by Grace Rodriguez | Oct 6, 2026 | Front Page, Houston News, Latest News
Impact Hub Houston Announces Houston Hackathon 2026 Winners
KinSource takes first place as Houstonians turn real civic challenges into working solutions in a single weekend.
HOUSTON, TX (October 6, 2026) — Impact Hub Houston announced the winners of Houston Hackathon 2026, the annual civic hackathon hosted in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Innovation and Performance. From September 24 to 27, Houstonians of every background and skill level came together at the Ion District with one question: What would it take to make this city work better for all of us? Over 260 people joined the kick-off, supported by 36+ volunteers and mentors to form teams and develop novel approaches to tackle some of Houston’s pressing challenges.
95 hackers registered and submitted 43 projects, with 22 qualifying to go on for judging against three primary criteria: Progress, Practicality, and Potential. KinSource, a free step-by-step planning tool for families moving or caring for an aging parent, earned first place. BlindSpot took second, Ride METRO third, and, after 233 public votes were cast, WalkCheck was named the People’s Choice. Promising solutions CleanConnect and CivicBoost received honorable mentions, and Houston Hacker A. Lester Buck III was recognized for his contributions to creating fasthouston.org — an open data exploration tool that brings together 7,218 datasets and layers from 16 sources into one place to make all local data easily searchable for analysts, community advocates, civic hackers, and future Houston Hackathons.
You didn’t have to be a developer or designer to join. You just needed to care about solving a problem in your community. Teams took on real challenges brought by City of Houston staff and local organizations, and every project faced three honest questions. Is it making Progress, with solid research and a plan someone can act on? Is it Practical, something people can adopt and sustain? Does it have Potential to reach more people and solve more problems?
“Houston’s challenges are real, but so is the talent in this community. They really showed up this weekend. What impressed me most, though, wasn’t just what they created, but how they created it — many teams went out into their communities, talked to real people and listened, walked in their shoes, and then built their prototypes. Their solutions have real legs to move forward on. But a prototype is a promise, and promises need follow-through. Our winners now have the harder, potentially more rewarding work of getting these solutions out into the world and into the hands of the people who need them; and we at Impact Hub Houston are ready to support them.”
Grace Rodriguez, Executive Director, Impact Hub Houston
The Winners
- First Place: KinSource. A free, plain-language plan that tells Houston families what to do, and in what order, when a parent needs to move or needs more care. Every plan starts with free public help before any paid step. KinSource also earned first in Progress and first in Practical, and was built for the “Helping Families Manage Senior Parents’ Re-Housing” challenge, owned by Harbor Lane. Team: Karee Laing, Radica L., and Shahrukh Siddiqui.
- Second Place: BlindSpot. A trip planner that shows why Houston traffic is slow and re-routes around blocked rail crossings, congestion, and high-crash streets, using free public data from Houston TranStar, the City’s Train Watch sensors, and Vision Zero. Team: Deepika Miryala, Chris D., Agasthya Tatti, Jason Qian, Nathan Jithendra, and Zain Khan.
- Third Place: Ride METRO. A redesign of the RideMETRO app that opens with “Where to?” and labels every arrival as Live, Scheduled, or Tracking lost, so riders know which times to trust. The team cut the steps from opening the app to a usable map from 14 to 2, and earned first in Potential. Team: Mohammed Altaie, David Yang, Lawrence Castacio, Rikki Royd Casupanan, and Giovanni Joseph.
- People’s Choice: WalkCheck. Chosen by public vote. After Houston ISD school closures lengthened many children’s walks, WalkCheck maps the new route, shows where to cross, and pre-fills HISD and City safety request forms, in English and Spanish. Team: Junda Yin, Carsten R., and Murphy Amos.
- Honorable Mention: CleanConnect Houston. A map-first platform that lets volunteers and civic groups claim cleanup sites drawn from Houston’s 311 dumping reports, so no two groups show up at the same spot. Team: Mike Wing and Hiram Riddle.
- Honorable Mention: CivicBoost. A platform that helps residents turn local frustrations into structured proposals, build neighbor support, and send them to city channels. Team: Oleg Balakirev and Shahrukh Siddiqui.
The Prizes, Judges, and Partners
The four winning teams, including People’s Choice, receive support to keep building:
- Fiscal sponsorship from Impact Hub Houston, so teams can access grants, sponsorships, and tax-deductible donations
- Scholarships to the next “Ideas to Impact” Accelerator cohort
- Impact Hub Houston Membership
- Google Career Certificate Scholarships
The judges were Grace Rodriguez (Impact Hub Houston), Jesse Bounds (Director, Mayor’s Office of Innovation and Performance), Joey Sanchez (Cup of Joey), Tricia Vincent (Launch Your Influence), Raphael Guzman (Censibal), Ellis Hubbard III (The Roo App), and Wade Pinder (Mentor in Residence, The Ion).
Houston Hackathon 2026 was made possible by: City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Innovation and Performance; Rice Alliance and Ion District; Claude Community of Houston; Goodspero for capturing some memorable moments (viewable in the Houston Hackathon 2026 Photo Album at https://photos.app.goo.gl/WNmvQ4QjWi6nvmae8); Sarah Radwan & Functional Bodywork Therapies; Latinas in Tech Houston; The Quiet Rebel; and everyone who showed up and pitched in for the Pizza Fund: Maria, Julio, Jesse, Rikki, Morgan, Jessica, Nelson, Shantel, Radica, Mehrab, Ian, Aayan, Michael, Lawrence, William, Hoang, Deepika.
Join the Next Chapter
Houstonians who want to help these teams and the next ones can support the cause, become a member of Impact Hub Houston, and volunteer, donate, and/or subscribe to our newsletter to learn when the next hackathon happens in 2027!
About Impact Hub Houston
Impact Hub Houston is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entrepreneurship accelerator and ecosystem facilitator based at the Ion District, 4201 Main St., Houston, TX 77002. It is part of the global Impact Hub network and exists to give people the inspiration, connection, and resources they need to launch and grow solutions with scalable impact, for a more just and sustainable world. Learn more at houston.impacthub.net.
by Grace Rodriguez | Jun 20, 2026 | Front Page, Houston News, Latest News
Build Equity (BE) Supports Local Entrepreneurship
Inspired by the upcoming FIFA World Cup 26™, The Coca‑Cola Company supports the University of Notre Dame’s Urban Poverty and Business Initiative (UPBI) as it expands its work through institutions such as Impact Hub Houston to build enduring legacies of economic inclusion, leadership development, and sustainable local enterprise expansion for a legacy of connection that extends beyond the tournament.
HOUSTON, TX – June 21, 2026 – Impact Hub Houston announces the real-world impact of its recently launched Build Equity ("BE") program, collaborating directly with UPBI to deliver entrepreneurship training and support tailored to local community needs, thanks to the support of The Coca-Cola Company.
Impact Hub Houston celebrates the successful graduation of 28 emerging entrepreneurs from across the Greater Houston area. Powered by the rigorous curriculum of the Urban Poverty and Business Initiative (UPBI) — housed within the McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business at the University of Notre Dame — the program is purposefully designed to dismantle systemic economic barriers and catalyze long-term job creation within marginalized communities.
Following a highly competitive application cycle that concluded earlier this year, the 28 selected participants underwent an intensive, hands-on six-week business bootcamp. The curriculum targeted core operational fundamentals, financial models, risk mitigation, and strategic growth planning. Moving directly from the classroom to real-world deployment, 20 of these local entrepreneurs have now successfully advanced into an intensive four-month personalized mentorship phase, where they are paired one-on-one with experienced entrepreneurs and subject matter experts to aggressively scale their ventures.
The implementation of the Build Equity program arrives at a critical moment for the region, directly supporting localized entrepreneurial action to stimulate neighborhood economies in a time when many people are being laid off and finding it challenging to afford basic needs like groceries, shelter, and healthcare. By providing people with actionable business toolkits, social capital, and institutional backing, the program aims to establish resilient businesses capable of employing local residents and retaining wealth within the community.
“We are deeply inspired by the grit and perseverance of the 28 entrepreneurs who graduated 'Build Equity.' Their resilience represents the future of Houston's economy,” said Grace Rodriguez, Executive Director of Impact Hub Houston. “Intellectual, financial, and social capital are the definitive ladders for upward mobility. By equipping these founders with the UPBI framework, access to contracts and capital providers, and a powerful network of experienced mentors, we are not just helping individual businesses grow — we are actively investing in the economic self-sufficiency of our neighbors and the vitality of our neighborhoods across Greater Houston.”
As 20 of the businesses progress on through the remaining phases of personalized advisory and capacity-building, Impact Hub Houston and its ecosystem partners remain committed to support them with revenue generation, job creation, operational improvement, and impact tracking.
To learn more about the program, visit Notre Dame's post here: https://news.nd.edu/news/coca-cola-and-notre-dame-bring-poverty-alleviation-efforts-to-host-cities-during-the-fifa-world-cup-2026/
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A 3x Microsoft AI MVP, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, and founder of BuildMyBizBrand, a platform empowering professionals and businesses to launch standout personal brands. She is an active board member of the Global AI Community, a faculty member at Black Girls CODE, and a frequent speaker and author on responsible AI, data modernization, and ethical technology.
Founder and Creative Director at Latido Art Design, aimed to inspire creativity through innovative art and human-centered design in the age of AI. His portfolio spans impactful projects for businesses and cultural initiatives, reflecting his passion for blending art, technology, and empathy to drive meaningful connections and brand relevance.
An award-winning leadership coach, change consultant, and founder of Organized SHIFT™, recognized for her expertise in equipping leaders and organizations to navigate complexity and drive sustainable growth. She has been honored as a Woman of Impact, Innovation Award Mentor of the Year, and Emerging 10 Minority Business Enterprise Honoree.
You Can Make a Difference, Too
Want to support people solving problems in Houston?
Want to inspire, connect, and enable changemakers in your community?
Support programs like Build Equity, and Donate what you can today!
by Michelle Avalos | Mar 26, 2026 | Front Page, Houston News, Latest News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Houston, Texas — March 27, 2026
Impact Hub Houston, the region’s leading hub for impact innovation and entrepreneurship, is proud to celebrate the graduates of the inaugural Ideas to Impact Accelerator cohort. The 16-week program provides expert mentorship, peer collaboration, and guidance through the LeanStack continuous innovation framework to help emerging entrepreneurs transform their ideas into evidence-informed businesses that create positive impact for people and planet. Impact Scholarships were awarded to enable qualified founders to access support at this early stage of their journeys, as well.
Meet and Celebrate Our Inaugural Cohort of Graduates:
- Angela Johnson, INNERVERSE Inc: “Equipping Houston middle schoolers with the self-knowledge, agency, and accountability to own their future and power the city’s next generation of innovative leaders.”
- Dr. Faith Ohuoba, Myoviva Health: “An obgyn led virtual fibroid platform that exists to transform fibroid care from fragmented and reactive to personalized, proactive and outcomes-driven.”
- David A. Brown, The Change Lab: “We are building a platform to help our community take part in civic and social life through learning, connecting, and advocating.”
- Yuri Perez, Yuyo: “We are building a scalable, tech-enabled wellness ecosystem (studio + app) that provides families daily access to movement, culture, and community support wherever they are.”
- Michael Compean, MyBarFlow: “I am building a platform for the community to alleviate drunk driving with an innovative approach to bartending.”
- Edwin Ruano, RSkill: “We are developing a platform for unemployed talent and talent at risk due to AI implementation, to acquire and validate new high-demand digital skills and connect them with quality remote jobs.”
- Pat Lindsay Buscaino, Kuwento Co: “We are building The Kuwento Academy, where people and communities learn to write, preserve, and publish their stories for future generations.”
- Joshlyn Ross, Maximized Money: “We are building The Investor Lab, a membership platform where women learn how to invest their first $100 in 30 days.”
- Lisa Williams, Glocal Gathering: “A subscription that turns curiosity about unfamiliar produce into confident cooking.”
- Julio Gonzalez: “A digital public bulletin board that makes civic and community notices easy to publish, easy to find, and accessible from any device.”
- Guillermo Saenz, Semillistas: “We are building a Community SEO engine for mission-driven organizations that connects them with trusted local connectors, helping them earn relevance through real community trust.”
Through the Ideas to Impact Accelerator, entrepreneurs:
- Mapped and iterated their Lean Canvas business models
- Built and tested traction roadmaps to define what success looks like over time
- Conducted problem discovery interviews to deeply understand their customers
- Focused on designing compelling solutions grounded in real customer needs
- Practiced communicating their value proposition through concise pitches to stakeholders
The program emphasized progress, learning, and iteration, equipping founders with the tools to continue building beyond the accelerator. It culminated in a Graduation Showcase at The Ion, where founders presented 3-minute Business Model Story pitches to an audience of community members and ecosystem supporters, with structured feedback from Guest Advisors Grace Rodriguez, Tracie Jae, and Wade Pinder in a final learning moment to help founders continue refining their models. They reinforced that the showcase was not a finish line, but a milestone in an ongoing process of building and learning.
Each founder brought a unique perspective and a shared commitment to building solutions that matter.
“The Ideas to Impact Accelerator forced me to stop working in my business and finally work on it. It gave me the structure, mentorship, and real-time feedback I needed to clarify my vision, test my ideas, and push myself beyond what I thought I was capable of—especially through the final pitch. I’m walking away not just with a stronger business in Kuwento Co., but with the confidence and tools to actually move it forward! Deepest gratitude goes to Grace, Michelle, Maria, and Tracie for the amazing program, and to my cohort who made the experience real and memorable!” – Dr. Pat Lindsay Buscaino, Kuwento Co.
“This cohort shifted something in me. I realized every milestone we hit wasn’t just a business win — but confirmation that momentum and consistency are essential in entrepreneurship. Myoviva Health is building the future of healthcare our mothers deserved and our daughters will inherit. And we’re just getting started by aligning with potential investors and partners.” – Dr. Faith Ohuoba, Myoviva Health
“Really appreciate the opportunity to be part of this showcase… I always love seeing that moment where someone takes an idea that’s been living in their head and starts to shape it into something real. There’s something powerful about watching founders move from concept to something they can actually build and launch… you can often feel the shift happen in real time. That transition is where so much of the learning lives, and it’s what makes this program so meaningful.” – Wade Pinder
Looking Ahead
The completion of the Ideas to Impact Accelerator marks the beginning of the next phase for these founders. Armed with stronger customer insights and a more structured approach to validating their solution and growing their business, they are better positioned to continue developing their impact ventures in Houston and beyond. Graduates will continue to receive support through Impact Hub Houston Community Membership, ongoing programming, and connections to the Impact Hub global network of entrepreneurs, advisors, investors, and changemakers.
View the Graduation and Showcase Photo Gallery
Have an idea or early stage impact business? Join the Waitlist and be notified when the next round of applications goes live later this year!
Want to volunteer as a mentor with our impact driven entrepreneurs? Apply Here: https://bit.ly/impacthubhoustonmentor
About Impact Hub Houston
Impact Hub Houston is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers entrepreneurs to build solutions for a more just and sustainable world. As part of a global network of 130+ Impact Hubs and 24,000+ members across 69 countries, we connect creative, committed changemakers and partner with organizations across sectors to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems, inspire collaboration, and scale impact aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Grace Rodriguez
CEO, Impact Hub Houston
📧 [email protected]
🌐 houston.impacthub.net
by Michelle Avalos | Jan 9, 2026 | Front Page, Houston News, Latest News
Houston, TX – January 9, 2026 – Impact Hub Houston is proud to announce a new partnership with the Urban Poverty and Business Initiative (or “UPBI,” housed within the McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business at the University of Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs) to launch “Build Equity,” a program designed to break systemic barriers and empower emerging entrepreneurs from low-income backgrounds to achieve upward mobility and uplift communities across Greater Houston.
Impact Hub Houston’s new projects have been made possible by its partnership with the UPBI, which has joined forces with The Coca-Cola Company to empower entrepreneurs nationwide. Coca-Cola, inspired by the upcoming FIFA World Cup 26™, is supporting community groups around the country to drive economic growth and inclusion, help the next generation of leaders unlock their potential, and make positive and long-lasting contributions to local communities.
“We’re excited for this opportunity to uplift the next generation of business owners and leaders,” said Grace Rodriguez, Executive Director of Impact Hub Houston. “Research shows that social capital—or ‘economic connectedness’—has a strong impact on upward mobility, unlocking economic ladders that give lower-income individuals access to opportunities, jobs, and resources. Together, we’re equipping emerging entrepreneurs with the tools they need to unlock their potential and build connections, capacity, and confidence for long-term success, so they, their families, and their communities can thrive.”
With “Build Equity,” Impact Hub Houston leverages UPBI’s curriculum to help aspiring entrepreneurs develop the mindset, skills, assets, and confidence to launch revenue-generating businesses. Participants receive applied education, mentorship, consulting, network connections, and capital readiness preparation through a six-week hands-on bootcamp followed by four months of personalized mentorship and four months of ongoing support.
Coca-Cola’s support reflects its broader mission to empower local economies and inspire the next generation through targeted investments in communities, colleges, and youth leadership programs. By focusing on economic mobility, inclusion, and community-driven opportunity, Coca-Cola is building a legacy of connection that extends beyond the tournament.
Applications are open now until February 23, 2026. Impact Hub Houston invites individuals to learn more about the program and apply at https://bit.ly/applytobe.
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Program Partners:
Impact Hub Houston is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers entrepreneurs to build solutions for a more just and sustainable world. As part of a global network of 130+ Impact Hubs and 24,000+ members across 69 countries, we connect creative, committed changemakers and partner with organizations across sectors to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems, inspire collaboration, and scale impact aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Grace Rodriguez
CEO, Impact Hub Houston
📧 [email protected]
🌐 houston.impacthub.net
The Urban Poverty and Business Initiative (or “UPBI,” housed within the McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business at the University of Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs) is a network of universities and non-profit organizations dedicated to facilitating business growth among America’s lowest income neighborhoods. Grounded in more than 25 years of hands-on experience and research, the UPBI model is uniquely tailored to address the challenges among low-income and disadvantaged individuals as they navigate the entrepreneurial process.
The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship (Rice Alliance) is Rice University’s nationally recognized initiative devoted to the support of technology commercialization, entrepreneurship education, and the launch of technology companies. The Rice Alliance leads programming and activation at the Ion, Houston’s HQ for Innovation. The Ion anchors the Ion District, a 16-acre innovation hub in Houston’s Midtown, developed by Rice University. Since 2001, 3,714 companies have participated in Rice Alliance programs—and those companies raised more than $31.46B+ in capital.
by Grace Rodriguez | Dec 22, 2025 | Houston News
Dear Friend of Impact Hub: Thank you for an incredible 2025!
The TL;DR: Happy Holidays! We’re celebrating RestFest December 22 through January 4 and won’t be in the office until January 5. As a token of appreciation for being part of our community, we wanted to give you a special year-end gift: the 2025–2026 Impact Planner—a space to reflect on the year, capture insights, and map out your next impact milestones: https://impacthub.net/2025-impact-planner/. We hope you find it helpful!
…And now…RestFest reflections from Grace and the team…and then more on this gift from our Global Network!
As we wrap up 2025 (and our presents!), all I can say is: What a year! 2025 tested our resourcefulness and resilience in ways we never anticipated. Just as we were hitting our stride with the Greater Houston Support Stack, federal funding cuts eliminated the MBDA Capital Readiness Program grant that supported it. As we were settling into our new location at the Esperson, the building fell under new ownership forcing us to move again – thankfully, our friends at the Rice Alliance helped us find a new home at The Ion. And as the year went on, we watched thousands of Houstonians face exponential increases in cost of living, amid an uncertain economy shadowed by AI disruption, massive layoffs, dramatic policy shifts, and heightened industry volatility.
