We had the good fortune of connecting with Leo Chen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leo, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Openair Company and Factory HTX started from my experience live in San Francisco and Austin observing the vibrant makers market. After talking to the many of the artisans makers, I head many of their challenges attempting to grow as a business. Initially started out as a mobile app idea to try out during the pandemic lock down. It was during my participation of Y Combinator in 2022, someone suggested that to truly learn the first hand experience and pain points that I needed to become a makers market organizer. We are now in the year 3 of the startup journey and have organized festivals and market in some of the most premier venues like Downtown Houston+ and POST HTX. We are now consolidated in to a physical location called Factory HTX a community space for makers offering events and workshops. We are also looking to expand into more locations.

What should our readers know about your business?
We started our as a special event organizer. The largest is the Lunar New Year Celebration that we organize with Downtown Houston+. Running the show was not easy. I have many battle scars. The most challenging part is looking for a great venue partner to collaborate. I runs on mostly grit and perseverance, and some luck. We are looking lo expand in to more physical location. The idea of it is to provided space for makers to work and distribute their locally produced goods. Additionally, we also organize brunch, musical events, and happy hours.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Friends are always welcome to our spaces during our events. We often have classes, music, and art shows at Factory HTX and our friends at Chapman and Kirby in EADO.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I like to shout out to several organizations. First is Y Combinator, if not for the suggestion to organize our own market we would not been on this track and meet all the partners and community members that supported us. Second is team from Downtown Houston+. If not for the venue support and sponsorship our journey would ended early. Finally, I like to dedicated to all the friends and venue partners that worked with along the way like Chapman & Kirby and Frost Town Brewing, and Conservatory.

Website: https://factoryhtx.org

Instagram: openair.company

Facebook: openair.company

Image Credits
Factory HTX

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