Editor's note:Here's a roundup of the most-read Houston innovation news stories this weekHouston tech and startup trend stories featured in InnovationMap and its daily newsletter include an energy software company expanding and a health tech startup securing seed funding.
Houston-based energy data software platform expands to Europe, hires new executives
Amperon has expanded its global operations. Photo via Getty Images
It's official: Houston-based, AI-powered energy forecasting and analytics services company Amperon Holdings has launched in Europe.
The expansion, which co-founder and CEO Sean Kelly previously spoke about to InnovationMap, is now official, as the company announced it this month. In addition to the expansion, Amperon also announced the appointment of John Ecker as general manager of Europe and Kelsey Hultberg as executive vice president of communications and chief of staff.
Now, renewable energy producers, financial institutions and European companies buying and selling energy in the utility market can leverage Amperon's AI and machine learning technology platform to access short-term and long-term forecasts for individual meters and generating assets. Keep reading.
Houston digital health platform raises additional seed funding from new investors
Koda Health has raised capital to fuel the growth of the digital advance care planning company. Image courtesy of kodahealthcare.com
A Houston-born digital advance care planning company has secured new funding from a major corporation.
Koda Health raised an additional oversubscribed seed round of funding with participation from AARP, Memorial Hermann Health System and Texas Medical Center Venture Fund. The total amount raised was undisclosed and led by Austin-based Ecliptic Capital.
The technology platform improves planning for critical illness treatment and end-of-life care using a cloud-based advance care planning (ACP) platform combined with in-house support. Essentially, patients can plan ahead and ensure their wishes are actually carried out. According to Koda Health, this translates into average savings of $9,500 per patient and improved health outcomes. Keep reading.
Three Houston affordable neighborhoods ranked among top 10 safest cities in America
League City, Sugar Land and Pearland were ranked among the top 10 safest and cheapest cities to live in the United States. Photo via Getty Images
While some Houston residents may be concerned about crime, life is a little easier just outside the city limits.
Three Houston suburbs — League City, Sugar Land and Pearland — have been ranked among the top 10 safest and cheapest cities to live in the United States, according to a new report from GoBankingRates.
The study, titled “Top 50 Safest and Cheapest Cities to Live in in America,” ranked the most populous U.S. cities based on their average cost of living and crime rates. Crime rates were determined based on the number of crimes per 1,000 city residents from the FBI's Crime Data Explorer for 2022, the most recent year data is available. Keep reading.
3 Houston innovators to watch this week
This week's roundup of Houston innovators includes Taylor Ann Adams of Rice University, Kelly Adels Hess of CompuCycle and Tatyana Fofanova of Koda Health. Photo credit
Each week, we'll profile a few Houston innovators who have been making headlines recently for their disruptive technologies, investment activity, and more. This week's features include podcasts with innovation leaders at Rice University, the CEO of a tech recycling company, and the founder of a newly funded startup. Keep reading.
Houston Airport considers introducing autonomous, fully electric air taxis to the Houston area
The Houston Airport System announced a memorandum of understanding with WhiskAero, a wholly owned subsidiary of Boeing. Photo courtesy of wisk.aero
A fleet of electric, autonomous air taxis will be flying in Houston, thanks to a partnership between a California startup and the Houston Airport System.
HAS announced a memorandum of understanding with Wisk Aero, a wholly owned subsidiary of Boeing, which recently announced a similar partnership with the city of Sugar Land. Over the next year, the company will identify vertical takeoff and landing field infrastructure at three Houston airports: George Bush Intercontinental Airport, William P. Hobby Airport and Ellington Airport. Keep reading.
