OPEN Houston Conference

Conference 2026

Houston’s Growth Ecosystem

Where Houston’s growth ecosystem comes together

Saturday, October 3, 2026 · 9:00 AM – 4:00 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

Confirmed

Second keynote to be announced as the programme is confirmed.

Panels

Zero to 100
Career Leap
Jobs of the Future

Breakout Tables

Six tables in the afternoon, from capital and investing to students and early career.

Who Should Attend

Six audiences, one guest list

Founders and entrepreneurs

Building something in Houston and looking for the operators, capital, and candid advice that move it forward.

Business and corporate professionals

Running or growing an established business, and looking for partners, ideas, and talent inside Houston’s growth economy.

Investors and VCs

Meeting the next cohort of Houston founders before anyone else does — and the people who back them.

Emerging and early-career professionals

Making the leap into leadership, alongside the people who have already made it.

Women in leadership

The Women’s Leadership Circle’s network, gathered for a day of mentorship and sponsorship that lasts past it.

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

10:15 AM

Morning Keynote

Dr. Azam Kundi

11:00 AM

Panel 1 — Zero to 100

Moderated by Samina and Kemal Farid. With Snehee Chaplot, Founder & CEO, The Food Shop · Joe Alapat, Founder & CGO, Liongard.

11:45 AM

Panel 2 — Career Leap

Moderated by Mustafa Ali, Head of Growth, Twilio. With Apurva Dave, Chief Legal Officer, TDECU.

12:30 AM

Lunch

2:00 PM

Panel 3 — Jobs of the Future

Moderated by Ashher Syed, Product Marketing Leader, HashiCorp · Founder, AngelsRound. With Aater Suleman, Founder, Vixul Studios · Amyn Gillani, VP, Core Tech & AI Transformation.

2:45 PM

Afternoon Keynote

Speaker announced soon

4:00 PM

Networking and Breakout Sessions

A: ENTREPRENEURSHIP B: CAREER GROWTH C: AI & INNOVATION D: CAPITAL & INVESTING E: LEADERSHIP F: STUDENTS & EARLY CAREER

Speakers

Ten confirmed. The rest follow.

Keynotes, panellists, and moderators are announced on a rolling basis. Register now and every name lands in your inbox first.