Aeon District, Houston's thriving 16-acre innovation hub, recently released its 2024 Community Investment Report, highlighting the organization's commitment to the community and efforts to strengthen the region's evolving technology ecosystem .
The report outlined some of the organization's key initiatives for 2023, including workforce development, a critical need as Houston continues to expand its presence in the innovation and technology sector. According to the partnership's Houston Facts Report, Houston will lead all U.S. cities in tech job growth in 2022, up 45.6% from the previous year.
Last year, Aeon District announced that it had selected Per Scholas as its workforce training partner to support its technical training and recruitment programs. Since its inception, the program has received more than 930 applications, enrolled 48 students, launched three cohorts, and graduated 21 students. The program offers tuition-free courses designed to meet industry standards and provide graduates with the skills needed for high-demand jobs.
In addition to workforce development, Aeon District worked to increase opportunities for local minority- and women-owned businesses (MWBEs) through the Inclusive Tech Accelerator and Inclusive Tech Investment Fund. With a total investment of $6.5 million from Rice University, these initiatives will provide companies with funding to advance their services and products.
Other accomplishments include the organization's MWBE Outreach and Technical Assistance Program, which hosted seven events last year that attracted more than 800 participants. The program pairs MWBEs and advisors to develop strategies for economic development opportunities within Aeon.
Community collaboration was also a big focus in the Aeon District last year. According to the report, the organization's efforts focus on technical upskilling, workforce development, and services that help underrepresented founders, technology-enabled companies, and disadvantaged businesses grow. It says it has hosted more than 1,000 events aimed at educating the entire Houston community.
These efforts served as a catalyst for cross-industry collaboration and facilitated the expansion of existing companies into Aeon. Last year, Houston Methodist opened his 1,200 square foot tech hub at Aeon. The hub provides a collaborative space for innovators to advance digital health technologies.
“Houston Methodist's space at Aeon will further expand opportunities for the startup and entrepreneurial community to incorporate and gain exposure to the latest innovations in the health care space,” said Jan E. Odegaard, Aeon's executive director, in a statement. It will happen,” he said. “This partnership is a testament to the ecosystem we are building and the talent within our building.”
Other companies include SCS Technologies, which opened a 266,000 square foot innovation hub last year to advance energy transition efforts. Chevron and Microsoft are also among Aeon's first tenants, a testament to the energy and technology giant's focus on the Houston community.
The breakthroughs and collaborations coming out of the Aeon District have positioned Houston as an emerging leader in technology and innovation. According to Houston Facts, Houston is home to more than 9,000 technology companies, of which more than 1,000 are venture-backed startups. Additionally, the report shows that Houston's mature and high-tech startups and companies have attracted significant support, generating $6.42 billion in venture capital funding over the past five years.
“Aeon allows our faculty and students to make an impact in our cities, countries, and around the world through partnerships and collaborations that might not otherwise be formed,” said Rice University President Reginald Desroches. “I will.” “Aeon allows us to collaborate with experts and real end users to bring solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in cities and the world.”
Learn more about Houston's technology and innovation ecosystem.
