Innovation Council
A dynamic initiative of The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce - in partnership with Houston Exponential - the Innovation Council connects innovators, investors, startups and enterprises to resources that help fuel growth and collaboration in our region.
The Chamber has made it a strategic goal to engage and support innovation in The Woodlands Area through connectivity, advocacy and collaboration. By convening diverse voices and driving action around innovation, the Innovation Council is positioning The Woodlands Area as a forward-thinking hub for business growth and innovation.
For more information, contact Jennifer.Oneal@WoodlandsChamber.org
2025 Innovation Council Events
Pitch Practice
The Innovation Council hosted a high-energy Pitch Practice event that brought together a dynamic mix of entrepreneurs, innovators, and business leaders — all focused on refining their pitches and strengthening their business messages. ach presenter received real-time insights from a panel of expert judges, who asked thoughtful questions and offered practical advice to help sharpen their investor and client pitches.
The event featured an esteemed panel of judges: Jon Lambert, CEO of The Cannon Community; Derek Theis, VP of Commercial Banking at J.P. Morgan Chase; and James A. Phelan, Director at Founder Institute.
These industry leaders brought their experience and insight to the table, helping founders improve their delivery, clarify their business value, and strengthen their approach to engaging with stakeholders.
Robotics Summit
Chamber President & CEO, Aaron Cox, IOM was invited to speak at the Energy Drone & Robotics Coalition Summit, where he took to the stage in the Innovation Corner. He was to able to shine a spotlight on how the Chamber is on how the Chamber is Empowering Innovators Through Community Collaboration.
It was a great opportunity to showcase the Chamber's strategic priority to engage and support the region’s innovation ecosystem and to accelerate the convergence of visionary leaders, emerging technologies and business growth.
H-Town Roundup
The Chamber’s Innovation Council hosted a Founders Roundtable and part of HTownRoundup - “Beyond the Loop: How The Woodlands Area is Shaping Greater Houston’s Startup Future” brought together innovators, entrepreneurs and top tech talent to explore how The Woodlands is driving the region’s innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Thank you to our Innovation Council partner Houston Exponential for creating an incredible week of events to connect the greater Houston area’s innovation ecosystem.
Our panel of local innovators discussed their journeys from startup to operating a successful business in The Woodlands area. The event concluded with a social hour where attendees connected and shared their own stories of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Innovation Resources
Access to Capital
Workspaces
The Cannon (Incubator)