We Empower People with Purpose

 

 

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Impact Hub Houston is a 501c3 non-profit organization that empowers people to develop solutions and social ventures with scalable impact for a more just and sustainable world. Guidestar Platinum certified for our commitment to transparency and accountability, we work alongside over 112 Impact Hubs with 24,000+ members spanning 69 countries around the world and growing — recognized by the United Nations as the world’s largest community for accelerating entrepreneurial solutions for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Together, we offer intentional, inclusive, and international support that helps diverse innovators leverage business and profit to better serve people and planet so we all may thrive.

OUR VISION

 

We believe Houston can be a role model for how the world solves its most pressing issues.

OUR MISSION

To inspire, connect, and empower diverse changemakers, entrepreneurs, and innovators with mentorship, meaningful content, thought-provoking talks, hands-on learning opportunities, and vibrant community conversations.

To create inclusive and equitable spaces where people can easily plug in, experience belonging, and actively champion each other.

To deepen and strengthen collaborative relationships among stakeholders and build an ecosystem where people work together across industries, cultures, identities, geographies, and generations.

What Drives Us

We believe that you care about Houston and want to help it grow and thrive.

You’re here. You showed up. And your interest in who we are and what we do shows that you want to improve Houston by helping changemakers, social entrepreneurs, small businesses and startups build solutions that create positive impact. Don’t stop here: JOIN US. We know that together, we can deliver that impact at scale.

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Why we need Impact Hub Houston

Houston is one of America’s greatest cities in every respect. We’re home to:

  • One of the largest and most diverse populations in the country
  • One of the largest ports
  • The world’s largest medical center
  • One of the largest concentrations of Fortune 1000 company headquarters
  • One of the nation’s largest Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas (CMSA) — the Greater Houston region is larger than New Jersey, and almost as large as the state of Massachusetts!

The greatness of Houston means we also face great challenges — just ask our friends at the Kinder Institute and January Advisors. Not all Houstonians can access our myriad resources nor enjoy the same benefits our city offers…and not all face the same social and environmental issues. We must meet people where they in terms of geography, generation, education, mobility, class, culture, life stages and startup stages, and devise ways to foster empathy, understanding, connection and collaboration among our immense community.

To address these issues, we offer:

Inclusive and Equitable Spaces

Impact Hub Houston is building an innovation ecosystem that inspires, connects, and empowers all people working on solutions towards any of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We welcome problem solvers from all areas and at any stage of their entrepreneurial journey — even those who may not have had exposure or effective training in modern technologies and business practices before. With respect to SDGs 5 (Gender Equality), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 10 (Reducing Inequalities), and 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), we especially seek to support changemakers who come from and/or wish to serve historically disadvantaged, overlooked or underserved communities.

Wherever you are on your impact journey, we want to meet you there and help you get to the next level. We can help you connect with peers and mentors, ideate and validate potential solutions, and build sustainable models around your idea so you can forge your own path to economic resilience and wealth, create jobs and opportunities for others, and successfully participate in the innovation economy. If you’re ready to get started, JOIN US!

Authentic and Collaborative Community

Impact Hub Houston engages and connects a vibrant community of entrepreneurial changemakers who are passionate about building a better future and are dedicated to creating positive impact in our city.

We screen Impact Hub Houston members for:
– alignment of purpose and impact orientation
– ability to support other members with respect as true peers
– willingness to contribute to our culture of collaboration and servant leadership
– genuine effort to learn, share ideas and develop social ventures

Intentional Programming and Placemaking

We champion inclusive, impact-driven innovation by providing an integrated platform and thoughtful programming that meets problem solvers where they are, shares entrepreneurial knowledge, connects diverse communities, and bridges resource gaps.

We host collaborative programs and events in our space and at partner venues across Houston in order to inspire and inform innovators with meaningful content, thought-provoking discussions, expert-led talks, hands-on learning opportunities, and facilitated community conversations.

Our recurring programs and special events include:

– Open Project Nights with Sketch City
– F.U.N. Stories with Creative Vida and the French American Chamber of Commerce
– SDG-Themed Expert Roundtables and Hackathons
– Global Entrepreneurship Week
THIS: The Houston Innovation Summit
TEDxHouston

​The lens through which we view our impact

OUR TARGET GOALS

The music makers and dreamers of dreams

OUR TEAM

Grace Rodriguez

CEO / Executive Director

Michelle Avalos

Deputy Director

Akeel Bernard

Community Catalyst

The fuel to our fire and wind beneath our wings

OUR BOARD

Board Chair: Phillip Yates

Attorney, Law Office of Yates & Associates
Senior Consultant, Houston Area Urban League

Vice Chair: Erik Ibarra

Founder/CEO, ORDRS.io
Board Member, Houston Exponential

Secretary: Shiroy Aspandiar

Co-Founder, Impact Hub Houston
Co-Founder/COO, Ladder

Kevin Doffing

Advisor
Energy Transition Startups & Veteran Businesses

Brandy Guidry

Director of Business Development
MVG Energy Solutions

Jeff Reichman

Founder, January Advisors

Reda Hicks

Founder/CEO, GotSpot
Vice President, Burford Capital
grace rodriguez

Brenda Rios Brombacher

Director, McNair Center for Entrepreneurship & Free Enterprise

grace rodriguez

Joshua Sanders

Founder, Joshua Sanders LLC

(Emeritus: Jamie Jones)

Executive Director, Duke’s Fuqua Center for Entrepreneurship

We are truly grateful for the allies, collaborators, and sponsors who help us scale our impact both here and abroad!

OUR PARTNERS INCLUDE...

Houston Downtown Redevelopment Authority
Houston Downtown Management District
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Greentown Houston
The Cannon Houston
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Greentown Houston