Seasoned Technology Leader | Innovation Ecosystem Architect & Advisor | Venture Investor

Dr. Jan E. Odegard is a seasoned leader and innovation ecosystem expert with over 30 years of experience across various technology domains. His expertise spans academic research and development, fostering innovation ecosystems, venture investment, and building industry collaborations and partnerships.

Academic Leadership & Research Computing

At Rice University, Dr. Odegard served for 18 years as the Executive Director of the Ken Kennedy Institute, where he was instrumental in developing strategic partnerships between academia, industry, and government. Through team building and strong leadership, the institute significantly expanded its reach, securing substantial research infrastructure funding to support cutting-edge initiatives in high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, data science, computational science and engineering, and computing-driven solutions to global challenges.

During the final five years of his tenure at Rice, he also served as Associate Vice President for Research Computing, leading advanced computing and cyberinfrastructure efforts to support interdisciplinary research across the university.

As Executive Director of the Ken Kennedy Institute, in addition to supporting the research community and fostering the development of cross-disciplinary research, he played a pivotal role in launching two high-profile conferences that connected Rice to Houston’s major economic drivers:

• Oil & Gas High-Performance Computing Conference (2008–2021) → Later rebranded as the Energy High-Performance Computing Conference (2022–present)

• Ken Kennedy Institute Data Science Conference (2017–2021) → Later rebranded as the AI in Health Conference (2022–present)

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Leadership

Dr. Odegard joined Ion, a Rice University-led innovation hub in Houston, in January 2020 as Senior Director for Industry and Academic Partnerships. Shortly after joining, he was promoted to Executive Director, a role he held for four years until he "graduated" from Ion and Rice.

Under his leadership, Ion evolved from a bold vision into a dynamic, vibrant, and welcoming ecosystem, where entrepreneurs, founders, startups, small businesses, and corporate partners found a second home—a place for change-makers building the future. He played a key role in establishing Ion as a startup-friendly destination, leading a team in developing and implementing Ion’s industry engagement strategy, designing programming, fostering strategic collaborations, and attracting key stakeholders—from founders and entrepreneurs to major industry players and the broader community—cultivating an environment that drove innovation and growth inside and outside the hedges.

Venture Investing & Ecosystem Building

Dr. Odegard is also a venture and angel investor, having graduated from Venture University (VU), a premier venture capital and private equity investor accelerator, where he continues to support deal sourcing and due diligence. He is also a member of the Houston Angel Network, where he plays a similar role.

With deep expertise in technology innovation, startup ecosystems, and investment strategy, he identifies and supports emerging companies that align with VU’s, other funds’, and angel investors’ investment theses, as well as investments that align with his own vision of advancing cutting-edge solutions that scale existing markets or create new opportunities.

While he considers himself a generalist investor, he is often drawn to startups that leverage his domain expertise.

• AI & Robotics

• Computing & High-Performance Computing

• Analytics & Quantum Technology

• Signal Processing & Space Technology

• Software, SaaS, & EdTech

Academic Background

Dr. Odegard holds advanced degrees from Texas A&M University and Rice University, where he built a strong foundation in computational science, engineering, and information technology. He earned his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Rice University (1996), specializing in signal processing and algorithms. Prior to that, he obtained his M.S. (1987) and B.S. (1989) degrees in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University.

Additionally, he earned an Engineering Associate degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Telemark College of Engineering (1985) and, prior to that, completed a one-year specialization in Mathematics at Molde Regional College (1981).

In addition to his research and leadership roles affiliated with Rice University, Dr. Odegard was a faculty member at the University of Stavanger in Norway (2019–2021), where he contributed to teaching, research, and mentorship in signal processing. His academic career has been dedicated to fostering innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the application of advanced computing technologies to solve real-world challenges.

Technical Expertise & Industry Impact

Throughout his career, Dr. Odegard has been dedicated to:

• Building collaborative ecosystems that bridge academia, industry, and government

• Fostering research and development through computing and data-driven innovation

• Driving venture investment in transformative technologies

• Advancing partnerships that accelerate innovation and commercialization

His areas of technical expertise include:

• Computing & Cyberinfrastructure Development

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Data Science

• Educational & Health Technology

• Signal & Image Processing

With extensive experience in research leadership, venture investment, and ecosystem development, Dr. Odegard continues to shape the future of technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship.