The Rice University Veterans Business Battle is a prestigious annual event that provides veteran entrepreneurs with a platform to showcase their business ideas and compete for investment capital. This year, TiE Houston and HRVCC combined resources to support these entrepreneurs, reflecting their commitment to fostering veteran-led innovation and business development.

On Guard, the recipient of the $100,000 investment award, offers a user-friendly app that enables individuals and businesses to easily hire commissioned law enforcement officers for security services. By simplifying the process of finding, booking, and paying for security, On Guard addresses a critical need in the market, providing peace of mind to its clients.

Founders of On Guard, Becky Jackson and John Stubbs, shared: “Partnering with Houston Regional Veteran Chamber of Commerce and TiE Houston to receive this investment award is an incredible honor and a powerful validation of ONGUARD’s vision. Participating in Rice’s Veterans Business Battle has been an incredible platform to connect with top-tier investors and industry leaders who share our passion for innovation in security. We’re excited to partner with HRVCC and TiE Houston for the invaluable mentorship, networking, and support that will help propel ONGUARD to the next level.”

In addition to the investment award for On Guard, TiE Houston and HRVCC recognized Backyard Banger as an honorable mention and second choice for the award. Backyard Banger has developed the world’s first garden hose kitchen and wet bar on wheels, featuring a built-in sink, refrigerator, and ample space for preparation and storage. This innovative product enhances outdoor cooking experiences without the need for permanent installations.

TiE Houston is a global entrepreneurship organization dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship through mentoring, networking, education, funding, and incubation. With a focus on giving back to the community, TiE Houston aims to nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs.

The Houston Regional Veterans Chamber of Commerce is committed to serving the veteran business community in the Houston region. By providing resources, networking opportunities, and advocacy, HRVCC empowers veteran entrepreneurs to succeed in their business endeavors.

This partnership between TiE Houston and HRVCC exemplifies a shared dedication to supporting veteran entrepreneurs and promoting innovation within the community.

Houston, TX (November 5, 2024): TiE Houston is proud to announce that a team of students from the University of Houston (UH) and Houston Community College (HCC) took home the top prize in the Business Innovation track at the TiE U Global Hackathon. The winning team, S.L.A.P. (Student Local Adaptation Program), developed an innovative solution to connect skilled students with local businesses for mentorship in essential digital skills.

The TiE U Global Hackathon brought together over 1250 students from 20 countries to compete and collaborate on solutions for real-world challenges in business and sustainability. Over 60 students from UH and HCC signed up to participate in the TiE U Hackathon, with 4 teams submitting projects. The winning team, S.L.A.P., was formed through a unique collaboration between students from both UH and HCC, demonstrating the power of cross-institutional partnerships.

S.L.A.P. impressed judges with their practical and impactful approach to bridging the digital skills gap for small businesses.  S.L.A.P stood out to the judges as a clever branding and effectively addressed the Business Track challenge to Accelerate Digital Skills for Small Business Growth, which was sponsored by the Verizon Small Business Ready Team.

Meet the Winning Team:

Both Andres and Luka are freshmen pursuing degrees in Computer Science and Entrepreneurship.

The TiE U Global Hackathon by the Numbers:

• Global Reach: Students from India, United States, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ghana, Canada, and more participated.
• Project Power: 500+ project drafts, 70 completed projects, and 8 finalists.
• Mentorship & Judging: 35+ TiE mentors and 18 industry judges from across the globe.

Generous Support Fuels Innovation:

The TiE U Hackathon was generously sponsored by Ansell, Verizon Small Business Ready Program, BMC Software, and Sheth Family Foundation. Over $22,000 in cash and travel awards were distributed to the 8 winning global teams.

The winning teams have the opportunity to double their prize money by attending the TiE Global Summit (TGS2024.com) and utilizing the double the Travel Awards option.

