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Digital Technology & Innovation

As the home of NASA’s human space program and headquarters to the global energy industry, Houston has long been known for its engineering prowess. Although most of Houston's technology talent is embedded in some of the area's largest industries such as energy and health care, sub-sectors such as software development, programming and database management are also growing. In recent years, the region has seen one of the largest overall increases in tech talent in the nation. Now Houston is experiencing a surge in innovation incubators and accelerators to help foster new startups in areas such as cleantech and software.

Business Climate

Houston is well-positioned to become a national leader in tech innovation, boasting a thriving net tech workforce of over 230,800. It also possesses the corporate and infrastructural requirements, including innovation-minded companies, a vast support system of business professionals and corporate decisionmakers, and business and quality of life amenities necessary to support a robust tech ecosystem.

Technological cluster strengths across the energy, life sciences and healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, and aerospace industries present immediate opportunities for investing in scalable companies that enable digital transformation, while the heavy corporate and industry presence in the city make Houston a natural place for industrial IOT, logistics, robotics, and cyber security concentrations.

$2.02B

VC Funding in ’21

9,100

Tech-Related Firms

230,800+

Net Tech Workforce

$1.6 Billion

Tech-Sector Impact on the Economy

80+

Incubators, Accelerators, Makerspaces and Coworking Spaces

Notable Employers
Industry Partners

Houston's Innovation Ecosystem

As a home to world-changing innovations and a talented labor pool, Houston has been an attractive region for startups and digital tech firms for years. But it’s only recently that Houston has begun to receive its due as a prominent emerging tech hub, joining the likes of San Francisco and Austin as a major player in the sector and as a center of activity for the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.

Over the last five years, venture-backed startups have received over $6 billion in venture capital funding while more than 80 startup development organizations (SDOs), including incubators and accelerators, makerspaces, co-working spaces, non-profits, and academic institutions have succeeded in forming a growing network of resources to assist Houston’s tech entrepreneurs.

East End Maker Hub Rendering

East End Maker Hub

East End Maker Hub is an industrial makerspace and manufacturing center in EaDo that is redefining entrepreneurship by p...
Greentown Labs Houston

Greentown Labs

Greentown Labs is a 40,000-square-foot incubator located in Houston's Innovation District that supports climatetech and ...
The Ion

The Ion

The Ion is Houston's HQ for innovation, bringing the region's entrepreneurial, corporate, and academic communities toget...
The Ion District Rendering

Ion District

The Ion District is synonymous with Houston's innovation community, covering 12 blocks in the center of Houston and cata...
Texas A&M TMC.jpg

Texas A&M Innovation Plaza

Texas A&M Innovation Plaza is a $550 million, 5-acre mixed-use complex that houses the Texas A&M School of Engin...
San Jacinto College Biotechnology Center

San Jacinto College Biotechnology Center

The San Jacinto Biotechnology Center at Generation Park will offer certificate coursework in bioprocessing to students a...
The Woodlands Innovation Park

The Woodlands Innovation Park

The Woodlands Innovation Park is a life sciences development that will include cGMP/biomanufacturing facilities tailored...
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Texas Medical Center

TMC is the largest medical center in the world that harnesses collective expertise in innovation, research, development,...
JLABS @ TMC

JLABS @ TMC

JLABS @ TMC is a partnership between TMC and Johnson & Johnson to enable scientists to take their innovations to the...
TMC Innovation Factory

TMC Innovation

TMC's Innovation Factory is the driving force behind TMC's diverse alliance of early-stage innovators, with over 300 sta...

CDI @ TMC

The Center for Device Innovation at TMC focuses on supporting early-stage medical device concepts with high technical ri...
CUBIO

CUBIO

A collaborative life sciences incubator providing support for early- to mid-stage life sciences startups, including wet ...
Deison Technology Park

Deison Technology Park

Deison Technology Park is a 248-acre business park designed specifically for R&D, life sciences, pharmaceutical, and...
Rice University exterior

Rice Alliance

The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship supports the creation and success of startups, entrepreneurship ed...
Accenture Innovation Hub

Accenture Innovation Hub

Accenture's Houston Innovation Hub is home to its Net Zero Accelerator, designed to advance the shift toward a net-zero ...
software technology

Houston Exponential

Houston Exponential is Houston's startup ecosystem advocate, empowering the city's founders and reducing barriers to ent...
MassChallenge Houston

MassChallenge

MassChallenge is a global network of zero-equity startup accelerators that supports high-potential startups across all i...
Baker Hughes Center for Technology Innovation

Baker Hughes Center for Technology Innovation

The Baker Hughes Center for Technology Innovation (CTI) in Houston is focused on solving the energy industry's toughest ...
Halliburton Labs

Halliburton Labs

Halliburton Labs accelerates the growth of early-stage companies to further advance clean energy technology. ADDRESS: 30...
Deloitte Greenhouse, Powered by Energy & Industrials

Deloitte Greenhouse® Powered by Energy & Industrials

Deloitte Greenhouse® Powered by Energy & Industrials is a next-generation innovation center designed specifically fo...
bp Center for High-Performance Computing

bp Center for High-Performance Computing

The bp Center for High-Performance Computing serves as a worldwide hub for processing and managing large amounts of geop...
Houston Advanced Research Center

Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC)

HARC is a non-profit research hub focused on providing independent analysis on energy, air, and water issues to advance ...
Impact Hub Houston

Impact Hub Houston

Impact Hub Houston is a non-profit organization that empowers entrepreneurs and innovators to develop solutions and soci...

Golden Section Venture Studio

Golden Section Venture Studio acts as a growth partner that invests in and develops early-stage B2B SaaS companies and f...
UH Students

UH Technology Bridge

UH Technology Bridge supports innovation across the entire ecosystem by driving networks and partnerships and providing ...

East End Maker Hub

East End Maker Hub is an industrial makerspace and manufacturing center in EaDo that is redefining entrepreneurship by providing equitable access to affordable workspace for manufacturers, fabricators, crafters, and innovators.

ADDRESS: 6501 Navigation Blvd, Houston, TX 77011

WEBSITE

East End Maker Hub Rendering

Greentown Labs

Greentown Labs is a 40,000-square-foot incubator located in Houston's Innovation District that supports climatetech and energy startups.

ADDRESS: 4200 San Jacinto St, Houston, TX 77004
WEBSITE

Greentown Labs Houston

The Ion

The Ion is Houston's HQ for innovation, bringing the region's entrepreneurial, corporate, and academic communities together into collaborative spaces and programs.

ADDRESS: 4201 Main St, Houston, TX 77002

WEBSITE

The Ion

Ion District

The Ion District is synonymous with Houston's innovation community, covering 12 blocks in the center of Houston and catalyzing the development of better products, technologies, workforces, and businesses.

ADDRESS: 4201 Main St, Houston, TX 77002
WEBSITE

The Ion District Rendering

Texas A&M Innovation Plaza

Texas A&M Innovation Plaza is a $550 million, 5-acre mixed-use complex that houses the Texas A&M School of Engineering Medicine (EnMed) program, as well as commercial space for clinical, research, and office use.

ADDRESS: 1020 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030

Texas A&M TMC.jpg

San Jacinto College Biotechnology Center

The San Jacinto Biotechnology Center at Generation Park will offer certificate coursework in bioprocessing to students as well as special curriculum focusing on cell and gene therapy and other developing life science sectors.

ADDRESS: 13455 Lockwood Rd, Houston, TX 77044

San Jacinto College Biotechnology Center

The Woodlands Innovation Park

The Woodlands Innovation Park is a life sciences development that will include cGMP/biomanufacturing facilities tailored to meet the needs of contract development manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) and companies focused on in-house manufacturing in industries ranging from biopharma to industrial biology.

ADDRESS: 2801 Technology Forest Blvd, The Woodlands, TX 77381
WEBSITE

The Woodlands Innovation Park

Texas Medical Center

TMC is the largest medical center in the world that harnesses collective expertise in innovation, research, development, production, and patient care within a single, centralized medical ecosystem.

ADDRESS

WEBSITE

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JLABS @ TMC

JLABS @ TMC is a partnership between TMC and Johnson & Johnson to enable scientists to take their innovations to the next level and advance science with the potential to become transformational solutions to patients. JLABS @ TMC includes 34,000 square feet of common, wet lab, and office spaces and is home to 40 companies and 60 alumni companies within its network.

ADDRESS: 2450 Holcombe Blvd Ste. J, Houston, TX 77021

WEBSITE

JLABS @ TMC

TMC Innovation

TMC's Innovation Factory is the driving force behind TMC's diverse alliance of early-stage innovators, with over 300 startups involved in its various accelerator programs and over $5.8 billion raised to date.

ADDRESS: 2450 Holcombe Blvd., Suite X, Entrance 81, Houston, TX 77021

WEBSITE

TMC Innovation Factory

CDI @ TMC

The Center for Device Innovation at TMC focuses on supporting early-stage medical device concepts with high technical risk. In addition to 1,000 square feet of full-scale prototyping space, CDI @ TMC also has rapid fabrication and 3D printing capabilities as well as electronics testing and assembly equipment.

ADDRESS: 2450 Holcombe Blvd Suite CDI-88, Houston, TX 77021

WEBSITE

CUBIO

A collaborative life sciences incubator providing support for early- to mid-stage life sciences startups, including wet lab space, equipment, and funding and consulting resources.

ADDRESS: 7505 Fannin St. Ste. 610, Houston, TX 77054

WEBSITE

CUBIO

Deison Technology Park

Deison Technology Park is a 248-acre business park designed specifically for R&D, life sciences, pharmaceutical, and tech companies. The integrated technology business community provides increased capacity and infrastructure for a number of tenants, including VGXI.

ADDRESS: Conroe, TX 77303

Deison Technology Park

Rice Alliance

The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship supports the creation and success of startups, entrepreneurship education, and the commercialization of new technologies

ADDRESS: 6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005

WEBSITE

Rice University exterior

Accenture Innovation Hub

Accenture's Houston Innovation Hub is home to its Net Zero Accelerator, designed to advance the shift toward a net-zero economy.

ADDRESS: 1301 Fannin St Suite 1900, Houston, TX 77002

WEBSITE

Accenture Innovation Hub

Houston Exponential

Houston Exponential is Houston's startup ecosystem advocate, empowering the city's founders and reducing barriers to entrepreneurship.

ADDRESS: 410 Pierce St, Houston, TX 77002

WEBSITE

software technology

MassChallenge

MassChallenge is a global network of zero-equity startup accelerators that supports high-potential startups across all industries.

ADDRESS: 1801 Main St 10th floor, Houston, TX 77002

WEBSITE

MassChallenge Houston

Baker Hughes Center for Technology Innovation

The Baker Hughes Center for Technology Innovation (CTI) in Houston is focused on solving the energy industry's toughest completion and production technology challenges, including construction of high pressure/temperature wells, deepwater completions, and production optimization.

ADDRESS: 14990 Yorktown Plaza Dr, Houston, TX 77040

Baker Hughes Center for Technology Innovation

Halliburton Labs

Halliburton Labs accelerates the growth of early-stage companies to further advance clean energy technology.

ADDRESS: 3000 N Sam Houston Pkwy E, Houston, TX 77032

WEBSITE

Halliburton Labs

Deloitte Greenhouse® Powered by Energy & Industrials

Deloitte Greenhouse® Powered by Energy & Industrials is a next-generation innovation center designed specifically for energy industry clients to advance co-created solutions.

ADDRESS: 1111 Bagby St Suite 4500, Houston, TX 77002

WEBSITE

Deloitte Greenhouse, Powered by Energy & Industrials

bp Center for High-Performance Computing

The bp Center for High-Performance Computing serves as a worldwide hub for processing and managing large amounts of geophysical data and has one of the world's most powerful supercomputers for commercial research.

ADDRESS: 225 Westlake Park Blvd, Houston, TX 77079

WEBSITE

bp Center for High-Performance Computing

Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC)

HARC is a non-profit research hub focused on providing independent analysis on energy, air, and water issues to advance solutions for a more sustainable, equitable future.

ADDRESS: 8801 Gosling Rd, The Woodlands, TX 77381

WEBSITE

Houston Advanced Research Center

Impact Hub Houston

Impact Hub Houston is a non-profit organization that empowers entrepreneurs and innovators to develop solutions and social ventures with scalable impact by focusing on mentorship, community, and collaboration between key stakeholders.

ADDRESS: 1801 Main St 10th floor, Houston, TX 77002

WEBSITE

Impact Hub Houston

Golden Section Venture Studio

Golden Section Venture Studio acts as a growth partner that invests in and develops early-stage B2B SaaS companies and founders.

ADDRESS: 808 Travis St UNIT 1406, Houston, TX 77002

WEBSITE

UH Technology Bridge

UH Technology Bridge supports innovation across the entire ecosystem by driving networks and partnerships and providing resources to startups.

ADDRESS: 5000 Gulf Fwy, Houston, TX 77204

WEBSITE

UH Students

Industry Resources

Coworking Spaces
Selected Annual Startup Events

The Houston Tech Report

An updated look at Houston's tech and innovation scene, including venture capital investment. 

tech report cover.PNG

Need more information about Houston's Digital Tech industry? Your dedicated team member can help:

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  • Facilitate and foster key introductions
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Manager, Regional Economic Development
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nfons@houston.org
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713-844-3648
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