★ Houston, TX  ·  750+ Members  ·  Monthly IRL

Shake hands withHouston.

HTown Handshakes is the professional network built for people who'd rather trade real stories than business cards. Digital profiles, monthly Handshake-A-Thons, and 750+ humans who actually show up.

Trusted by 750+ Houston founders, operators, and creatives.
EF
Edward F.
Founder · HTown Handshakes
Founder Networking Houston

Building the network I wished existed when I moved to Houston. Coffee, collabs, and handshakes that actually mean something.

📅 Book a Coffee
New Intro
Colin ↔ Jorge
"Thought y'all should meet — coffee meets co-working."
Next Event
Thu · May 14
Noontime Networking · 11:30am – 1pm
Referral
+$5 OFF
Your code HTH-EDWARD-7X4Q was redeemed.
↓ your next coffee ↓
Real Handshakes Real Humans Real Houston Monthly At The Cannon West Founders · Operators · Creatives Real Handshakes Real Humans Real Houston Monthly At The Cannon West Founders · Operators · Creatives
THE OLD WAY IS BROKEN

Stop collecting
business cards
that go nowhere.

You know the drill. Shake hands. Swap cards. Promise to "grab coffee soon." A week later? The card is in a drawer, the name is forgotten, and the connection is dead. Houston deserves a better playbook.

Come To The Next Handshake-A-Thon →
Chad B. Johnson
Vice President, Something
chad@genericfirm.com
(713) 555-0104
Karen L. Smith
Consultant, Consulting
k.smith@corp.biz
(713) 555-0088
Brad F. Wilson
Synergy Specialist
brad@synergy.io
(832) 555-0213
Jessica R.
Director of Stuff
who even
is this?!
HOW IT WORKS

Built for real connection.

A digital profile that replaces your business card. Monthly events that actually go somewhere. And a directory of 750+ humans you can actually call.

01

Your Profile, Not Your Paper

Photo, bio, and your scheduling link — all in one tap. New connections book coffee before they forget your name.

02

Handshake-A-Thons, Monthly

The Cannon West. Second Thursdays at lunch. Curated. Structured. Actually fun. You'll leave with 3-5 real leads, not 30 business cards.

03

The 750-Strong Directory

Need an accountant? A designer? A commercial realtor? Search the network. Find your next collaborator in under 60 seconds.

Is it weird to have a crush on a networking group?

We don't think so. And here's what 750+ members are saying...

"After 8 years of Houston events, I'd basically stopped going to networking. Handshakes made me remember why I liked it. These people actually follow up."

MR
Maria R.
Founder, Bayou Brands Co.

"I closed two new clients from one Handshake-A-Thon. The Builder Pass paid for itself on the drive home."

DT
David T.
Fractional CFO

"My profile replaced my business card entirely. I haven't ordered new cards in a year — and my calendar has never been fuller."

AK
Ashley K.
UX Designer & Consultant

"What I love: it's 60% women. It's the first Houston network where I don't feel like the only woman in the room."

JH
Jasmine H.
Commercial Broker

"I moved to Houston in January. By March I had a team of collaborators — all from Handshakes. This is how you actually meet this city."

RP
Raj P.
Product Lead, Fintech

"The energy is different. It's peer-to-peer, not pitch-and-bail. I've genuinely made friends here."

SL
Sarah L.
Marketing Director

"So freaking good. It almost feels too good to be true — but two years in, it keeps getting better."

JO
Jorge O.
Real Estate Portfolio Management
See for yourself why so many people ♡ Handshakes.
Join The May 14 Event →
REGISTRATION OPEN · LIMITED SEATS

The May 14 Handshake-A-Thon — noontime networking, no fluff

When
Thu, May 14
11:30am – 1:00pm
Where
The Cannon
West Houston
Who
Houston Founders
Sales · Operators
What You Get
Lunch · Badges
Curated Intros
you should be
in this photo ↗
PICK YOUR PASS

Pricing that works for you

Builder Pass is where most Houstonians land. Growth Partner and Event Sponsor placements have closed — but you can still grab a Builder Pass.

Closes May 7
  • Everything in Builder Pass
  • Featured intro by host during welcome
  • Featured profile on the event page
  • Recognition on stage
  • Logo on event signage
Become a Partner
$150
Closes May 7
  • Everything in Growth Partner
  • Premium signage at the entrance
  • Sponsor spotlight in pre + post-event emails
  • Logo on all event materials
  • Dedicated thank-you from the stage
Sponsor This Event

Waited too long? Momentum Pass ($35) stays open right up to the door on May 14 — last-minute movers still make first-rate connections. Early Access ($10) and Early Bird ($15) sold out. See live availability on Eventbrite →

It's about time
you had a
network you
were proud of.

1

Show up monthly

Handshake-A-Thons happen at The Cannon West. Put them on your calendar — they're the most important 3 hours of your business month.

2

Build your digital handshake

Photo. Bio. Calendar link. That's it. No awkward business-card math. Just a link you share at every intro.

3

Tap the directory

Search 750+ vetted Houston pros when you need a lawyer, a designer, a dev shop, or a new client. Warm intros in one click.

4

Refer. Earn. Repeat.

Your unique referral code gives your people $5 off and you a free Builder Pass when they use it. It's that simple.

Questions? We've got you.

The honest answers to what everyone asks before their first event.

Do I need to know anyone to show up?
Not a soul. About 40% of every Handshake-A-Thon is first-timers. The team runs intros all night, so you'll never be standing alone with a drink wondering what to do.
What's the vibe — is it sales-y?
No. We run it peer-to-peer, not pitch-and-bail. Show up as a human. Be curious. Give before you take. That's the whole playbook.
What makes the Builder Pass the "anchor"?
It's our primary tier — best value for most attendees, kept open the longest. If you're not sure which ticket to grab, grab this one.
I got a referral code from a friend. How do I use it?
Enter it on Eventbrite at checkout — you'll get $5 off, and your friend earns a free Builder Pass for the next event. Win-win by design.
Can I sponsor an event?
Yes — Event Sponsor tier includes signage, stage recognition, and a featured profile. Reach out at handshake@htownhandshakes.com and we'll send the deck.
Does membership cost extra on top of tickets?
Your digital profile and directory access are free when you attend your first event. No subscription. The tickets are how we keep the lights on at The Cannon.
EF
HTown Handshakes
Founder & One-Man Army
" I built the network I wish had existed when I was grinding in Houston without a warm introduction to lean on. One event, one room, one real conversation at a time — that's still how this works. "
Edward F.
Built this myself.
Come see why.

Stop networking.
Start connecting.

The May 14 Noontime Networking Handshake-A-Thon at The Cannon West is filling up. Builder Pass tickets close May 13 — grab yours before they're gone.

Get Your Builder Pass — $25 → Still have questions?