6 Houston startups graduate from startup accelerators

Houston’s latest cohort of promising startups has found success thanks to the local program of the world’s largest pre-seed startup accelerator.

The Houston Founder Institute graduated its 2024 cohort this month, celebrating the class on May 21. The organization also opened applications for its next cycle.

“After a meticulous selection process and four intense months of aggressive company-building sprints, constant evaluation, and feedback from investors and mentors, only six companies made it through,” the organization writes in a blog post. “Each of these founders has demonstrated a high level of perseverance and creativity, and their companies have been thoroughly vetted and supported by a panel of Houston’s top startup experts and investors.

More recent alumni of the Houston program include:

• Quickgredients, a company that meets the dietary needs of diners and attracts new customers for food businesses through targeted marketing and effective management.

• Truckersfinder, a platform connecting trucking companies with essential service providers to streamline their operations.

• SEKCO, which develops technology to help laundry operators deliver wash and press service in five minutes or less by integrating wet vacuuming and pressing in manual or automated stations.

• Gym Rat, a hardware-software integration to improve and better track the fitness experience.

• ReachAI enables small and medium-sized businesses to increase their digital footprint and online visibility with cutting-edge marketing strategies and comprehensive web presence optimization solutions.

• STEMperts, a platform that helps students learn better and improve their grades by engaging them across a combination of interests and learning styles.

The Houston Founder Institute is led by local directors James Phelan, Martín Martinez, Mery Ramirez and Natasha Gorodetsky.

After completing the program, portfolio companies continue to have access to the Founder Institute’s global network and post-graduate support programs to continue growing their business.