Houston Energy + Climate Startup Week Returns September 14 –18, 2026
Third annual, community-led week will convene global startups, investors, corporations and energy leaders to advance technologies shaping the future of energy
HOUSTON – September 9, 2026 – Houston Energy + Climate Startup Week will return September 14-18, 2026, convening energy and climate technology startups, venture capital investors, corporate leaders, researchers and innovators from Houston and around the world. The week will feature a broad schedule of independently organized events across Houston, including panels, founder pitches, investor meetings, workshops and networking experiences.
According to the latest PitchBook-NVCA Venture Monitor, venture capital funding for Houston-area startups approached $1 billion in the first half of 2026, the region’s highest first-half total since 2022. Entering its third year, Houston Energy + Climate Startup week showcases Houston’s continued growing capacity to develop, test, finance and scale technologies that address the dual challenge of meeting rising global energy demand while reducing emissions.
"Houston has made significant progress building the ecosystem needed to advance energy innovation at scale,” said Sophia Cunningham, Executive Director of HETI. “Houston Energy + Climate Startup Week highlights the region’s capabilities and expertise and creates opportunities for new partnerships, investments and ideas that strengthen energy affordability, reliability, security and sustainability.”
Houston Energy + Climate Startup Week was launched in 2024 by a collaborative group of ecosystem leaders, including Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, the Ion District, Halliburton Labs, Greentown Labs, Activate, Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI) and Collide (formerly Digital Wildcatters). The 2025 program drew more than 3,900 attendees across 30-plus events, featuring more than 145 speakers and 290 startups.
The Ion District, Houston’s 16-acre innovation district powered by Rice University, will again serve as a central gathering place for the week’s programming and connections. Located in Midtown, the Ion brings together startups, entrepreneurs, corporations, academic institutions and investors to accelerate the commercialization of innovation and strengthen Houston’s position as a global center for energy and climate technology.
“Houston has an extraordinary combination of technical talent, industrial expertise and infrastructure to build and scale the technologies that will shape the future of energy and the physical world,” said John (JR) Reale, Jr., Executive Director of the Rice Alliance and Associate Vice President for Industry and New Ventures at Rice University. “Houston Energy + Climate Startup Week brings that advantage to life by connecting founders with the customers, capital, expertise and partners needed to turn promising technologies into real-world solutions. At the Ion District and across Houston, we’re working to accelerate the path from idea to deployment at scale.”
The community-led format is central to the week’s mission. Individual organizations, investors, corporations, startups and academic institutions host events that are featured on the official calendar, creating opportunities for attendees to build a personalized schedule and connect across Houston’s energy and climate innovation community.
Attendees can explore the official event calendar and register directly through individual event hosts. Some events are free and open to the public, while others require registration, payment or an invitation. For the full schedule, registration information and updates, visit houstonenergyclimatestartupweek.com.
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About Houston Energy + Climate Startup Week
Houston Energy + Climate Startup Week is a collaborative, community-led initiative dedicated to advancing energy and climate innovation. Launched in 2024 by Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, Halliburton Labs, Greentown Labs, Activate, Digital Wildcatters and the Houston Energy Transition Initiative, the annual activation brings together startups, investors, industry leaders, researchers and innovators to showcase technologies and partnerships shaping the future of energy. Events are independently organized and hosted throughout Houston.
