Rice University President Reggie DesRoches delved into the institution’s transformative advancements, identifying research and community collaboration as top priorities of focus at the Partnership’s annual State of Education.  Supporting nearly 9,000 students, Rice is a critical part of the region’s higher education ecosystem and serves as a catalyst for building Houston’s future workforce. To better serve Houston’s community and key industries, Rice has strategically increased its efforts to advance impactful research within the institution. These efforts include a significant 20% augmentation of undergraduate and graduate students, the addition of 200 faculty members and the inauguration of a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to energy transition research – The Ralph S. O’Connor Building for Engineering and Science.  “The focus of our research is not just to have research but to have an impact in the region and the greater community,” said DesRoches. DesRoches highlighted that Rice is also working to increase the presence of graduate students focusing on PhD programs, which will further expand the institution’s research initiatives. To drive more impactful research and to cement the university’s position as a leading innovation hub, DesRoches pointed to collaboration. Through the support and partnerships of local entities and organizations like The Ion Houston and Greentown Labs, Rice has established many groundbreaking programs such as the Entrepreneurship Exchange for Energy. These efforts underline the university's dedication to cultivating research and innovation within Houston and beyond. As a true testament of research and collaboration, Rice recently partnered with Houston Methodist to open the Center for Human Performance; a 6,000-square-foot research facility located in Rice’s Tudor Fieldhouse. The new facility aims to propel research focusing on injury prevention and recovery, improving overall health across the region.  However, Rice sees more potential to be unlocked by leveraging the Texas Medical Center as a resource to deepen its engagement in health sciences, aiming for elevated contributions to the field. "The research and development stemming from [Rice University] are key drivers of technological advancement, which helps us attract businesses seeking to leverage the latest innovations to Houston," said Partnership President and CEO Bob Harvey.  Learn more about Houston’s Higher Education Institutions.

E-commerce unicorn Cart.com has announced the relocation of its global corporate headquarters to Houston, returning to its roots after a brief stint in Austin.  The end-to-end e-commerce services provider, originally founded in Houston in late 2020, experienced unprecedented growth fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic. The startup officially hit unicorn status earlier this year after a $60 million Series C round raised its valuation to $1.2 billion.  According to the company, Houston’s central location and transportation infrastructure will facilitate improved connectivity among its seven corporate offices, including international offices in Poland and Mexico, and 14 distribution centers nationwide. In addition to those key factors, Houston’s status as a dynamic business hub also played a significant role in the company’s decision to return home.  “I couldn’t be happier to bring Cart.com back home to Houston as we continue to revolutionize how merchants sell and fulfill products to meet customers anywhere they are,” said Cart.com Founder and CEO Omair Tariq. “The idea for Cart.com was born in Houston and we’ve always maintained a strong local presence with the majority of our executive team and board based here. As our customer mix increasingly moves upmarket and our own needs evolve, I’m confident Houston has what we need as we look towards the next stage of Cart.com’s growth story.”  The move will also unlock a deeper talent pool as the company augments key back-office functions including accounting, finance, HR and legal in one of the top cities nationally for Fortune 500 companies and talent.  According to the Partnership’s 2022 Houston Business Insider publication, Houston is home to more than 1.1 million millennials, reflecting a 25 percent increase over the last decade. With its population in that age group continuing to grow, Houston ranks among the top 10 cities in the U.S. for attracting millennials and retaining college graduates.  “Cart.com’s homecoming is a testament to why companies repeatedly choose Houston to scale their business with its diverse and dynamic economy along with its unparalleled talent pool that cuts across technology, professional services and global trade,” said Bob Harvey, Partnership President and CEO. “We’re excited to support Cart.com’s continued growth and look forward to the company’s contribution to Houston’s growing tech community.”  Boasting one of the nation's largest ports and two international airports, complemented by a robust talent pool and the cultural richness of one of the most diverse cities, Houston is a prime destination for companies aiming to maximize growth and efficiency. Cart.com’s relocation is not merely a shift in headquarters but a testament to the city’s capacity to foster success at every stage of business development.   Learn more about Houston’s talent pool and workforce.