Conference 2026
Houston’s Growth Ecosystem
Where Houston’s growth ecosystem comes together
Saturday, October 3, 2026 · 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM · POST Houston
A full day of keynotes, panels, and breakout tables, bringing together the founders, business professionals, and investors building Houston’s growth economy.
The Growth Ecosystem
One day. Houston’s builders and business leaders, in the same room.
The annual OPEN Houston Conference brings founders, business professionals, and investors to POST Houston for a single day of keynotes, panels, and breakout tables — built around the conversations that grow careers, companies, and Houston’s economy together.
Keynotes
Dr. Azam Kundi
Chairman & CEO, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic
Confirmed
Panels
- Zero to 100
- Career Leap
- Industries of Tomorrow
Breakout Tables
Five tables in the afternoon, from capital and investing to students and early career.
Who Should Attend
Six audiences, one guest list
01
Founders and entrepreneurs
Building something in Houston and looking for the operators, capital, and candid advice that move it forward.
02
Business and corporate professionals
Running or growing an established business, and looking for partners, ideas, and talent inside Houston’s growth economy.
03
Investors and VCs
Meeting the next cohort of Houston founders before anyone else does — and the people who back them.
05
Women in leadership
The Women’s Leadership Circle’s network, gathered for a day of mentorship and sponsorship that lasts past it.
04
Emerging and early-career professionals
Making the leap into leadership, alongside the people who have already made it.
06
Students and new grads
A first professional network, with a dedicated breakout table for students and early career.
Agenda at a Glance
Saturday, October 3
Times are current as of today and may shift slightly as the programme is confirmed.
9:00 – 10:00 AM
Networking Hour and Breakfast
10:00 AM
Welcome Address
Salim Gheewalla, CEO & Founder, utilITise.
10:10 AM
Morning Keynote
Dr Uzma Iqbal,President, Medical Director, Physician, Houston Center of HOPE. Dr. Azam Kundi, Chairman & CEO, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic.
11:20 AM
Panel 1 — Zero to 100
Moderated by Aziz Rahim, President, Wallis State Bank. Samina Farid, Managing Director, Golden Seeds. Snehee Chaplot, Founder & CEO, The Food Shop · Joe Alapat, Founder & CGO, Liongard. Mark Winchester,
District Director, SBA.
12:00 AM
Lunch
01:00 pM
Panel 2 — Career Leap
Moderated by Mustafa Ali, Head of Growth, Twilio. Atif Riaz, Corporate Officer, Treasurer, and Head of Investor Relations. Murphy Oil. Khurram Agha,
Head of USA, Cur8 Capital. Nada Ahmed, hief Commercial Officer, EnergyTech Cypher.
1:45 PM
Panel 3 — Industries of Tomorrow
Moderated by Ashher Syed, Product Marketing Leader, HashiCorp · Founder, AngelsRound. Aater Suleman, Founder, Vixul Studios. Amyn Gillani, VP, Core Tech & AI Transformation. Raazia Ali, VP, Head of Engineering at Securent AI.
2:40 PM
Networking and Breakout Sessions
Mehrab Momin, Founder, AiCTO Services.
Tanu Jain, Founder & CFO, FlowCare.
Omair Mirza, Vice President, Banker at J.P. Morgan Private Bank.
Alisha Pourbundarwala, CEO, CapitalMed Solutions and CEO of Aivara Health. Executive Director, OPEN Conference 2026.
Ken Head, VP at Savant Energy.
Tanu Jain, Founder & CFO, FlowCare.
Omair Mirza, Vice President, Banker at J.P. Morgan Private Bank.
Alisha Pourbundarwala, CEO, CapitalMed Solutions and CEO of Aivara Health. Executive Director, OPEN Conference 2026.
Ken Head, VP at Savant Energy.
2:40 PM
Networking and Breakout Sessions
A: TECHNOLOGY
B: STARTUPS
C: FINANCE
D: HEALTHCARE
E: ENERGY
Programme ends at 3:30 PM.
Speakers and Moderators
18 Industry Voices, One Room
Keynotes, panellists, and moderators are announced on a rolling basis. Register now and every name lands in your inbox first.
Moderator · Keynote
Dr. Uzma Iqbal
President, Medical Director, Physician, Houston Center of HOPE
Speaker – Career Leap
Atif Riaz
Corporate Officer, Treasurer, and Head of Investor Relations. Murphy Oil
Moderator · Industries of Tomorrow
Ashher Syed
Product Marketing Leader, HashiCorp · Founder, AngelsRound
Networking Breakout · Finance Table
Alisha Pourbundarwala
CEO, CapitalMed Solutions and CEO of Aivara Health. Executive Director, OPEN Conference 2026.
Tickets
Two ways in
Ticketing runs on Luma. Current pricing and availability are listed there.
Standard
One seat for the full day — keynotes, all three panels, lunch, and your choice of afternoon breakout table.
Sponsorship Table
Eight reserved seats for your team, portfolio, or guests, plus recognition on the day and on the sponsor list.
Sponsors
Built with Houston’s businesses
LANYARD SPONSOR
BADGE SPONSOR
BOOTH SPONSOR
lunch sponsor
networking sponsor
Session Sponsor
Session Sponsor
Session Sponsor
Venue
POST Houston
401 Franklin Street, Houston, TX 77201. Downtown, with parking on site and the whole day held under one roof.
Seats are limited — secure your spot today