Senior Innovation Manager, Rice University Office of Innovation

Nafisa Istami is the Senior Innovation Manager at Rice University’s Office of Innovation, where she leads strategic initiatives to advance entrepreneurship across the university. She manages key programs including the Nexus and the One Small Step Grant, supports the commercialization of faculty research, and builds partnerships that strengthen Rice’s presence in the broader innovation ecosystem. Nafisa was previously a Senior Analyst at Mercury Fund, Houston's premier B2B SaaS-focused early-stage venture capital firm, where she worked across the investment and operations teams to source, diligence, and support Mercury's investments. 

With over five years of experience in Houston’s startup and innovation community, Nafisa is passionate about supporting early-stage ventures, empowering student entrepreneurs, and driving operational excellence in all aspects of her work.