Jan E. Odegard is a nationally recognized innovation strategist, venture advisor, and technology leader with over 30 years of experience working at the intersection of academia, entrepreneurship, and applied research. As Founder and CEO of 62x Ventures, and through his collaboration with LeVass Ventures, Jan helps institutions, municipalities, and developers design and implement high-performing innovation ecosystems. He brings deep expertise in ecosystem activation, talent development, research translation, and technology-driven economic development.

From 2020 to 2024, Jan served as Executive Director of the Ion, the anchor of Houston’s innovation district and a signature initiative of Rice University. Under his leadership, the Ion evolved into a nationally recognized platform for inclusive innovation and startup engagement. He led the development of academic-corporate partnerships, designed talent cultivation and

venture programming, and spearheaded community activation strategies that positioned the Ion as a convener across sectors. Over his tenure, the Ion hosted more than 700 events, supported 300+ startups, and facilitated over 80,000 visitor engagements—amplifying Houston’s innovation visibility and strengthening its startup pipeline. He helped cultivate an environment where entrepreneurs, researchers, corporations, and creative practitioners could collaborate in real time, and his leadership helped establish The Ion as a credible, cross-sector innovation hub recognized by national foundations and federal partners. In 2024, Jan received the Innovation District Leadership Award from the Global Institute on Innovation Districts (GIID) in recognition of his impact and thought leadership in the field.

Prior to his work at the Ion, Jan spent more than two decades in senior leadership roles at Rice University, including as Executive Director of the Ken Kennedy Institute and Associate Vice President for Research Computing. At Rice, he helped grow one of the nation’s most respected interdisciplinary centers for high-performance computing, AI, and data science—bridging academic excellence with industry partnerships in energy, healthcare, and emerging technologies. He oversaw the university’s advanced computing infrastructure, led cross-sector research initiatives, and launched nationally recognized events such as the

Energy HPC Conference and AI in Health Conference. His leadership helped shape Rice’s national profile in computational science and technology translation. Jan also received Rice’s Michael Pearlman Memorial Service Award, honoring his long-standing institutional impact and service.

Jan’s advisory work builds on this deep operational and academic foundation. He currently leads the Houston chapter of Venture University, bringing its Venture Investor Accelerator program to Texas to expand early-stage capital access and mentor the next generation of founders and funders. Through 62x Ventures and in close collaboration with LeVass Ventures, he now advises innovation districts, universities, and civic organizations on how to align programming, partnerships, workforce strategy, and place-based investment to drive both economic and societal returns.

Jan holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Rice University, an M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M, and an Associate Degree in Engineering from Telemark College of Engineering in Norway. He is fluent in English and Norwegian and brings a systems-level mindset, cross-sector expertise, and collaborative approach to every engagement.