Joey Sanchez

Cup of Joey Founder & CEO

Joey Sanchez is the founder and CEO of Cup of Joey, a Houston-based community initiative that reimagines networking by fostering purpose-driven conversations over coffee. Launched in 2021 during the Houston Tech Rodeo, Cup of Joey has grown into a citywide movement with weekly meetups across locations like The Ion, Sugar Land Town Square, The Woodlands, and Memorial City. Each gathering centers on a simple yet profound question: “What is your why?”—encouraging attendees to connect through shared purpose rather than job titles.

Prior to founding Cup of Joey, Sanchez served as Senior Director of Ecosystems at The Ion Houston and Director of Corporate Engagement at Houston Exponential, where he played a pivotal role in building the city's innovation infrastructure. His efforts earned him the 2023 Ecosystem Builder award at the Houston Innovation Awards, which he also hosted in 2024 . A lifelong Houstonian and community builder, Sanchez also co-founded the Blue Tile Project, celebrating the city's historic street markers. Through his work, Sanchez continues to “engineer serendipity,” creating spaces where meaningful connections spark innovation and community growth.