Rice Opens the Rice Nexus, an Innovation Factory in the Ion Focused on AI

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Rice University celebrated the grand opening of the Rice Nexus, its flagship innovation hub in the Ion District designed to help faculty, students and alumni founders turn breakthrough research into high-impact startups. Spanning 10,000 square feet across two floors of the Ion building, the state-of-the-art facility provides the space, resources and industry connections needed to scale new ventures, with artificial intelligence (AI) as a central pillar of its innovation strategy.

Under the leadership of Sanjoy Paul, an AI expert and entrepreneur, the Nexus aims to be a key driver for innovation across multiple industries, including biotech, energy, climate and health care.

“The Nexus represents Rice’s commitment to transforming groundbreaking research into real-world solutions,” said Rice President Reginald DesRoches. “By embedding AI expertise, fostering collaboration and equipping our entrepreneurs with the resources to succeed, we are positioning Houston as a global hub for innovation and technology commercialization.”

The Nexus is already home to several innovative deep tech and AI-powered startups. Among them is Solidec, a climate-tech company co-founded by Rice professor Haotian Wang, research scientist Ryan DuChanois and alumnus Yang Xia. Another standout is Coflux Purification, co-founded by Rice students Alec Ajnsztajn, Jeremy Daum and Dana Vazquez with collaboration from professors Rafael Verduzco and Pulickel Ajayan.

In addition, BeOne Sports, founded by Rice alumni, is advancing sports performance technology, while Voythos is battling complex cardiovascular disease by making accurate predictions on the future health of patients using AI.

These ventures and others benefit from the Nexus’ robust suite of resources, which includes mentorship, commercialization support and access to a network of investors and corporate partners.

“We created the Rice Nexus in the Ion for Rice faculty, students and alumni to transform their breakthrough ideas into venture-ready startups,” said Paul Cherukuri, Rice’s chief innovation officer and vice president for innovation. “With Sanjoy Paul at the helm, we are not only integrating AI into the core of our innovation efforts but also ensuring that Rice founders have the leadership, expertise and support they need to rapidly build and scale transformative companies.”

In addition to supporting a diverse range of startups, the Nexus will house a dedicated AI venture accelerator, identifying and nurturing AI-driven startups that have the potential to transform industries. This aligns with Rice’s broader strategic plan, Momentous, which prioritizes leadership in responsible AI, computing and disruptive technologies.

“The Nexus is the bridge between Rice’s world-class research on campus and the investment and industry partners that can help bring these technologies to market through the Ion,” said Paul, executive director of the Nexus. “With AI as a core focus, we’re creating a launchpad for Rice-affiliated founders to build transformative companies that will lead the future of innovation.”

Rice Innovation recently made other investments in Houston’s startup ecosystem, launching RBL LLC, a biotech venture studio to rapidly commercialize lifesaving medical technologies from the Rice Biotech Launch Pad. Rice also partnered with Greentown Labs, North America’s largest climate tech incubator, to support climate solutions in the Ion District.

“With its doors now officially open, the Rice Nexus cements its role as the home for Rice founders within the Ion District, integrating AI expertise to fuel the next wave of breakthrough companies that will transform industries and change the world,” said Cherukuri.