Welcome to 2016 and our first roundup of Texas innovation news for the new year:
—The Texas Medical Center has added another name to its list of innovation partners: AT&T. The telecommunications giant will open a research hub, called the Foundry, at the Houston campus to focus on “connected health.” AT&T also has a facility in the Dallas suburb of Plano, TX, which focuses on Internet of Things innovation.
—Reality gaming device maker Virtuix Omni has moved from Houston to Austin, TX, and is looking to continuine its crowdfunding streak by raising funds under the new Regulation A instead of a traditional Series A.
—Silvercar tightens ties with Audi, the carmaker that makes up its fleet of luxury rentals. The German automaker invested has invested $28 million in Silvercar.
—Houston’s Innowatts is making software that essentially plays matchmaker between electric utilities and the clients they want seek. The idea is savings for both parties.
—Austin-based Volunteer Spot founder Karen Bantuveris speaks with Xconomy’s David Holley about the six-year-old startup and how its Web tools help volunteer organizations coordinate activities, and its plan to go international.
—Dallas-based CultureMap buys RSVP Calendar, which was founded by Southern Living editor-at-large Kimberly Schlegel Whitman. Whitman is joining the Dallas company and will be responsible for videos and hosting events, among other duties, the Dallas Business Journal reported.
—Let’s revisit the top Texas innovation stories of 2015.
