Walter Ulrich

Walter Ulrich is president and CEO of the Houston Technology Center. The Houston Technology Center (HTC) is the largest non-profit technology business incubator/accelerator in Texas and the center for technology entrepreneurship on the Gulf Coast. The HTC provides in-depth management guidance, business planning assistance, introductions to capital providers, entrepreneurial education and a wide array of services to emerging technology client companies. Appointed by Governor Rick Perry, Walter Ulrich recently completed a two year term as one of 17 founding members of the Texas Emerging Technology Fund Committee that was responsible for awarding $200 million to foster the commercialization of innovative emerging technology within the State of Texas. He now serves as Chairman of the Gulf Coast Center for Innovation and Commercialization. He also serves on the governor's IT Industry Cluster task force. Prior to joining the Houston Technology Center, he chaired their Strategic Planning Committee and served on its Advisory Board. He is a founder of the Emerging Business Council, the first chair of the Emerging Business Summits, an active member of the Houston Angel Network, a perennial judge of the Rice Business Plan Competition and is active in several community organizations. Walter Ulrich is a proven business leader adept at building value and driving growth. He has been president and CEO of several mid-sized technology-based companies where he has driven growth and profitability, was previously an executive and practice leader at Arthur D. Little, and prior to that a partner with Coopers & Lybrand. He joined Coopers & Lybrand when they acquired a successful technology business that Walter had found and grown into a nationally recognized leader in its field. Early in his career, he developed the first commercially successful email service as an executive with Cupertino, CA networking pioneer Tymshare. An information industry pioneer, he was a founder of the E-business forum (formerly the EMA). He helped draft the U. S. Communications Privacy Act of 1986. He has a bachelor of science and a masters degree from and recently retired from the Board of Trustees for Stevens Institute of Technology. He proudly served two years active duty with the US Marine Corps. He jogs and his personal interests include snorkeling and eco-tourism. He is married, has one daughter and lives in Pearland, TX.