Yet in the face of these challenges, our community showed up powerfully: Kami Huyse expanded Social Media Breakfast Houston, Tracie Jae launched Community Cafe, Peter Durand launched “Think Visual”, and Houston Open Source Society is bringing their meetup to our #tech4good community. We celebrated the graduation of our latest adidas Community Lab impact accelerator program. We brought back the Houston Hackathon, and successfully launched our inaugural Ideas to Impact Accelerator cohort. Our Global Network celebrated its 20th anniversary and launched our Ecosystem Building framework for the world. And our work was recognized as a Finalist for the InnovationMap Incubator/Accelerator of the Year Award.
Through all of this, we witnessed something even more meaningful—our network and partners doubled down on their commitment to collaborating to create positive impact and support entrepreneurs from all walks of life. These moments reminded me that collective resilience isn’t just weathering the storm; it’s choosing to come together and build something better because of it.
That sparked a fundamental question for our team: What kind of work gives each person life? Where do they find energy, inspiration, and purpose—not just productivity? We’ve always championed trust, courage, and collaboration among our values, but our traditional nonprofit structure wasn’t fully embodying them. So, we’ve committed to restructuring for 2026 with courage and intentionality. We’re building operational solutions with AI and automation not to replace people, but to free our team from repeated tasks so each of us can spend more time on deeper, more personalized support for our entrepreneurs and ecosystem partners.We’re positioning ourselves to be thought leaders in how impact organizations leverage technology for equity. This isn’t about doing more with less; it’s about doing what matters most, and doing it at the level of excellence that our community deserves.
Looking toward 2026, I feel energized by the possibilities. We’ve been living in unprecedented times, and I believe we will now face unprecedented opportunities, as well. The World Cup will bring global attention and market opportunities to Houston, and we plan to help impact entrepreneurs and ventures seize them. New AI and SaaS tools are giving more people the ability to create innovative solutions faster, and we aim to help more Houstonians leverage them to create the change they want to see in their communities. We also plan to be more intentional about what we choose *not* to do, to make more time for deepening partnerships that center impact over activity.
After a year of navigating crisis after crisis, we’re choosing hope, innovation, and community—and we’re excited to build this next chapter with you. Thank you for joining us on this journey, and for giving us the opportunity to be in community with you. We hope to engage with you more meaningfully and impactfully in 2026.
Cheers to rising together, to whatever the new year brings! 🥂🍾🥳
Until then, the warmest of regards,
Grace (Rodriguez)
Co-Founder/Executive Director
(P.S. If you appreciate our work, please support it with a small gift to continue growing our programs and community: https://www.betterunite.com/impacthubhouston. Thank you!)
Reflections from the Team:
Tracie Jae, Community Growth:
I officially joined the Impact Hub Houston team in February – right in the middle of a season of transition. My first move? Simply reaching out to listen. To check in. To let folks know they mattered, especially after so much change.
That same month, we started gathering for monthly Community Cafes – no agenda, no pitching, no presenting. Just space to connect as humans first. By May, my role evolved into Community Champion, which honestly just put language to what I’d already been doing: helping community members feel safe, seen, and welcome. We also brought Mighty Networks and our LinkedIn Member Group back to life, creating more ways for us to stay connected beyond our classroom in the Elevation Studio.
As we look toward 2026, I’m energized about deepening the ways we connect – both online and IRL – and co-creating spaces where this community increasingly hosts itself. Because that’s when the real magic happens.
Speaking of connection: I’d love for you to join us on January 8th (6-9pm at the Ion) for HUMAN. Stories. It’s part birthday celebration (mine!), part storytelling event launch for The Quiet Rebel!
Maria Fernanda Burgos, Strategic Initiatives:
2025 was a year that reminded me that planning is important, but flexibility to adapt is crucial. It’s uncertain spaces where we grow the most, and where we see more clearly that the only thing we can control is how we react to any circumstance. Everything else is just an illusion.
With this in mind, I wish our community calmness and reflection for the new year. Being able to slow down and reflect in a world built to convince you it’s not possible: that’s the ultimate flex.
Michelle Avalos, Co-Founder/Director of Entrepreneur Success:
As this year comes to a close, I’ve been thinking a lot about bravery. The quiet kind that shows up day after day. The kind rooted in belief, community, and the decision to keep going even when the path isn’t clear.
There were moments that re-energized and refueled me along the way (like the launch of our Ideas to Impact Accelerator), but in transparency, I’m ending 2025 far more tired and drained than I started. And still, I chose to press on. Because for many of us who build and lead, this work is deeply intertwined with who we are and the future we’re trying to shape.
There will never be a perfect plan. There will always be obstacles. The question becomes: do we believe? Do we believe in what we’re building? Do we believe in the impact we’re working toward in the world?
When the answer is yes, that belief becomes an act of bravery and helps fuel our next steps. It means that sometimes we press on even when we’re weary. Even when the fog grows denser.
