By Stephanie Amaya
Texas A&M Innovation and Invincible recently hosted the inaugural HTX AgTech Rodeo Innovation Summit in downtown Houston, Texas, bringing together startups, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and leaders in AgTech to explore the latest advancements and future trends in the space.
The day began with A Cup of Joey— coffee with a twist on networking. The movement, originating in Houston, encourages attendees to lead with connecting over their passions rather than just exchanging business cards.
Shortly after, the Mayor of Houston officially recognized February 26, 2025, as National HTX AgTech Rodeo Innovation Summit Day in Houston, Texas, underscoring the significance of bringing this groundbreaking event to the area. Councilman Martinez attended in show of his and the City of Houston’s support.
The event’s content kicked off with Carl Muntean, Director of Corporate Engagement and Research Support for Texas A&M AgriLife Research, who provided an overview of the agency’s capabilities and contributions to AgTech innovation, including through various impactful industry collaborations. Muntean’s insights highlighted how Texas A&M AgriLife Research is transforming the AgTech landscape and demonstrated the tremendous strength and influence of the agency across the State.
“From start-ups to investors, engaging with expert attendees created many opportunities for Texas A&M AgriLife Research in AgTech leadership and collaborations that benefit our stakeholders,” said Muntean. “What a tremendous launch in Houston for Texas to lead innovation in AgTech.”
The summit also featured an array of companies making strides in AgTech, from advancements in cow embryo health to autonomous feed vehicles and scalable shrimp farming. A featured participant was Iterro Life Sciences, a company leveraging patented technology from Texas A&M to revolutionize sustainable shrimp farming. Iterro showcased the commercial potential of its technology through medical, food product, and pet treat applications.
Brian Knochenmus, President and CEO of Iterro Life Sciences, shared his experience with the event and working with Texas A&M Innovation.
“Networking is a huge part of this event for us, and reconnecting with the innovation office has been great. Texas A&M has a strong culture of innovation, and working with the team has been a unique experience”, shared Knochenmus. “Unlike many offices that struggle to grasp the commercialization process, Texas A&M Innovation understands the long-term commitment required to scale technologies successfully.”
This gathering would not have been possible without Jesse Martinez of invincible. A Houston native and Aggie, Martinez has worked to cultivate a global tech ecosystem in Texas, including this inaugural event.
The HTX AgTech Rodeo Innovation Summit not only provided a platform for collaboration and innovation but also sparked Houston’s role in advancing AgTech solutions. With its early success, the initiative is poised to grow, further strengthening the intersection of agriculture, technology, and entrepreneurship in Texas and beyond.
About Texas A&M Innovation
Texas A&M Innovation works with an array of partners – including innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, technology incubators, and large enterprises – to improve lives by commercializing innovations from The Texas A&M University System. Texas A&M research generates close to 300 new technologies across a wide spectrum of subject matter each year, providing abundant and varied opportunities for industry collaboration.
Source : tamus.edu