Everything startup in one place: who's building, how the landscape clusters, the people and investors behind it, and whether the capital is real.
Summary
Houston's funding ecosystem is deep: 2027 tracked companies have raised outside money, ahead of Atlanta's 1889 and Dallas's 1550. That scale does not erase the large unfunded pool or the substantial number of closures.
WATCH Watch whether newer companies move from unfunded status into disclosed funding rounds.
Summary
Startup formation is energetic but financing is uneven: 3056 companies were founded since 2018, yet the largest stage is unfunded and 4.7% of all tracked companies have shut down.
WATCH Watch whether young companies secure funding before closures begin to outweigh formation.
cluster · 3818 companies
Business Services
326 founded since 2018 · 116 funded
Sub-themes
marketing services · 688it services · 625hr services · 422legal services · 413management consulting services · 220facility management services · 182
e.g. Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Khristine Anderson, Employer Flexible
cluster · 2195 companies
Energy
222 founded since 2018 · 484 funded
Sub-themes
oilfield services · 493oil & gas upstream · 414oil & gas equipment · 367oil & gas midstream · 244oil & gas downstream · 176solar energy · 86
e.g. Baker Hughes, Quanta Services, McDermott International
cluster · 2182 companies
Real Estate And Construction
173 founded since 2018 · 62 funded
Sub-themes
real estate & infrastructure developers · 402real estate brokers · 353building materials · 300architects · 237construction contractors · 199construction management services · 154
e.g. CEMEX, Comfort Systems USA, Khristine Anderson
cluster · 1604 companies
Healthcare
131 founded since 2018 · 98 funded
Sub-themes
clinic chains · 438rehabilitation and long-term care · 199services for healthcare providers · 194home healthcare · 105clinics · 87hospitals · 71
e.g. Memorial Hermann, Houston Methodist, HCA Gulf Coast Division
cluster · 1412 companies
Consumer
273 founded since 2018 · 108 funded
Sub-themes
b2c e-commerce · 332professional consumer services · 240fashion tech · 130temples and religious trusts · 101logistics tech · 95local services · 80
e.g. Waste Management, Service Corporation International, Group1 Automotive
cluster · 1390 companies
Financial Services
111 founded since 2018 · 50 funded
Sub-themes
finance & accounting services · 324asset management · 245insurance distribution · 145consumer and sme loans · 129insurance carriers · 126services for investment industry · 122
e.g. Corebridge Financial, Crown Castle, TMHCC
cluster · 1343 companies
Enterprise Applications
320 founded since 2018 · 148 funded
Sub-themes
enterprise software · 332saas · 303hrtech · 248marketingtech · 195legal tech · 83sales force automation · 76
e.g. Universal weather, Transwestern, PROS Holdings
cluster · 872 companies
Retail
221 founded since 2018 · 61 funded
Sub-themes
b2c e-commerce · 162fashion tech · 131internet first brands · 98b2b e-commerce · 70beauty tech · 65retailers · 64
e.g. Stage Stores, Sysco, Mattress Firm
cluster · 684 companies
Industrial Goods And Manufacturing
43 founded since 2018 · 46 funded
Sub-themes
manufacturing services · 417industrial automation equipment · 120industry 4.0 · 74manufacturing tech · 63industrial air conditioning systems · 24packaging machinery · 18
e.g. oliver equipment, Tenaris, TEAM Industrial Services
cluster · 610 companies
Consumer Goods
67 founded since 2018 · 34 funded
Sub-themes
food & beverage products · 111home furnishing products · 110beauty & personal care products · 57internet first brands · 51apparel brands · 45sports equipment · 37
e.g. Compaq, Men's Wearhouse, windsor foods