TiE Houston congratulates S.L.A.P. and all the participants in the TiE U Global Hackathon. This competition showcased the ingenuity and dedication of young minds in addressing critical challenges.

About TiE Houston: Since 1992. TiE has been supporting entrepreneurs by offering education, mentorship, networking and funding opportunities. The mission of TiE is to foster entrepreneurship globally through the 5 pillars of TiE: mentoring, networking and education, funding and incubation. Dedicated to the virtuous cycle of wealth creation and giving back to the community. TiE’s focus area is to generate enable the next generation of entrepreneurs.

TiE Global is the largest non-profit organization and has amazing networking effect. TiE connects the entire entrepreneurship ecosystem from early stage entrepreneurs, serial entrepreneurs, professionals at leading corporations, venture capital, angel investors, thought leaders among others. The organization emphasizes the spirit of giving in all aspects of their work.

Hannah Lightner

Director of Digital Media

digital@houston.tie.org

Houston, TX: On February 6th, TiE Houston and the Houston Angel Network will co-host a luncheon
highlighting the skills and expertise needed to join boards of directors at both public and private companies.
“The goal of this event is to launch a dialog and guide participants towards resources that can help them in the next step of the journey,” said Aruna Viswanathan, a board member at TiE Houston and COO of AlphaX Decision Sciences. “Our discussions will encompass not only public boards but also delve into the distinct skill sets and expertise necessary for private and emerging company boards. Our conversations aim to effectively cut through the noise associated with trends to provide a directed educational opportunity for our audience to learn based on the experiences of our panelists.”

“It’s about combining preparation with intentionality,” said Mitra Miller, Vice President of Houston Angel
Network. “The adage that one must ‘ask for the work’ is just as true at the executive and board level as it is in early and middle career. We are encouraging attendees to continue building their exceptional skill sets, expand their professional networks, and position themselves for advancement to boards and other leadership positions. We also want to encourage companies of all sizes to think about good governance and the strengths that board members can bring to their organizations.”

The over 200 attendees registered for this event are as diverse as Houston itself and come from dozens of
professional, industry, and experiential backgrounds.

Atop-tier panel will be speaking during lunch including Mary Bass, Partner at Spencer Stuart; Martha Gurwit, Board Member at CorMedica and Managing Director of Golden Seeds; Michelle A Lewis, Managing Director of 1911 Advisory; and Viswanathan as moderator. Combined, the expert panelists have a remarkable 88 years of executive leadership experience, 96 years serving on nonprofit boards, and 57 years serving on for-profit boards. Topics will include: the different kinds of boards, the responsibilities of a board member, and action items to move toward a future board position.

Registration ends on 1/31/2024; to purchase a ticket for the event, click here. To sponsor a table, contact
admin@houston.tie.org or samia@houstonangelnetwork.org.

About TiE Houston: Since 1992, TiE has been supporting entrepreneurs by offering education, mentorship, networking and funding opportunities. The mission of TiE is to foster entrepreneurship globally through the 5 pillars of TiE: mentoring, networking and education, funding and incubation. Dedicated to the virtuous cycle of wealth creation and giving back to the community, TiE’s focus is to enable the next generation of entrepreneurs.
https://houston.tie.org/

About Houston Angel Network (HAN): The Houston Angel Network (HAN) is the largest network of
independent angel investors in Texas and one of the most active in the U.S. Its members have invested more than $100M in more than 400 deals. As a non-profit organization, HAN is dedicated to advancing the innovation ecosystem by supporting early-stage companies with financial resources and mentorship.

https://www.houstonangelnetwork.org/

Hannah Lightner, Executive Director
admin@houston.tie.org
TiE Houston
713-299-5278

Samia Ahsan, Managing Director
samia@houstonangelnetwork.org
Houston Angel Network
832-998-4616

May 15th, 2024- (Houston, TX) – TiE Houston proudly announces its participation at the annual TiECon and TiE U events, showcasing the collective efforts to foster entrepreneurship among student innovators. Hosted by TiE Silicon Valley, the conference convened representatives from TiE chapters worldwide to engage in dialogue, networking, and entrepreneurial education.

