RedHouse hosted a party at their offices at 802 Lovett that featured beer, food, Lemonade Day (they raised $7000 from the party-goers, that was split with a group supporting Navy SEALS), and more beer along with over [...]]]> There’s a new player in the Houston investment scene and they launched in a big way last Thursday night.

RedHouse hosted a party at their offices at 802 Lovett that featured beer, food, Lemonade Day (they raised $7000 from the party-goers, that was split with a group supporting Navy SEALS), and more beer along with over 300 people from the investment (think bankers and VC’s) and technology (think developers, product managers  and service providers), most of whom had worked for the principals of RedHouse at some point in their careers.

RedHouse Associates is an angel investment and consulting firm made up of a tight-knit group of seasoned enterprise software veterans based here in Houston. Their focus is on cloud-based, enterprise companies that are looking to ramp up their existing sales processes. To say that these are “Brand Name” people is a bit of an understatement. Mike Clark and Keith Kreuer have a long history of starting (and more importantly, finishing) enterprise software companies, the most well-known being PentaSafe. The two of them have been privately investing as angels in other companies like BBS Technologies and R1Soft for several years. They are both venture advisors to DFJMercury, the most active early-stage VC firm focused on tech in the Houston and Mid-Continent areas.   Mike and Keith joined forces with their long-time friend Doug Erwin – a man who needs no introduction to those in the Houston technology community. Doug was most recently the CEO of the Planet who engineered several successful mergers before selling the whole consolidated company to SoftLayer in Dallas a few months ago. Doug is widely known as a world-class CEO, who has a career spanning IBM, BMC, RLX, PentaSafe and the Planet in leadership and sales roles. The other two principals are Doug’s son Ben Erwin (a successful executive in his own right) and Joseph Horzepa, the General Counsel to many of their portfolio companies.

Back in the height of the PentaSafe days, they would throw legendary beer bashes and crawfish boils every quarter at this location. When PentaSafe merged with NetIQ, they went all out with a beach themed party and flew in The Beach Boys to play for the crowd. The fact that Surge Accelerator is now housed there, along with several of the RedHouse Associates portfolio companies like Eric Elfman’s OnIt Software are an indication that this party is one of many more to come, which means that Samantha Vilaysane, the “Ruler of the House” will have the chance to do what she does best – plan awesome parties.

RedHouse is a big deal for the Houston technology community and will fit in very well with the existing infrastructure of HTC, Rice and DFJMercury, while adding a great deal of experience and talent to our ecosystem.

SURGE ACCELERATOR JOINS THE TECHSTARS NETWORK AS PART OF STARTUP AMERICA

by: Monika Jansen

Houston-based SURGE, the country’s first and only seed accelerator that focuses excluusively on efficient energy software startups, has joined the TechStars Network in support of Startup America.

Kirk Coburn, Managing Director and co-founder of SURGE Accelerator, had this to say:

SURGE Accelerator was created to [...]]]> http://techcocktail.com/surge-accelerator-joins-techstars-network-startup-america-2011-10

SURGE ACCELERATOR JOINS THE TECHSTARS NETWORK AS PART OF STARTUP AMERICA

by: Monika Jansen

Houston-based SURGE, the country’s first and only seed accelerator that focuses excluusively on efficient energy software startups, has joined the TechStars Network in support of Startup America.

Kirk Coburn, Managing Director and co-founder of SURGE Accelerator, had this to say:

SURGE Accelerator was created to accelerate innovation in energy software technologies. The knowledge sharing and collaboration we’ll gain through the TechStars Network will help SURGE to further advance our goals and those of our mentors, corporate partners, and the overall energy community towards energy independence and improving energy efficiency worldwide.

The accelerator offers entrepreneurs access to mentors from the energy, entrepreneur, and venture capital communities to help them grow their company from idea to major success. Due to its location in Houston, startups have direct access to the largest deregulated electricity market, largest population of smart meters, and second largest information technology service economies.

Startups spend 3 months in bootcamp, which culminates in “SURGE DAY” (next one is in the spring) when startups pitch to energy-focused venture capitalists, angel investors, corporations and their development teams, community energy and information technology leaders and the media.

We are really excited to see what kind of startups graduate from their program, as the resources now available to them via this new partnership means the sky’s the limit. Stay tuned!

