When the University of Houston announced its partnership with Plug and Play (PnP) in April, the goal was to connect the world-class talent at the University with one of the leading innovation platforms to accelerate entrepreneurship and commercialization.
With a presence in more than 100 cities worldwide, Plug and Play connects startups with corporations, investors, universities, and governments to accelerate innovation. UH has tied up with PnP as part of the City of Sugar Land’s “Smart Cities” initiative, to enhance entrepreneurial outcomes at the University’s rapidly expanding Sugar Land campus.
Jay Neal, associate vice president and chief operating officer for UH at Sugar Land and UH at Katy, said, “Part of our academic vision is creating a community where higher education, industry, city/county governments come together to build an ecosystem that advances things like research, technology and innovation.”
Together, UH and Plug and Play are creating new pathways for faculty and students through internships, entrepreneurial programming, startup events and industry collaboration that help move ideas from the classroom and laboratory into the marketplace.
Building Momentum
The collaboration officially kicked off at UH’s Sugar Land campus on April 28, where PnP's Ventures team led a Technology Interest Areas Deep Dive, introducing UH faculty, researchers and students to key innovation priorities while exploring opportunities for collaboration around emerging technologies and commercialization.
The following day, PnP hosted the Spring Expo marking the culmination of the program’s third startup accelerator cohort, with selected startups presenting new technologies addressing challenges in areas such as energy, infrastructure, and healthcare. It brought together more than 150 attendees, including corporate partners, investors, and entrepreneurs. The event also featured panel discussions with leaders from the Houston FIFA World Cup Host Committee, the City of Sugar Land, CenterPoint Energy, ExxonMobil, and Worley. This was a great opportunity for students to engage with industry partners and get fresh perspectives from startup founders and investors on taking innovative research from the lab to market. Throughout this summer, PnP has continued working closely with the Cullen College of Engineering by participating in Senior Design courses connecting UH faculty and students tackling industry-relevant capstone projects with startups in the Houston area interested in research commercialization and venture creation.
Through this partnership, PnP is also providing students with firsthand experience in the startup ecosystem. The company welcomed two UH interns this summer: Rowan Kaul, student in the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship and Bauer College of Business, and Joshah C. Patrick Payne, finance and accounting student in the Bauer College of Business. Their work at PnP includes startup scouting, ecosystem engagement, event planning and business development, offering an insider’s view to how an innovation platform such as PnP helps startups grow.
Kaul said reflecting on the opportunity: "I deeply appreciate the opportunity to intern with PnP. Working alongside professionals from such diverse backgrounds has given me valuable insights and I am very excited to learn about different perspectives on innovation and entrepreneurship. As someone who is passionate about startups and entrepreneurship, the experience has been incredibly rewarding. I am sure this will be of immense help in my future career. I've had the chance to contribute to a variety of PnP initiatives and campaigns across Houston, and the work has been very meaningful to me."
Opportunities Ahead
The partnership continues to expand with additional networking events, startup competitions, mentoring opportunities, internships and expanded commercialization programs planned throughout the year.
The next major opportunity for students is the Plug and Play Innovation Bootcamp, scheduled for July 27–30 at UH’s Sugar Land campus. During this intensive four-day bootcamp, students and select faculty with entrepreneurial ambitions will work alongside industry experts and mentors to develop business ideas, strengthen entrepreneurial skills and advance innovative concepts.
During the program, participants will:
- Conduct market research and develop a Lean Canvas business plan.
- Build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) using tools such as Figma, no-code platforms or 3D printing.
- Work alongside experienced mentors to improve product design and develop a compelling 30-second elevator pitch.
- Showcase their venture by pitching their MVP before more than 500 attendees during STEM Go Pro Day at Shell Energy Stadium.
Applications for the bootcamp are now open. Apply here.
Through their growing partnership, the University of Houston and Plug and Play continue to create more opportunities for faculty and students to innovate, collaborate and transform ideas into real-world solutions.