Bits in Bio presents, A Houston Happy Hour
A casual happy hour for the Houston biotech scene. Rice on one side, the Texas Medical Center on the other, and a bar in the basement of a chemistry building in between.
Why Valhalla? Because it's a bar run by grad students and alumni, hidden under a chemistry building, and it has been the place scientists unwind after lab for over 50 years. If you are going to talk biotech over a beer in Houston, this is the room.
No panels. No pitches. No slide decks. Nobody is going to make you stand up and introduce yourself. Grab a drink, meet the people building bio in this city.
What to expect Wear whatever you want. Jeans and a t-shirt are correct. Leave the necktie at home. Valhalla has a no-tie rule, and they take it seriously. We will have name stickers at the door, plus colored dots so you can flag what part of bio you work in. Wet lab, computational, clinical, business, student, investor, curious. Find your color, or go find a different one. Coming alone? Good. Most people are. The organizers will be circulating specifically to introduce people to each other, so find one of us and say so. That is the job. Valhalla is cash only. Bring a few bucks. The beer is famously cheap. Finding it: head down the stairs under Keck Hall and look for the red light. If the weather cooperates, we'll spill out to the tables under the live oaks. Taking the train? The Hermann Park/Rice U METRORail stop is about a ten minute walk.
This one is for everyone Therapeutics, devices, diagnostics, agriculture, industrial, software. Academic, startup, big company, or still figuring out where you fit. Researchers, clinicians, founders, engineers, students, operators, investors, and people trying to break in. Rice, Baylor, UTHealth, MD Anderson, TMC, and everyone in between.
Parking
Valhalla is in the basement of Keck Hall, under the front steps. Rice charges for visitor parking and gates take credit card only.
Closest: Central Campus Garage (under McNair Hall). Enter Rice Blvd at Entrance 20. $1 per 10 min, $13 max. About a 5 min walk.
Also close: North Lot, also off Entrance 20. Same rate, open to visitors after 5:30pm on weekdays.
Cheapest: Greenbriar Lot, 5617 Greenbriar Dr, west of Rice Stadium. $4 flat. The Rice student pick. About a 15-20 min walk across campus.
Rideshare drop-off at Entrance 20 on Rice Blvd works well.
About Bits in Bio Bits in Bio connects the bioeconomy by bringing together people working at the intersection of software, AI, and biology. Our global community of more than 13,000 founders, scientists, investors, and operators runs events in cities around the world. Join us at https://www.bitsinbio.org/