It’s finally here. A seed accelerator (similar to ycombinator, TechStars and Capital Factory) in Houston, Texas – the Energy Capital of the World, the program is designed to help emerging businesses accelerate their growth through an infusion of seed capital, an intense mentoring program and direct connections to industry insiders. Startups [...]]]>

It’s finally here. A seed accelerator (similar to ycombinator, TechStars and Capital Factory) in Houston, Texas – the Energy Capital of the World, the program is designed to help emerging businesses accelerate their growth through an infusion of seed capital, an intense mentoring program and direct connections to industry insiders. Startups will apply to the program and be selected by a the leaders of the organization to come to Houston to work full-time on their ideas. Over 40 mentors have already agreed to participate (full disclosure: I’m one of them). With the help and support of other startup organizations like HTC, Rice Alliance and funds like DFJMercury, Surge Accelerator will drive innovation and showcase the strengths of Houston as the Energy Capital.

http://www.surgeaccelerator.com

Facebook: SurgeHouston

Twitter: SurgeHouston

]]> http://www.startuphouston.com/2011/09/15/surge-accelerator-launches/feed/ 0 http://www.startuphouston.com/2011/08/10/austin-ventures-office-hours-october-26th/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=austin-ventures-office-hours-october-26th http://www.startuphouston.com/2011/08/10/austin-ventures-office-hours-october-26th/#comments Wed, 10 Aug 2011 20:14:05 +0000 Marc Nathan http://www.startuphouston.com/?p=1650

Austin Ventures Entrepreneur Hours (AVEH): Submission Form & Dates Calling all Texas Entrepreneurs, Austin Ventures Entrepreneur Hours (AVEH) is BACK and coming to a city near you!!!

Here is the schedule for our Fall sessions of AVEH:

Austin: September 29th Houston: October 26th Dallas: November 9th

For a quick overview of AVEH and tips on how to get the most out [...]]]>

Austin Ventures Entrepreneur Hours (AVEH): Submission Form & Dates
Calling all Texas Entrepreneurs, Austin Ventures Entrepreneur Hours (AVEH) is BACK and coming to a city near you!!!

Here is the schedule for our Fall sessions of AVEH:

Austin: September 29th
Houston: October 26th
Dallas: November 9th

For a quick overview of AVEH and tips on how to get the most out of a 20 minute coffee chat with a VC vet, check out my esteemed predecessor Dan’s post here: link. As we get closer to the dates, I will post more information regarding the details (i.e. the start-up lineup and the java locale). But for now, please help us spread the word – feel free to tweet, FB post, and forward this to any and all your compatriots.

We are excited to meet the next generation of entrepreneurs as well as the wily veterans. Per usual, our focus is on web-enabled technologies, enterprise software, consumer web, mobile applications, etc.

Please apply for just the AVEH session in your city. If you run into any technical difficulties submitting your application, click the assistance link at the bottom of the form.

There are still two weeks left to register to attend what has become Houston’s single most important event for the technology startup community – the Rice IT/Web 2.0 Venture forum. This is where startups pitch deals and VC’s from all over the state come to tell us what they want to see. It’s [...]]]>

There are still two weeks left to register to attend what has become Houston’s single most important event for the technology startup community – the Rice IT/Web 2.0 Venture forum. This is where startups pitch deals and VC’s from all over the state come to tell us what they want to see. It’s also an incredible networking opportunity for people who are thinking about starting a company to gain some insight as to the trends, language and people involved with our community. I can’t overemphasize enough what a ‘can’t miss’ event this will be (and not just because I’m pitching this year as one of the fifty other startups).

You can download the free iPhone app for the event here: iTunes App

To give you an better idea about some of the speakers:

Chip Davis runs one of Houston’s largest private equity shops and has invested in early stage technology companies.

Blair Garrou really needs no introduction – he effectively is the Venture Capitalist for early stage technology startups and has more passion for helping entrepreneurs and more experience in dealing with startups than just about any other individual in Houston.

Morris Miller is an entrepreneur in his own right and had the vision to angel invest in three kids running a web hosting firm at Trinity that turned into the Cadillac of Web Hosts, Rackspace.

Nicholas Seet was the 2005 winner of the Rice Business Plan Competition that has since gone on to secure VC funding and deploy a video ad network management system across the net.

Doug Erwin is one of Houston’s most successful tech business leaders who has several wins under his belt including Compaq, RLXTechnologies, PentaSafe and most recently The Planet who just completed a merger with web hosting firm SoftLayer earlier this month.