My reflection for you is this: when you reach those moments and feel like you’re in this alone, stretch out your hands. In the fog, you’ll find others doing the same — searching for hope, for steadiness, for support. You’ll lock arms and walk forward together.
That, too, is bravery.
You are not alone in your journey. It’s not always easy, but you are not alone. Let’s carry that reminder into 2026 and keep building.
Juntos. Together. #CambiaElMundo
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by Michelle Avalos | Dec 1, 2025 | Front Page, Houston News, Latest News
New 16-week hybrid program helps founders test, validate, and grow their ventures using LeanStack innovation method and community mentorship.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Houston, Texas — December 1, 2025
Impact Hub Houston, the city’s leading hub for social innovation and impact entrepreneurship, is excited to announce the official launch of its inaugural “Ideas to Impact Accelerator” cohort. The 16-week program is designed to help early-stage entrepreneurs test, validate, and grow their ventures through expert mentorship, peer collaboration, and the LeanStack innovation framework, developed by Ash Maurya.
The program kicked off on November 21, 2025, with Orientation Day at Impact Hub Houston’s location inside The Ion, welcoming founders across industries who are committed to building solutions that create positive impact for people and planet. With a structured pathway for founders to build and scale their businesses, participants will receive:
- Business model coaching to map and validate their business model using the LeanStack methodology.
- Mentorship from seasoned entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts.
- Hands on training to grow their confidence to deliver a pitch that stands out.
- Peer collaboration and accountability circles to sustain momentum.
Impact Scholarships that significantly reduced program costs for qualifying founders were also provided to support development at this early stage of their journeys.
The Ideas to Impact Accelerator represents a pivotal evolution in how we inspire, connect, and empower entrepreneurs across Greater Houston. By combining proven impact and innovation frameworks from Impact Hub and LeanStack into this acceleration program, we’re not just teaching business skills – we’re acting as thought partners to help changemakers build purpose-driven ventures that address real-world needs, then validate business models to grow and sustain them. This inaugural cohort embodies our belief that the solutions to Houston’s greatest challenges already exist within our communities. They just need the right support system to flourish. And we’re excited to offer that to them, now, through acceleration within our locally rooted, globally connected network.
– Grace Rodriguez, Executive Director of Impact Hub Houston
Meet the Inaugural Cohort
- Yuri Perez, Yuyo: “We are building a scalable, tech-enabled wellness ecosystem (studio + app) that provides families daily access to movement, culture, and community support wherever they are.”
- Edwin Ruano, Latido Art Design: “We are developing a platform for unemployed talent and talent at risk due to AI implementation, to acquire and validate new high-demand digital skills and connect them with quality remote jobs.”
- Pat Lindsay Buscaino, Kuwento Co: “We are building a literary and cultural arts academy that helps Filipino families learn, create, preserve, and publish their stories for generations to come.”
- Joshlyn Ross, Maximized Money: “We are building a beginner-friendly program for millennial women to learn how to invest in the stock market and create financial freedom on their terms.”
- Lisa Williams, Glocal Gathering: “A guided vegetable discovery marketplace that helps families explore over 1,000 diverse produce varieties from around the world—grown locally.”
- Julio Gonzalez: “A digital public bulletin board that makes civic and community notices easy to publish, easy to find, and accessible from any device.”
- Katerine Cuellar, Okho Foods: “We are building an online platform for diabetics and pregnant mothers to access affordable health coaches, fitness coaches, and chefs who can guide them with personalized nutrition plans.”
- David A. Brown, The Change Lab: “We are building a platform to help our community take part in civic and social life through learning, connecting, and advocating.”
- Chikosolu Iwobi, Kolin Angels Home Health: “is creating a compassionate, all-in-one care network that surrounds every patient with skilled support and the guidance they need to thrive at home.”
- Michael Compean, MyBarFlow: “I am building a platform for the community to alleviate drunk driving while increasing employment opportunities.”
- Guillermo Saenz, GSB Consulting: “We are building a Community SEO engine for mission-driven organizations that connects them with trusted local connectors, helping them earn relevance through real community trust.”
- Edward Ferguson, HTown Handshakes: “We are building a relationship-based networking app and event ecosystem for sales professionals and small-business owners to help them build meaningful connections and real opportunities.”
- Angela Johnson, INNERVERSE Inc: “We are building a holistic youth development ecosystem for Houston middle schoolers to identify and align their personal values to fulfill Houston’s innovative landscape.”
- Dr. Faith Ohuoba, Myoviva Health: “We are building a tech enabled company for women with fibroids to help redefine care with AI guided personalized pathways.”
About Impact Hub Houston
Impact Hub Houston is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers entrepreneurs to build solutions for a more just and sustainable world. As part of a global network of 130+ Impact Hubs and 24,000+ members across 69 countries, we connect creative, committed changemakers and partner with organizations across sectors to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems, inspire collaboration, and scale impact aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Grace Rodriguez
CEO, Impact Hub Houston
📧 [email protected]
🌐 houston.impacthub.net
by Michelle Avalos | Oct 27, 2025 | Front Page, Houston News, Latest News
On October 17th, 2025, a group of Houstonians met at the Ion for an interactive art showcase journey of the Art for Climate Resilience program, led by Impact Hub Houston member, Ryn Delpapa, Founder of AR+E COMETS. From the group’s first gathering in April at the historic Dupree Room in Third Ward, to this art showcase, there were a few points of the program that lingered: Composting, meditation, zine-making, and connecting.
