Houston Innovation Commons presents our official launch!
Houston has world-class research institutions, energy industry expertise, and ambitious founders. But ask any innovator here and you'll hear the same thing: it's hard to find your people.
The mentors who get your industry. The co-founders who complement your skills. The peer-mentors going through it alongside you. They're out there — but there's no clear way to connect.
Houston Innovation Commons is changing that.
We're building a community of practice where innovators learn from each other, share methods, and tackle real problems together. And we're launching the way we mean to continue: by doing the work, not just talking about it.
Our First Design Jam
This isn't a lecture. You'll roll up your sleeves and do real design research — interviewing fellow innovators, mapping emotional journeys, finding patterns, and defining insights.
The focus: Houston innovators struggle to find the right mentors, peer-mentors, and co-founders. This was the #1 challenge identified at our prelaunch session. Tonight, we dig into why — and start exploring what we might do about it.
What You'll Do
→ Learn the fundamentals of design thinking (Inspiration → Ideation → Implementation) → Interview fellow innovators about their real experiences → Create journey maps capturing the highs and lows of finding connections → Identify patterns and craft insights as a group → Connect with Houston's innovation community
What You'll Leave With
✓ Understanding of human-centered design methodology ✓ Hands-on experience with design research techniques ✓ Real insights about Houston's innovation ecosystem ✓ New connections with fellow founders, builders, and innovators
Who Should Attend
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Innovators curious about design thinking or looking to build their design skills
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Community builders invested in Houston's ecosystem
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Anyone who's experienced the challenge of finding the right connections
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People working in design, innovation, strategy, or product development
No design experience required — just bring your stories and curiosity.
About Houston Innovation Commons
HIC is a community of practice for Houston innovators — a place to learn, build, and grow together. We believe the best way to strengthen an ecosystem is to work on real challenges, together, using proven methods.
This is our first official event. We're excited to launch with something hands-on and meaningful.
Hosts
Ukeme Daniel — Designer & Co-founder, Houston Innovation Commons Andrew Baines — Co-founder, Houston Innovation Commons