Thursday,December 9th, 2010
8:00am – 6:30pm
Rice University Jones School

Event Info and Registration Here

Registration Prices:
Early Registration (before Dec. 6 at 5 p.m.): $75
Walk-up Registration: $100
Rice Alliance members, underwriters, or sponsors: Free
Rice faculty, staff, or student: Free

Description and Agenda:

More than 40 of the most promising early-stage I.T companies have been hand-picked to present and showcase their new venture to an audience of more than 400 venture capitalists, early-stage investors, successful entrepreneurs, academic and business leaders. Attendees will benefit from networking and learning opportunities.

8:00 – 9:00 AM Registration

9:00 – 9:15 AM Welcoming Remarks

Brad Burke, Managing Director, Rice Alliance

9:15 – 9:45 AM Opening Keynote - Tomasz Tunguz, Redpoint Ventures

Business Plan Presentations and Feedback

9:45 – 10:00 AM Introductions – Venture Capital Feedback Panel

Charles L. (Chip) Davis, Managing Director, SMH Private Equity Group
Mike Dodd, Venture Partner, Austin Ventures
Blair Garrou, Managing Director, DFJ Mercury
Morris Miller, Managing Director, Cutstone Ventures
Alan Ying, Venture Partner, Chrysalis Ventures

10:00 – 10:30 AM Business Plan Presentations

10:30 – 11:00 AM Networking Break

11:00 – 12:00 PM Business Plan Presentations (continued)

12:00 – 1:00 PM Lunch and Networking

1:00 – 1:15 PM Afternoon Remarks and Introductions

Brad Burke, Managing Director, Rice Alliance

1:15 – 1:45 PM Afternoon Keynote – Nicholas Seet, Founder, Auditude

1:45 – 2:30 PM Elevator Pitches – Session I

2:30 – 3:00 PM Networking Break

3:00 – 3:45 PM Elevator Pitches – Session II

3:45 – 4:15 PM Company Updates

4:15 – 4:45 PM Closing Keynote – Doug Erwin, Former Chairman and CEO, The Planet

4:45 – 5:00 PM Announce “Top 10 Rising Ventures”

5:00 – 6:30 PM Company Showcase and Networking Reception

It’s the U.S. energy capital. It was the home of Enron. And for the most part, those two facts reflect the scope of startups in Houston, Texas. Enron, before it began conducting massive accounting fraud, was innovative in its approach to energy. And thanks [...]]]>

Why You Should Start a Company in… Houston

Cgate Health creates software to provide simple, flexible and cost effective Electronic Health Record (EHR) solutions. Unlike the current landscape of complex, incomplete and expensive Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems, [...]]]> Houston’s favorite venture capitalists are at it again, funding an Austin/Houston startup company in the very hot bio-informatics industry that marries software and healthcare.

Cgate Health creates software to provide simple, flexible and cost effective Electronic Health Record (EHR) solutions. Unlike the current landscape of complex, incomplete and expensive Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems, Cgate’s proven software delivers integrated access with a consolidated view of the complete patient record – a gateway to the health record. Healthcare providers and commercial vendors use Cgate’s platform to achieve their goals of productivity, quality and compliance with Federal mandates.

Both CEO Rob Donnelly and CTO Bryan Haardt have a long history of entrepreneurship and startups in Houston between them. Rob was the COO of the Houston Technology Center and later helped found Genesis Park, an early stage venture and private equity investment group. Bryan is no stranger to tech startups, acting as the HTC’s first CTO then going on to become the founder of 10X Labs, a very successful software developer. They are both DFJ Mercury Venture Advisors

The company will be implementing software for the healthcare space via some Fortune 5 (not 500) partners and hopes to fulfill the promise of truly integrated and efficient healthcare system that patients, providers and insurers can use properly.

The Austin Business Journal got some of the facts wrong because they misread a recent SEC filing, since the vehicle for the deal was an old company, but DFJ did make a seven-figure investment in CGate.

Austin Business Journal

CGate Health Inc. closed an $88,200 round of financing.

The Austin-based health records mobile application developer received the capital from a lone investor, according to a Dec. 29 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

CGate, which was founded earlier this year, is listed as a portfolio company of DFJ Mercury, a Houston-based venture capital firm. DFJ is vested in other Austin tech companies including ActaCell Inc., the developer of lithium ion batteries, and Illumitex Inc., which develops light-emitting diode, or LED, technology.

CGate CEO Robert Donnelly couldn’t be reached for comment.”