Art for Climate Resilience is a research-informed 7-month community arts-in-health program that combines creative expression, environmental education, and disaster awareness to empower the Houston community, focused on Third and Fifth wards, in addressing climate risks while enhancing green brain health.
From April through October 2025, something remarkable happened when Houston community members came together. Through five hands-on workshops spread across seven months, 80+ participants, with 30 engaged in formal research, discovered what scientists have been documenting for years: Art heals, and community amplifies that healing.
Climate Anxiety Is Real
The numbers tell a story that community members already know in their bodies. Research shows that 75% of young people find the future frightening due to climate change, and 45% say their climate concerns negatively impact their daily functioning (Hickman et al., 2021). In the United States, young people exposed to climate disasters show a 25% increase in mental distress (Auchincloss et al., 2024).
For communities like Houston’s Third and Fifth Wards, neighborhoods facing environmental injustice, flooding risks, and industrial pollution, this anxiety compounds with existing daily stressors.
Traditional therapy often isn’t accessible or culturally responsive. But creativity? That’s universal. That’s powerful. That’s already present in every community.
Our Evidence-Based Program Model
The Art for Climate Resilience program integrated three evidence-based approaches:
- Trauma-Informed Creative Practice: Every session acknowledged that climate anxiety is real, valid, and rational. We didn’t ignore people’s climate anxiety; we honored them. When we’re dealing with topics as charged, politicized, and current as recent disasters, we have to recognize that participants may have experienced trauma, and design interactions to minimize re-traumatization and promote emotional safety.
- Community Centered: Knowledge flowed in all directions. Each workshop was part of our community-engaged arts programs, where a doodle could inspire another to practice sustainability, while they formed stronger social connections. It’s why we encouraged processing with art supplies during our educational components and invited community members to share their artwork in our collaborative art piece, our zine launching in November.
- Systems Thinking for Health: We connected personal health, community health, and planetary health. Participants learned about food systems, environmental health, and climate science through creative storytelling, zine-making, and place-based art.
The Outcomes: Beyond Numbers
Thirty research participants. Five workshops. Seven months. Eighty-plus lives touched.
But the real impact can’t be captured in numbers alone. It’s in the smiles that showed up on faces after our group meditation during the art showcase. It’s in the artists’ panel where community members spoke about small actions, from taking care of an abuela’s garden and sharing the overflow. It’s in the zines that will become teaching tools, passed from hand to hand, neighborhood to neighborhood, that integrated urban heat island research.
Research tells us this work creates lasting change. Arts participation is linked to reduced rates of cognitive decline, improved communication, and greater community resilience (National Endowment for the Arts, 2024).
The Path Forward: An 8-Week Journey Toward Regenerative Futures
The seven-month pilot proved something crucial: Creative climate resilience programming works. Now comes the next evolution.
Starting in 2026, we’re launching a refined eight-week hybrid program designed for wider replicability. Limited to just 15 participants to ensure deep, personalized engagement, this program packages the most transformative elements of our community work into an accessible format.
This isn’t abstract learning. This is hands-on creativity meets evidence-based mental health support. This is systems change from the inside out.
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Two Ways to Join This Community
📖 Get the Zine (Launching November 15, 2025)
Our community co-created zine that documents the entire journey, artwork, climate facts, and stories of transformation. It’s a teaching tool. An art piece. A love letter to planetary healing.
🌱 Join the Waitlist for the 8-Week Program
Enrollment is extremely limited. Priority access goes to those who sign up first. Be part of the next cohort translating climate anxiety into climate action through creativity. Sign up here.
The Work Continues
Climate change is the defining challenge of our generation. But so is our response to it. We can meet this crisis with fear and paralysis. Or we can meet it with creativity, community, and courage. Our Houston community participants chose courage. They chose to transform anxiety into art. They chose to build resilience together.
Now it’s your turn.
The future isn’t something that happens to us. It’s something we create, together, one brushstroke, one workshop, one healed heart at a time.
Healing the planet starts with healing ourselves.
Are you ready?
With gratitude and vision for regenerative futures,
Ryn Delpapa
Founder, AR+E COMETS and Art for Climate Resilience Director
by Michelle Avalos | Sep 16, 2025 | Front Page, Houston News, Latest News
HOUSTON — Sept. 16, 2025 — Impact Hub Houston, an impact incubator and accelerator dedicated to helping people create solutions and build businesses that address the world’s most pressing challenges, is excited to announce that we will be fiscally sponsoring The Change Lab to accelerate StepUP, a strengths-based platform that helps neighbors turn care for community into action. Built with local partners and Houston’s can-do energy, StepUP meets people where they are guiding them from curiosity to confident participation with right-sized steps they can complete in 1 to 60 minutes. In their first-round of fundraising, StepUp aims to raise $75,000 by Oct. 31, 2025.
“We’re excited to fiscally sponsor The Change Lab as they bring StepUP to life! The vision for the platform is to invite people into a process that can often feel daunting for many. The platform is designed to make civic engagement more accessible and approachable, showing people that even the smallest actions can make a meaningful difference in our communities.” — Michelle Avalos, Co-Founder and Deputy Director, Impact Hub Houston
What StepUp Does
A 60-second quiz routes people to one of six starting pathways: Democracy, Basic Needs, Health, Education, Environment, and Community. Then, based on their results, StepUP guides them through three engagement levels:
- Level: On the Couch — fun, easy content that sparks curiosity.
- Level: Off the Couch — simple checklists and local activities to plug in.
- Level: Use Your Superpower — tools for direct action and leadership.
Open StepUP and jump in—or take the quiz. Every activity is time-tagged (1 minute to 1 hour+) so people can match their time to a useful step, check it off, and see what’s next. Americans spend more than three hours a day on their phones. StepUP channels a few of those minutes into real world connection and progress.
“StepUP starts with what people already have—care, curiosity, and five spare minutes. When neighbors feel seen and have a clear first step, they don’t just participate; they build belonging that lasts.” — David A. Brown, Founder, The Change Lab, and Impact Hub Houston Member
Why It Matters
Most people want to connect across differences and feel a responsibility to do so; what’s missing are easy, welcoming opportunities. StepUP lowers the barrier so people can move at their own pace, building on existing strengths and relationships.
By the numbers
- Most Americans are interested in connecting across differences but lack opportunities (More in Common, 2025).
- People spend more than three hours daily on their phones (Consumer Reports citing Gallup).
What We’re Building Next (with community partners)
- A growing Opportunity Center of quick, ready-to-use actions
- The StepUP quiz that routes people to the right starting pathway
- Partnerships with Houston organizations and neighborhoods
- Games and interactive features that celebrate progress
- Clear, welcoming content, with accessibility and Spanish options (Spanish rollout begins Q4 2025)
Help Make it Happen
The Change Lab is raising $350,000 to build StepUP and expand capacity. The first-round goal is $75,000 by Oct. 31, 2025.
Individual Supporters: Every contribution helps fuel this vision. For example, with $10, you become an Opportunity Backer, funding one new activity in the Opportunity Center (On the Couch / Off the Couch). A $50 gift makes you an Opportunity Builder, supporting five new activities co-designed with local partners. At $100, you become an Opportunity Champion, funding ten new activities with full production and rollout. With $500, you step in as a Tech Builder, advancing the platform’s core integrations, accessibility, and analytics.
Major Gifts: For those able to give at a higher level, major gifts unlock deeper impact.
- $10,000 — Research & Community Insights: Listening sessions, user research, prototyping, and evaluation.
- $25,000 — Platform Infrastructure: Content production, Spanish-language expansion, hosting, and security.
- $50,000 — Pilots & Partnerships: Citywide activations, partner mini-grants, and rigorous measurement.
All donations are tax-deductible and directly support building StepUP. To give, visit: https://app.betterunite.com/thechangelab
StepUp Goals
In its first year, StepUP aims to reach 25,000 Houstonians. That’s about 0.5% of the region’s population. From there, the vision is to grow across Texas and ultimately share the platform with nonprofits nationwide. To measure progress and ensure accountability, impact will be tracked through completed activities, pathway engagement, and partner-verified community actions.
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Project’s Media Contact
David A. Brown
The Change Lab — [email protected]
A Center for Community
https://www.thechangelab.net
About The Change Lab
The Change Lab is a center for community. We design tools and experiences that help people move from feeling unsure about civic life to feeling connected and confident—starting with belonging and building pathways that make civic life easier to step into.
About Impact Hub Houston
Impact Hub Houston is a locally rooted, globally connected 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to inspire, connect, and empower impact innovators, leaders, and supporters. We work alongside 130+ Impact Hubs in 68 countries around the world to support and accelerate changemakers tackling the world’s most pressing challenges. Through a vibrant community, collaborative partnerships, inspiring events, and transformative programs, we empower people to turn their ideas into solutions with scalable impact for a more just and sustainable world.
For more information: Email [email protected] and visit https://houston.impacthub.net.
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Sources (full links)
More in Common — The Connection Opportunity: Insights for Bringing Americans Together Across Difference (2025)
https://moreincommonus.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/The-Connection-Opportunity_More-in-Common_2025.pdf
More in Common — Press Release: Most Americans are interested in connecting across difference, but lack opportunities
https://moreincommonus.com/press_release/new-report-from-more-in-common-reveals-that-most-americans-are-interested-in-connecting-across-difference-but-lack-opportunities-to-do-so/
Consumer Reports — 8 Simple Ways to Reduce Your Cell Phone Screen Time (cites Gallup)
https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/cell-phones/simple-ways-to-reduce-your-cell-phone-screen-time-a1120466770/
