Big Ideas. Big Solutions.

Hundreds of members of Houston’s startup community came together this month to celebrate Bauer College entrepreneurs at the 10^th Annual Bayou Startup Showcase.

The event is a joint effort between the University of Houston and Rice University, showcasing new businesses from the RED Labs, RED Launch, OwlSpark and BlueLaunch accelerator programs.

Bayou Startup Showcase serves as the final element of a 12-week program for founders who have spent the summer developing their startup concepts in a coworking space within UH Technology Bridge.

“The hard work and dedication these founders have put in over the last 12 weeks to bring their ideas to fruition is inspiring to seem” RED Labs Managing Director Liana Gonzalez-Schulenburg said. “It is through their efforts that we have seen growth and the ability to address real-world problems with real solutions." 

The event featured demonstrations and product samples from 24 startups, with founders available to answer questions from potential investors and members of Houston’s startup community, including Houston Exponential CEO Natara Branch (BBA ‘98), also a member of the Bauer College Board.

“Startups are so essential to the Houston ecosystem,” Branch said. “I love the collaboration at this event, which is so important to what we are doing in Houston for job creation and ideation, trying to solve problems for this country.”

Bauer MS Entrepreneurship candidate Caroline Shiloh was on hand to share her startup, We Felt It, which produces 3D-printed personalized modifications for mobility devices, such as canes, walkers, and wheelchairs, ensuring optimal comfort during usage with retrofitted designs.

Through RED Labs, Shiloh has expanded her business concept and gained valuable insight to bring products to market, including the Octoglide, a prototype that replaces the traditional tennis ball on the bottom of walkers for easy movement and longer use.

“Developing, marketing and interviewing with those interested in this product have been the biggest success for me while in RED Labs,” she said. “I’ve been able to branch out and address the true scope of my problem and can course correct as needed.”

To see all the pitches and learn how to invest in this year’s startups, visit www.bayoustartupshowcase.com.