Building Connections: How Pearland’s Innovation Hub Is Creating A Pathway For Businesses To Thrive
Pearland, Texas, a city 20 minutes outside of downtown Houston, has gained notoriety as a growing hub for technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Its prime proximity to Houston's central business district and the Texas Medical Center, plus its cluster of major life sciences, healthcare and biomanufacturing companies and its surging population and talent pipeline, have made Pearland attractive to growing startups that have chosen to call the area their home.
To help keep this momentum going, Pearland Economic Development Corp. — which is dedicated to enhancing the community’s business-friendly environment by attracting, retaining and expanding its ecosystem — launched the Pearland Innovation Hub, or PIH, in 2022.
One way the Innovation Hub continues to thrive is through its HUUB online member portal, connecting small businesses and entrepreneurs to different virtual and in-person resources, Pearland Innovation Hub navigator Sonia Cacique said.
“Our platform provides members with free access to our resources within the portal, including 100 on-demand videos and live training to help build their brand,” she said. “We also provide networking opportunities and a grants database to get their businesses off the ground. This is just the start to helping build a deeper connection to Pearland’s community.”
A key part of the platform that Cacique is particularly proud of is the technical advising aspect of the member portal.
“We offer 10 hours of free technical project-based support for a Pearland Innovation Hub member who lives or owns a business in Pearland,” she said. “A member can apply, work with an adviser and walk away with a tangible product such as web design, a marketing plan, HR support, a finance strategy and more.”
Cacique said that since the technical advising portion of the program has taken off, it has received great feedback from people who may not have known how to get their foot in the door but have now seen considerable progress since utilizing this platform.
One example is entrepreneur Caleb Covington, co-founder and strategist at Summit Wealth Solutions.
“I can’t sing the praises of the Pearland Innovation Hub enough. It’s been a game-changer for us,” Covington said. “PIH has taken my partner and me from searching in the dark with a flashlight to building a credible and foundationally sound real estate syndication company. It’s connected us with invaluable mentors, industry leaders and key players in our field.”
Covington said that thanks to PIH, Summit has developed a website, obtained certification as a Historically Underutilized Business and gained access to federal government contracts.
“None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the PIH program, and I'm truly grateful for everything it’s helped us achieve,” he said.
Cacique said that while the portal and technical advising are invaluable to PIH's members, it is the in-person events that have helped build camaraderie and a solid foundation for local businesses and entrepreneurs.
Morning Brew Connections provides a structured environment for meaningful networking. Beyond simple business card exchanges, roundtable and breakout group discussions empower participants to build a community of support among fellow entrepreneurs.
“An important component of PIH is a connection. Many of our members are solo entrepreneurs, so building a community of people that can provide support and advice from similar experiences is invaluable,” Cacique said.
Another event is Business Breakthrough, featuring insightful presentations from subject matter experts. Attendees gain knowledge and actionable takeaways, while many speakers subsequently become trusted technical advisers in the community, enriching the ecosystem, Cacique said.
Funding Strategies delves into the complexities of the funding landscape, featuring presenters from across the local lending landscape. This event empowers business owners with the knowledge and tools to effectively prepare for and leverage available resources.
Entrepreneur Insights, another engaging initiative, features podcast-style discussions with successful entrepreneurs and small-business owners, followed by Q&A sessions. Members glean invaluable insights from these experienced individuals who have achieved success in building and growing their businesses.
“We've received tremendous feedback from our entrepreneurial insight events because our members get to engage with the speakers during and after the event,” Cacique said. “This connection has not only created a healthy dialogue between established entrepreneurs and startups, but often many have developed a mentor and mentee relationship after connecting.”
Cacique said the impact of Pearland Innovation Hub goes beyond the community to the greater Houston region, as more people from there are attending its events.
“We love to stand out with our Pearland community and thrive on our own, but we’re also happy to share our ideas and stay connected and supportive of the greater Houston area,” she said.
This article was produced in collaboration between the Pearland Economic Development Corp. and Studio B. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.
Studio B is Bisnow’s in-house content and design studio. To learn more about how Studio B can help your team, reach out to studio@bisnow.com.