TiE Houston’s commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial talent was demonstrated through the mentorship and sponsorship of nine high-performing student entrepreneurs from the University of Houston (UH) and Houston Community College (HCC). 

These aspiring innovators were given the opportunity to compete in the TiE U pitch competition where they showcased their innovative ideas and business ventures to a panel of esteemed judges. Team Liquidium from University of Houston finished in 4th. Team Arctic Flow from Houston Community College finished in the top 16 out of 1400+ global applicants. 

The journey began on April 29th as the student entrepreneurs embarked on an enriching experience— starting with a tour of the renowned Google headquarters. 

April 29th, 2024- Students pose during a tour of Google Headquarters

Students and mentors also received a personal tour of Stanford University by past TiE Atlanta student member, Dev Jashi. One student on the trip, Avwerosuoghene Etaghene later received an acceptance letter from Stanford for Fall 2024.

University of Houston student Pranjal Sheth, founder of Liquidium, shared “The TiE U Global Pitch Competition was one of the biggest competitions I’ve ever done, involving startups from across sectors and around the world. I highly recommend the TiE U program for aspiring entrepreneurs.”

May 2nd, 2024 – students with Navin Chaddha, Managing Partner, Mayfield Fund

TiE Houston’s President, Ram Shenoy, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative: “Our participation at TiECon and TiE U underscores TiE Houston’s commitment to fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs. By providing these students with access to invaluable resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities, we aim to empower them to realize their entrepreneurial aspirations.”

Corporate sponsors’ support has been instrumental in making this initiative a success. TiE Houston extends its heartfelt gratitude to Houston Community College, the University of Houston, the University of St. Thomas, and BMC Software for their unwavering support and commitment to empowering local entrepreneurs.

Wendy Rentschler, Global Head of Corporate Citizenship at BMC Software participated as a speaker at TiECon and Judge at the TiE U finals.  

Wendy had the following to say about her experience: “BMC Software is deeply committed to nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship, not only in Houston but globally. Our sponsorship of TiE Houston’s Next Generation Entrepreneurs at TiECon and TiE U Competition is a testament to our dedication. By investing in the promising, technology-driven talents from the University of Houston and Houston Community College, we not only fuel the dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem but also catalyze progress that enriches society at large. Our support for such initiatives is a cornerstone of BMC Software’s mission to forge a more inclusive and technologically advanced future, paving the way for continuous innovation and community growth.” 

Through initiatives like TiECon and TiE U, TiE Houston continues to uphold its mission of fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic growth within the Houston community. For more information about TiE Houston and its initiatives, please visit www.houston.tie.org

About TiE Houston:

TiE Houston is the local chapter of TiE Global, a global network of chapters dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship through mentoring, networking, and education. TiE Houston provides a platform for entrepreneurs, investors, and industry professionals to connect, collaborate, and grow their businesses while contributing to the economic development of the Houston region.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Hannah Lightner

Director, Digital Media

TiE Houston

digital@houston.tie.org

Investment in Xtend

In the first half of 2024, TiE Houston Angels invested $400,000 in Xtend’s Series B funding round. Xtend is renowned for it’s cutting-edge extended reality (XR) technologies and flagship product, XOS which serves as a robotics operating system for advanced human and machine collaboration. The investment aims to bolster Xtend’s growth trajectory and enhance its product offerings to drive further advancements in new markets and industries. Charter Member, Jigesh Vora, led this investment effort and underscored the TiE Houston Angel’s belief in Xtend’s innovative potential.

