Energytech Startups

AI and sustainability, two buzzwords that actually make a lot of sense together, especially when you’ve got sharp minds like Robin Goswami and Sandeep Roy putting them to work. These guys built Planckton Data to crack one of the biggest challenges in energy and industrial markets: making carbon footprints actually measurable (instead of just a marketing buzzword). From filling in the massive data...

Houston isn’t just the oil and gas capital, it’s shaping up to be the energy innovation hub of the future, and Nada Ahmed and Jason Ethier are right in the middle of it. As the brains behind EnergyTechNexus, they’re building a launchpad for startups tackling the energy trilemma: security, affordability, and sustainability. We’re talking everything from carbon capture to nuclear’s big comeback and...

Plastic doesn’t have to be the villain of the story anymore, Rheom Materials is flipping the script. From brewing kombucha to brewing up a whole new way of thinking about sustainable plastics, they’re proving that bio-based, biodegradable materials can hold their own against petrochemical giants. In this chat, you’ll hear about the wild ride from Zimri T. Hinshaw’s beginnings to Rheom’s breakthrou...

Workplace safety just got a serious upgrade thanks to some cutting-edge AI tech that turns your regular ol’ CCTV cameras into safety superheroes. We’re talking about a system that spots hazards, flags unsafe behavior (without naming and shaming), and keeps things running smoothly in high-risk industries like oil and gas. The brains behind this innovation? A safety engineer-turned-entrepreneur who...

Energy tech startups face a unique maze of legal pitfalls, and we’re breaking it all down with tips and strategies that could save your company. From dodging toxic investment terms like full ratchets to navigating funding rounds without losing founder control, we’ll unpack what works (and what doesn’t) in this high-stakes world. Ever wonder why project finance often beats venture capital in energy...

Ever thought about how to make EV charging smarter and greener? Wind Everest is turning wind energy into a game-changer for electric vehicles, and Robert Rolnik is at the helm of it all. Picture an app that works like a weather report for wind power, letting you know the best times to charge to slash carbon emissions by up to 90%. Texas might be just warming up to EVs, but with 7-8% of new car sal...

When it comes to bringing manufacturing back to the US, reshoring isn’t just a buzzword, it’s a game plan, and Mush Khan from Alchemy Industrial is in the thick of it. From building game-changing energy storage systems to figuring out how AI and robotics can shake up the factory floor, Mush is rethinking what it means to make stuff in America. He’s got big ideas about how Houston can lead the char...

Sean Kelly, CEO of Amperon, joins this episode of the Energy Tech Startups Podcast to share how his company is transforming energy forecasting through AI-driven solutions tailored to every electron on the grid. He delves into the inception of Amperon and the unique challenges they face in predicting future energy demands. Sean discusses how traditional forecasting methods struggle to keep up with...

Imagine slashing admin time by 80% while tackling the energy transition, sounds like a dream, right? That’s the reality with NetBenefits Software, where AI is shaking up how energy companies manage stakeholder relationships and regulatory hoops. From keeping projects on track to navigating the tricky waters of social license to operate, Matt Adams and his team are leading the charge with a fresh,...

William shares his journey from the oil and gas industry to developing cutting-edge underground energy storage solutions. He explains how salt dome caverns can be used for long-duration energy storage, helping to support renewable energy growth. Throughout the episode, William discusses the challenges and opportunities in the current energy market, from regulatory hurdles to technological advancem...

Hermann explains how Alma Energy is advancing direct lithium extraction with cleaner, more efficient processes powered by AI, and why these innovations matter for the energy transition. He also discusses the challenges and opportunities facing oil and gas as it moves toward cleaner technologies, offering insight into how existing infrastructure can be repurposed for new energy solutions—and how Al...

Patrick shares how his company, UnicornForms, is transforming frustrating processes like DMV paperwork and education enrollment into seamless digital experiences through smarter document management. We dive into how AI streamlines data entry and document handling to improve efficiency and security across industries such as education, energy, and regulatory compliance, along with the branding and m...

