introducing innovationmap

Houstonians toast innovation with preview of game-changing media outlet

Recently, an intimate group of professionals representing myriad local industries and sectors gathered for an intimate soft launch of InnovationMap. The newest site from Gow Media and the team behind CultureMap, InnovationMap will shine a spotlight on innovation in Houston within startups, tech, health, energy, social impact, and more.

In addition to thoughtful news stories, InnovationMap will profile leaders within the industry and feature thought leadership content from guest contributors, as well as partner content.

The crowd of business, civic, media, and cultural leaders packed the home of Gow Media CEO David Gow for the soiree. The lively group included Bill McKeon, CEO of the Texas Medical Center; Mark Montgomery of BBVA Compass Bank; Dominique Sachse of Channel 2; style master Ceron of Ceron Hair Studio; Urbane Society entrepreneur Nick Florescu; and creative consultant Brad Deutser. They were joined by Gow Media celebs such as ESPN 97.5’s Fred Faour, A.J. Hoffman, and Charlie Pallilo.

Guests feasted on a sumptuous grand display from Tony’s, boasting imported cheeses and meats from Italy, house-made breads and crostinis, and spectacular mini deserts — highlighted by Donna Vallone’s biscotti. Partygoers also noshed on Tony’s menu items, such as Hudson Valley foie gras “Cotton Candy,” saffron-cured yellowtail with Osetra caviar with blood orange beurre blanc, avocado pancakes with jumbo lump crabmeat and pico de gallo, and Crescent Island duck confit stuffed pasta with Norcia Black Truffles and parmigiano stravecchio. The fare was washed down with a vast selection of wine and spirits, including Napa wines from Stark Advantage and whiskeys from Glenfiddich and Balvenie.

Gow welcomed the group, recognizing sponsors and representatives from BBVA Compass, Baker Botts, Briggs & Veselka Co., Acme Party and Tent, Tony’s, Stark Advantage wines, and Glenfiddich. He also introduced editorial director Arden Ward and InnovationMap’s editor, Natalie Harms.

“Houston’s a great city to do business in, and it’s great to have a single place to go to, where people can see what’s going on in the city, relative to innovation — in all walks, it can be innovation, medical, you name it,” BBVA’s Montgomery says of InnovationMap. “It’s an exciting way to bring everyone together to make this city even better.”

InnovationMap will officially launch November 15, but you can keep up with the latest developments on Twitter and Instagram.

Nick Florescu, Dominique Sachse, Lonnie Schiller, Candace Schiller, David Gow, and Audrey Gow.

Photo by Jacob Power

Nick Florescu, Dominique Sachse, Lonnie Schiller, Candace Schiller, David Gow, and Audrey Gow.

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big business

Houston food giant Sysco will acquire Restaurant Depot for $29 billion

Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images

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Sysco, the nation's largest food distributor, will acquire supplier Restaurant Depot in a deal worth more than $29 billion.

The acquisition would create a closer link between Sysco and its customers that right now turn to Restaurant Depot for supplies needed quickly in an industry segment known as “cash-and-carry wholesale.”

Sysco, based in Houston, serves more than 700,000 restaurants, hospitals, schools and hotels, supplying them with everything from butter and eggs to napkins. Those goods are typically acquired ahead of time based on how much traffic that restaurants typically see.

Restaurant Depot offers memberships to mom-and-pop restaurants and other businesses, giving them access to warehouses stocked with supplies for when they run short of what they've purchased from suppliers like Sysco.

It is a fast growing and high-margin segment that will likely mean thousands of restaurants will rely increasingly on Sysco for day-to-day needs.

Restaurant Depot shareholders will receive $21.6 billion in cash and 91.5 million Sysco shares. Based on Sysco’s closing share price of $81.80 as of March 27, 2026, the deal has an enterprise value of about $29.1 billion.

Restaurant Depot was founded in Brooklyn in 1976. The family run business then known as Jetro Restaurant Depot, has become the nation's largest cash-and-carry wholesaler.

The boards of both companies have approved the acquisition, but it would still need regulatory approval.

Shares of Sysco Corp. tumbled 13% Monday to $71.26, an initial decline some industry analysts expected given the cost of the deal.