Post by TiE Houston

The Rice Business Plan Competition is almost here, and it’s incredible to see the global caliber of founders converging in one place. At TiE Houston, we’re especially proud to support a strong cohort of TiE-nominated international teams this year, a testament to the power of cross-border entrepreneurship and mentorship. Tonight’s reception is a great opportunity to meet one of them: SA-Dynamics This standout team, coming out of RWTH Aachen University, has developed a patent-pending technology to create lightweight, flexible aerogel fibers for thermal insulation. A sustainable alternative with applications across textiles, mobility, and construction, exactly the kind of breakthrough innovation the world needs. They’ve already earned multiple innovation awards and secured EXIST funding, Germany’s federal startup grant for university spinouts. And they’re just getting started. Even more exciting , this year we have three TiE-nominated teams in the competition: • SolidAir (Germany) • Laetech (Toronto) • NervSurgical (McMaster) Both Laetech and NervSurgical are supported and mentored by TiE Toronto , reinforcing the strength of the TiE global network. And if you’re joining us today at the Ion, Laetech will also be at our social. Innovation doesn’t happen in silos. It thrives in ecosystems, when universities, founders, and global networks like TiE come together. If you’re in Houston this week, don’t miss the chance to connect with these founders. The future is being built in rooms like this. #RBPC #TiEHouston #Startups #Innovation #GlobalEntrepreneurship