintech platform, which is expected to launch in early 2025. Phillip and I also discuss the Houston innovation ecosystem and what it meant to him to accept the award of Ecosystem Builder at the 2024 Houston Innovation Awards.

This week, Meagan Pitcher, CEO and co-founder of Bairitone Health, shares her journey into health tech entrepreneurship and the bright future for her company.

Vibhu Sharma is the CEO of InnoVent Renewables LLC, a Houston company that has the potential to revolutionize the automotive industry and make a huge impact on sustainability. InnoVent has created a proprietary technology that converts waste tires, into valuable fuels, steel and chemicals. Vibhu joins the show to share how he’s quickly turned this company from concept to near commercial operations in just around two years. Plus he shares what the future holds for his unique company.

On this episode, host Natalie Harms is looking back at some of her favorite episodes of 2024 — featuring guests from across the Houston innovation landscape. 

Anwar Sadek is the CEO and founder at CORROLYTICS, a tech company that has designed a way to better detect microbial corrosion. Anwar joins the show today to discuss his entrepreneurial journey, how he’s bootstrapped his company, and relocated to Houston to make the most of the energy and tech communities here.

In this episode, listeners get a chance to revisit an episode from last year with Ayse McCracken, the founder of Ignite Healthcare Network, an organization that accelerates female-founded businesses within health care. In November, Ignite hosted its annual Fire Pitch Competition, the main event for its accelerator that supports and connects female health tech founders with the Texas Medical Center’s vast network of experts and health care organizations. At the event, the founders pitched their health tech solutions across lung health, renal therapy, breastfeeding tech, and more. This year’s first place winner was Sarah Lee, CEO and co-founder of Relavo, a New York-based company that's making home dialysis more effective, safer, and more affordable. Link to read about the 2024 Fire Pitch Competition winners: https://houston.innovationmap.com/ignite-health-relavo-fire-pitch-2670292174.html