OPEN Houston

Everyone knows Houston is a city of opportunity. But what does it actually take to turn that opportunity into a thriving business?

For the Houston Story – CEO Chat, we’re going beyond polished success stories to talk about what really happens behind the growth - the decisions, challenges and lessons that come with building a company in Houston.

Featuring Faisal Naseem CEO of Sooner Pipe LLC and moderated by Faisal Bhutto, President & CEO of Alykas.

If you’re a founder, executive, business leader, or someone looking to build in Houston, this is a conversation worth being in the room for.

Early Bird tickets are going fast. Register now. https://luma.com/udrtukh4

CEOs Leadership Entrepreneurship

More partners. More conversations. More reasons to be in the room.

The OPEN Houston sponsor lineup continues. 🤝

🍽️ Lunch Sponsored by Modisoft Inc
🍦 Networking with Gallivant Mawa Ice Creams
🏦 Sessions supported by the U.S. Bank

We’re getting closer. Register Now https://luma.com/udrtukh4

30 days. One room. A lot you don’t want to miss.

Hear from voices like Snehee Chaplot, Faisal Bhutto, Mustafa Ali, Ashher Syed, Amyn Gillani, MBA and more as OPEN Houston dives into Jobs of the Future, alongside conversations on Zero to 100, Career Leap, and the Houston Story.

And with utilITise | Self Healing IT, Alykas, Omar Khawaja Personal Injury Lawyers, Modisoft Inc, Gallivant Mawa Ice Creams supporting the experience, this is shaping up to be a day you won’t want to miss.

Don’t hear about the conversations afterward. Be in the room.
🎟️ Register now: https://luma.com/udrtukh4

HoustonNetworking Entrepreneurship HoustonLeaders

More great names joining OHC’26! 🚀

We’re pleased to welcome utilITise | Self Healing IT, Alykas, and Omar Khawaja Personal Injury Lawyers as sponsors of the Open Houston Conference, supporting us as our Lanyard, Badge, and Booth Sponsors.

We’re grateful to have them be part of the conversations, connections, and ideas coming together in Houston.

Want to join us? Register through our website.

Houston is growing.  Not just in population.

In innovation.
In entrepreneurship.
In healthcare.
In energy.
In technology.
In leadership.

On October 3, OPEN Houston is bringing together the founders, executives, investors, professionals, and students helping shape what’s next.

Speakers and details coming soon.

Save the Date.

We are thrilled to share the 16th Annual Emerging Leaders Retreat is coming up!

Each year, we host an Emerging Leaders’ Retreat for early career professionals to learn about leadership and get inspiration from life stories of others. The retreat includes a panel discussion followed by a social activity and networking event with Houston leaders.

The retreat is part of the OPEN Emerging Leaders program, which bridges the gap between high-performing talent and top-tier career opportunities and startup resources. This event will feature experienced panel speakers from various backgrounds such as finance, consulting, technology, entrepreneurship, and other areas to share wisdom gained from their tenure. Those who are college students, early career professionals, and graduate school candidates will benefit most from the insight, mentors, and professional network building. You will also have the opportunity to network with attendees with similar goals and career paths.

📅 Saturday, June 13th 10am - 2pm
📍 Top Golf Houston - Katy, TX
🔗 Link to Purchase Tickets in Bio

We invite you to our upcoming AI Roundtable!

Our event speaker is Mehrab Momin, Founder of aiCTO Services. As the founder of aiCTO.services, he serves as a Fractional AI CTO for startups and growth-stage companies, helping teams move from idea to working AI products in weeks through practical, ex*****on-focused leadership. He has led engineering, product, and AI initiatives across SaaS, fintech, industrial, healthcare, and real-estate technology.

Mehrab is a veteran product and engineering leader with over two decades of experience building complex, scalable software systems and transforming organizations through AI-native solutions.

Join us for an interactive 90-minute AI Roundtable workshop on Friday, February 20th at 9am CT, designed for business owners, innovators, and technology leaders who want to improve productivity and drive better business.

In This Interactive Session, Mehrab will:

- Clarify what “AI-native” really means for modern businesses

- Walk through how a service business can run with AI as the ex*****on layer

- Explore where human judgment must stay in the loop—and why

- Show how these systems can be productized and scaled with trust intact

While examples may include client service businesses, this discussion is relevant for any leader thinking about AI strategy, operational leverage, and long-term impact. This is a practical, no-hype conversation for business owners and executives who care about building things that last.


🎟️ Link to register and purchase a ticket is in the bio.

Members: Included with your membership

Non-Members: $25

The energy in the room at our latest OPEN Houston Entrepreneurship Roundtable was truly inspiring. Thoughtful questions, real talk, and deep discussion—all reflecting the strength and vibrancy of Houston’s entrepreneurial community.

During the conversation, founders dug into key milestones along the entrepreneurial journey.

🚀 From launch to scale — we explored how founders can time their go-to-market strategy, protect their IP and ideas, evaluate when to pivot, and grow sales beyond their immediate network.

This quarterly series is part of an ongoing collaboration between OPEN Houston and The Ion, designed to strengthen Houston’s innovation ecosystem and support founders at every stage. If you’re building, growing, or just getting started, we’d love to have you join us next time.