Houston Energy & Climate Week: Metro Energy & Climate Innovation Tech Tours & Market

Welcome to your backstage pass to Houston's most innovative energy and climate technology companies. No panels. No podiums. HTX Tech Tours is a curated conversation on wheels — a small number of intentionally designed routes across the HTX region, led by the companies actually building Houston's energy future. Founders meet funders (and) customers, allocators meet pioneers, and the people building the physical economy get to show their work. Tuesday, September 15, 2026 · HTX Tech Tour Metro Energy & Climate Innovation, hosted by Plug & Play, University of Houston, and Creatopia (Program begins at 9:30 AM) RECOMMENDED ARRIVAL - BY 9:00 AM Head to Sugar Land Town Square (16092 City Walk, Sugar Land, TX 77479) and check in at the registration booth no later than 9:30 AM. Punctuality really matters here - the buses roll out at 12:00 PM and won't wait, so an early, relaxed check-in sets up the entire day. When 80+ of us are moving together, a few minutes early keeps the whole convoy on schedule. For those not on the tour, this will give you a head start to the day. DRESS CODE: Please be prepared to be outside and wear closed-toed-shoes in case you are touring any facility. This is a safety requirement. All other PPE will be provided. PARKING: Free parking is available in the on-site multi-story garages (Lone Star Garage - 2105 Brazos Dr, Sugar Land, TX 77478 and Texas Garage - 15958 City Walk, Sugar Land, TX 77479), which are a 5-minute walk from the venue, with metered street parking as a backup. 9:30 AM | - Metro Innovation Tour & Market, Networking Breakfast Tacos & Coffee 10:00 AM - Welcome Remarks & Ecosystem Overview Carolina Rio, Plug & Play with AY Young Keynote: A Vision for the Resilient City of Tomorrow 10:20 AM - Mobilizing the Future of Smart Cities Clean Energy, Equitable Access & Next-Generation MobilityThe technology is here. The real challenge is moving it from a promising pilot to citywide impact. This fast-paced conversation will bring together leaders from energy, academia, and local government to examine how cities can build cleaner, smarter, and more connected infrastructure—without leaving communities behind.AY Young, Global Artist The Battery Tour & UN Sustainability Youth Ambassador (Moderator) Dr. Ramanan Krishnamoorti, University of Houston Elizabeth Huff, City of Sugar Land Paula Whitten-Doolin (General Counsel Deep Isolation) 11:00 AM - Plug and Play Tour & City of Sugar Land Innovation Market & Lunch with Food Trucks, available for purchase. 11:15 - 11:30 AM - AY Young Performance Market Participants City of Sugar Land University of Houston Justworks Mobi Waste Museum of Natural Science Sugar Land Planet Eco Corp Plug & Play 12:15 PM - Metro Innovation Tech Tour Shuttles Leave for Routes (3 buses). This is a pre-registered activity. You will receive a separate badge when you arrive for registration. Companies Participating in the Tour Ambrosia Space Shell Technology Center - Mars Materials & DexMat SLB University of Houston Sugar Land Syzygy Plasmonics Nanotech Materials 2:00 PM - The Erthos South Tour Returns to Sugar Land Square 2:15 PM - Closing Remarks & End of the Innovation Market 6:10 PM - Metro Innovation Tech Tour Shuttles depart for Sugar Land Square Return (or) Daikin Park for the Astros Night PLEASE NOTE: If you are looking for the Tuesday, September 15, 2026 HTX The South Tour in Bay City is hosted by Erthos Who This Is For Builders — Startups, founders, energy companies, and tech innovators. Your best speaking opportunity without a panel in sight. Open your doors, show what you are building in Houston, and get 1:1 access to investors, allocators, and ecosystem leaders who came specifically to understand your technology. Backers — VCs, family offices, allocators, and corporate strategists. Meet the pioneers and see the physical economy firsthand, with direct access to the builders making the energy transition real. Believers — Incubators, accelerators, universities, economic development or