TiECon Texas 2026 Brings Leaders in Energy, Health, Space, and Policy to Houston to Map the Automation Economy

TiE Houston, TiE Dallas, and TiE Austin host the conference October 28-29 at the Ion District

HOUSTON, TEXAS | October 16, 2026

TiE Houston, TiE Dallas, and TiE Austin are joining forces for TiECon Texas 2026, a day-and-a-half conference on October 28-29 at Houston’s Ion District. The theme is “The Future Runs on Automation.” Founders, investors, executives, researchers, and policymakers will come together to look at how AI and automation are changing the industries Texas runs on.

The conference opens on October 28 with a program for founders: startup showcases, investor meetings, and the TiE Hatch Pitch Competition, presented with Hatch Pitch. About 10 automation-focused startups get four weeks of mentoring and pitch coaching before they compete. Over 14 years of coaching, Hatch Pitch participants have gone on to raise more than $20 billion in funding and exits. “The founders building in automation today are rebuilding entire industries. We’re giving them the room, the coaching, and the ecosystem to move even faster,” said Greg Wright, Founder, Hatch Pitch.

On October 29, the main program covers:

• Healthcare: AI diagnostics, robotic surgery, and precision medicine, with clinicians and researchers from leading Houston medical institutions
• Space: Space commercialization and autonomous flight, with leaders from NASA and Houston’s space research community
• Energy 4.0: How AI, robotics, and digital twins are changing energy “from well to watts”
• AI infrastructure: Why Texas is at the center of the race for chips, data centers, and grid capacity
• Industrial-Grade Deployment: A fireside chat with founders and operators on moving AI from pilot projects to production, and what that means for governance and the future of work
• Governance: How countries balance competitiveness and public trust, with consular leaders from India, Canada, and Norway
• Raising children in the age of AI: Practical guidance for parents and educators from Baylor College of Medicine, UTHealth Houston, and the University of Houston
• Preparing the Workforce of the Future: How educators, employers, and workforce leaders can work together to equip current and future talent for an AI-driven economy

Steven Kean, President and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership, will give a keynote on Houston’s place in the innovation economy. Author and investor Aman Verjee, former CFO of Sonos, will ask whether we are in an AI bubble. The Hatch Pitch winner presents on the main stage that afternoon.

“We are living through a period of technological change unlike anything we have seen before. AI is no longer a conversation about the future. It is reshaping how we live, work, learn, and compete today. TiECon Texas brings together the people who are building that future and asks the bigger question: How do we make sure innovation translates into meaningful progress?” said Somesh Singh, President of TiE Houston.

“We started this journey with AI in the midst of everything we do. Now the conversation has moved from AI to actual usage, and to automation that bridges human and artificial intelligence. Founders are navigating that path every day, in healthcare, space, and energy, and bringing Gen Z along for that growth matters more than ever. Texas is the hub, and we are leading from the front,” said Harini Madhira, President of TiE Dallas.

TiE is one of the world’s largest nonprofit entrepreneurship networks, with 66 locations across five continents. TiE Charter Members attend for free. Registration is open at tiecontexas.org.

About TiE Houston

TiE Houston is the Houston chapter of TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs), a global nonprofit entrepreneurship network spanning 66 locations across five continents. TiE Houston connects founders, investors, and industry leaders through programs, mentorship, and events that strengthen the Texas innovation ecosystem.

About Hatch Pitch

Hatch Pitch is a founder-first startup showcase and coaching platform producing live streamed hybrid pitch competitions, virtual and in-person coaching programs, and community events. Its model pairs expert coaching with a polished stage experience, helping founders sharpen their pitch and connect with the investors, partners, and ecosystem builders who move startups forward. Over its 14 years of coaching, participants have gone on to raise more than $20 billion in funding and exits.

Media Contact: TiECon Texas 2026 Communications Team | [email protected] | tiecontexas.org