OceanBit is harnessing ocean thermal energy to deliver 24/7 renewable power while simultaneously providing cooling for data centers, reducing costs in high-density computing environments. Founder Nathaniel explains how AI is used to optimize energy use and efficiency, traces the evolution of ocean thermal technology, and shares his vision for deploying these solutions globally, especially in small...

Sujatha explains how Dsider uses technoeconomic analysis to help cleantech and hard-tech startups make better decisions by evaluating projects through both technical and financial lenses. Through a role-play with Jason acting as a founder, the episode offers a practical look at how Dsider tackles real-world challenges, highlighting the value of integrated data, clear investor communication, and si...

Benjamin explores the opportunities and challenges of building energy tech startups across Latin America and the Caribbean, and how Reciprocal is bridging the gap between the global North and the region through a venture studio focused on nature-based solutions. He discusses funding early-stage startups in emerging markets, the importance of local governance and indigenous communities, and why ene...

Erik shares his journey from working at DNV to founding Endrava, where he’s building digital tools to accelerate industrial decarbonization. Drawing on more than a decade in climate tech, he discusses CapturMap, a platform mapping global CO₂ emission sources and carbon capture projects and offers insights into how data, software, and market understanding are helping energy and industrial companies...

Fresh off their win at the Rice Lily Pitch Competition, Sean and Chen-Yang share how they went from PhD students at Rice University to founders of HEXASpec, tackling energy efficiency and emissions through advanced heat management materials. They explain how their material science research addresses thermal conductivity challenges in semiconductor packaging, an increasingly critical issue as AI an...

Cindy shares how Sage Geosystems is applying decades of oil and gas expertise to develop subsurface pumped hydro storage, a breakthrough approach to large-scale, sustainable energy storage. Drawing on more than 35 years at Shell, she talks about her journey into founding Sage Geosystems, her drive to make a real impact in renewables, and how the company is combining geothermal innovation with prov...

Liquid-Charge is redefining EV mobility with emissions-free liquid fuels that extend vehicle range without relying on costly charging infrastructure. Founder Jared shares his journey from writing a science fiction novel about energy and politics to leading a cutting-edge startup, discussing Liquid-Charge’s fuel cell range extenders, the realities of building energy tech today, and what the future...

Pranav shares the inspiration behind Unique and how ENP Technologies is using blockchain and AI to close critical gaps in equipment data management, driving greater efficiency and transparency across the energy sector. He also explores the broader challenges and opportunities in energy tech, explaining why blockchain is well suited for trusted, reliable data and how Unique is positioned to create...

Chris Westmoreland and Jason Wozniak explain how Renu Energy Services is transforming oil and gas operations by converting waste into usable energy, cutting emissions, and creating new value from previously discarded resources. They dive into the financial, engineering, and operational challenges of waste-to-energy projects, how AI is improving efficiency and outcomes, and why modular, scalable so...

Casey breaks down the challenge of renewable curtailment caused by transmission constraints and explains how Clean Incentive uses blockchain to tokenize renewable energy certificates with marginal emissions data, bringing clarity to the real emissions avoided by each megawatt-hour of clean power. She contrasts this approach with 24/7 energy matching, arguing it’s a less efficient use of capital, a...

In this episode, we explore how Houston is emerging as a central hub for the energy transition, where entrepreneurs and industry leaders are collaborating to scale technologies that reduce emissions and reshape global energy markets. Our guest, Sameer Soleja, CEO and founder of Molecule Software, breaks down the complexities of energy and commodity trading and how modern, cloud-based platforms are...

In this episode, we sit down with Omar Abou-Sayed, founder and executive chairman of Vaulted Deep, to explore how geologic sequestration technology is being repurposed from managing oilfield waste to permanently storing carbon and organic waste deep underground. Omar shares the origins of the technology, its environmental benefits, like protecting groundwater and reducing surface impact and how Va...

In this episode of the Energy Tech Startups Podcast, we talk with Alex Gupta, CEO of Breakpoint Energy, about how the Inflation Reduction Act is reshaping the energy tax credit market through transferability. Based in Houston, Alex explains how the new framework allows companies to buy and sell clean energy tax credits directly, simplifying a process that once required complex tax equity deals, wh...