Investment in Pure Blue Tech

TiE Houston Angels ALSO invested a total of $260,000 in Pure Blue Tech, a company focused on sustainable water purification technologies. The latest investment of $175,000 in the mezzanine round preceding the company’s Series A funding. Pure Blue Tech is poised to revolutionize the water purification industry. Hubert Vaz-Nayak, Charter Member of TiE Houston, led the investment in Pure Blue Tech and highlighted TiE Houston’s dedication to supporting impactful, environmentally-conscious startups.

“These investments reflect our ongoing mission to back innovative companies that have the potential to make a significant impact in their respective fields,” said Ram Shenoy, President of TiE Houston. “We are excited to support Xtend and Pure Blue Tech as they continue to push the boundaries of technology and sustainability.”

TiE Houston Angels remains committed to identifying and nurturing startups with transformative potential. Through strategic investments and active mentorship, the group aims to drive economic growth and innovation in the Houston entrepreneurial ecosystem.

About TiE Houston Angels

TiE Houston Angels is an investment group committed to supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem by providing capital and strategic guidance to both early-stage and later-stage startups. By leveraging the extensive network and expertise of its members, TiE Houston Angels invests in a diverse range of companies, helping them scale and achieve their full potential. Whether it’s backing a promising new venture in its initial stages or supporting a growing company ready for its next phase of development, TiE Houston Angels is dedicated to fostering innovation, driving economic growth, and creating lasting impact.

For more information about TiE Houston Angels and its investment activities, please visit houston.tie.org

For more information about Xtend, visit their website: https://www.xtend.me/

For more information about Pure Blue Tech, visit their http://purebluetech.com.

Media Contact:

Amir Eskafyan
Director of Angel Investments & Operations
TiE Houston Angels
admin@houston.tie.org

Business Model & Pitch Deck Sample Outlines

Video Resources:

Please do not hesitate to reach out to admin [at] houston [dot] tie.org with any questions related to the Pitch Competition!  We would be happy to assist you in creating your business plan or pitch.

*Informational Sessions:

• Optional Session to learn more about the competition from the Houston Event Champion, Ravi Brahmbatt.  Come prepared with questions and let’s get you registered for a chance to win cash prizes and compete in an all-expenses-paid trip to the Global Finals in Silicon Valley!

Business Model Canvas Due: Feb 9th

• Mandatory event to showcase your business model to our panel judges.  Come prepared for a VIRTUAL 15 minute slideshow presentation and 5 minute Q&A.

Business Plan Summary Due: Feb 16th

• Following a similar round as the Business Model Canvas event, come to this mandatory event

Mock/Practice Pitch Round: March 2nd

Qualifying Round: March 16th

Final Houston Round: April 6th

TiE Global Pitchfest: May TBD

The TiE University Pitch Competition is now open and accepting participants who are eager to demonstrate their entrepreneurial prowess and seize the chance to win substantial prize money. With a mission to empower and support the next generation of business leaders, this competition promises to be a stepping stone towards success.

Participants can compete in various categories, including the Best Sustainable Business and Best Women-led Business. The TiE U program recognizes the importance of sustainable practices and the invaluable contribution of women entrepreneurs to the business world. By introducing these specific categories, TiE U aims to provide additional encouragement and recognition to these exceptional business ventures.

Upon successful application, participants will gain access to an array of resources including mentoring, external mentors, coaches, and ecosystem partners to support them in their entrepreneurial journey. This holistic approach ensures that participants receive the guidance and knowledge necessary to develop their campus ideas into viable and sustainable businesses.

The TiE University Pitch Competition provides a valuable platform for student entrepreneurs to stand out, gain exposure, and network with influential industry professionals. By participating in this competition, students will have the opportunity to connect and learn from TiE members, external mentors, and ecosystem partners, creating possibilities for future collaborations and growth.

To join this exciting competition, applicants can visit the official TiE U website at tieuniversity.org. The submission deadline is [deadline date]. Don’t miss out on your chance to showcase your entrepreneurial skills and win amazing prizes!

For more information about the TiE University Pitch Competition or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Ravi at ravi [dot] brahmbhatt [at] hccs.edu