HTC Americas and Continental Airlines Jointly Foster Entrepreneurship in Latin America

Alliance to provide a gateway to the U.S. market for technology entrepreneurs

HOUSTON – HTC Americas and Continental Airlines have announced an alliance to help expand Houston Technology Center’s mission of accelerating entrepreneurialism by assisting in partnerships between U.S. and Mexico/Latin American companies. As the first corporate sponsor of HTC Americas, Continental Airlines will help the technology center with access to cities in Latin America.

“HTC Americas is proud to have the trust and support from Continental Airlines. Continental Airlines’ vision to expand south of the U.S. to business-oriented cities provides the conduit to build relationships with technology entrepreneurs in the Americas,” said Carlos Lara, chair of HTC Americas. “HTC Americas has built contacts with government entities, entrepreneurs and investors from different cities in Latin America, and we plan to continue expanding our reach and success.”

“Mexico and Latin America continue to be of great importance to Continental and United; in fact, we have recently announced new service that will make our industry-leading network between the U.S. and Mexico even stronger,” said John Slater, vice president, The Americas, United Airlines. “We are very pleased to be one of the first contributors to HTC America’s efforts to strengthen the technology infrastructure throughout the Americas by providing increased travel opportunities.”

“The mission of HTC Americas is critical for the growth of Houston Technology Center and the greater Houston area. Accelerating the commercialization of energy, healthcare, life sciences, IT and space technology is our core mission,” said Walter Ulrich, president and CEO of Houston Technology Center. “Having Continental Airlines as a supporter will help us reach out across the hemisphere to the many business owners and opportunities that our region needs for positive economic impact, allowing us to build a bridge among all parties.”

About HTC Americas

HTC Americas was created by the Houston Technology Center to leverage Houston’s proximity to foreign markets. HTC Americas serves to facilitate technology business and investment exchange across Houston, Mexico and Latin America. HTC Americas assists companies in improving and expanding their businesses, and with access to capital, and network of contacts, focusing on HTC’s five key sectors. Visit www.houstontech.org

About Houston Technology Center

Named among Forbes ‘ top 10 “incubators changing the world,” The Houston Technology Center provides education, insight, and access to capital that entrepreneurs need for commercialization. The Houston Technology Center is a business accelerator and the largest technology business incubator in Texas, advancing the commercialization of emerging technology companies in the greater Houston area. A 501(C)(3)nonprofit organization, HTC assists Houston-based entrepreneurs within several key sectors: energy, information technology, life sciences, nanotechnology and NASA/aerospace technologies. For more information, visit www.houstontech.org.

About Continental Airlines

Continental Airlines is a wholly owned subsidiary of United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL). Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,400 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 142 domestic and 131 international destinations. Continental is a member of Star Alliance, which overall offers 21,000 daily flights to 1,160 airports in 181 countries. Continental has hubs serving Cleveland, Guam, Houston and New York/Newark Liberty, and together with its regional partners, carries approximately 63 million passengers per year.

United Continental Holdings, Inc. became the holding company for both United and Continental upon close of the merger transaction. The two airlines will operate separately as they begin to integrate key customer services, marketing activities and airport processes. For more company information, go to continental.com and follow on Twitter and Facebook.

For more information :
Contact: Maggie Joplin
Director, Marketing and Communications
Houston Technology Center
Telephone: 832-476-9235
Email: mjoplin@houstontech.org
For more information :
Contact: Maria Cristina Osorio
Manager, Public Relations, Latin America and the Caribbean
Continental Airlines
Telephone: 713-324-5080
Email: Macky.Osorio@coair.com