University of Houston celebrates successful year one of Innov8 Hub accelerator

The Innov8 Hub accelerator program at the University of Houston's Technology Bridge has marked its first year with significant progress, according to Tanu Chatterji, associate director of startup development at UH. The program celebrated its fourth Startup Pitch Day, showcasing the talents and innovations of aspiring entrepreneurs.

"We’ve gone from just coaching to getting community business leaders involved and putting more ecosystem partnerships in place that have really helped the program grow," said Chatterji. The event was highlighted by Ramanan Krishnamoorti, vice president of energy and innovation at UH, who noted the importance of empowering visionaries through this initiative.

Innov8 Hub offers a series of accelerator programs for early-stage startups in collaboration with the UH Small Business Development Center. Robert Johnson, co-founder of Innov8 Hub and business advisor at SBDC, emphasized the goal of empowering future changemakers.

The recent Startup Pitch Day featured eight innovators competing for a $2,500 prize along with support packages. Brain Haven emerged as the winner with its innovative approach to care for individuals with memory impairments. "The concept began as an educational project where students were encouraged to think creatively about the potential of multisensory environments," explained Jokūbas Žiburkus, co-founder of Brain Haven.

Macaw UAS tied for second place with their drone designed for air pollution monitoring. Alexandra Ulinski aims to commercialize this technology while seeking funding for prototype development.

LUCID also tied for second place with its carbon capture solution. Joe Lane and Praveen Bollini credited Innov8 Hub's guidance in transforming their laboratory discovery into a viable business plan.

Other notable projects included The Green Sling by Maddie DeJong, Reimmerse by Sammy Tawakkol focusing on VR-based neurological rehabilitation experiences, and Simple Recruit by Deepak Kranthi which uses AI to streamline recruitment processes.

"The future of research and innovation at UH is brighter than ever," stated Chatterji. As Innov8 Hub continues to nurture new talent, it seeks applicants for its next cohort starting in January.