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Energy Tech Startups

Energy Tech Startups

By: collide.
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 They say everything's bigger in Texas, including climate change. That's why Houston is leading the energy transition. Here in H-Town, the fourth largest city in the United States, entrepreneurs from across Texas and around the world are gathering to work with titans of industry to build the technology that will reduce emissions and power a low carbon future. Welcome to Energy Tech Startups with Nada Ahmed and Jason Ethier. We sit down with those change makers and wildcatters who are solving the toughest energy challenges with trillions of dollars on the line. We dig into how Houston will bring technology to market on a massive scale. Join us as we talk with the leaders of the energy capital of the world as they show us how the energy transition gets done.2025 Digital Wildcatters, Inc Economics Personal Finance
Episodes
  • Thomas Chepucavage from Zenthos Energy

    Thomas Chepucavage from Zenthos Energy
    Sep 30 2025

    Zenthos Energy is tackling two big challenges at once: energy storage and carbon capture. Their aluminum batteries aren’t just safer and cheaper than the usual lithium or cobalt options, they also last longer and actually create value by capturing CO2 and producing graphite along the way. Born in Albuquerque and now teaming up with Sandia National Labs and New Mexico State, the team is scaling solutions big enough for utilities, data centers, and microgrids, while also finding uses in military and remote applications. It’s a story of tech, partnerships, and ambition, with a clear mission to push gigawatt-scale solutions into the mainstream of sustainable energy.

    Click here to watch a video of this episode.


    Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.
    Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.
    Apply today at collide.io


    Click here to view the episode transcript.

    00:00 - EnergyTech Nexus
    00:16 - Introducing Dev Motiram
    00:52 - Interview with Tom Chappell, CEO of Zenthos Energy
    09:45 - Tom's Journey into the Energy Industry
    11:36 - CO2 Capture Potential
    12:18 - Revenue Streams in Energy Tech
    13:56 - Energy Initiatives in Albuquerque
    15:38 - Non-Dilutive Funding Strategies
    17:30 - Fundraising Journey in Energy Startups
    21:06 - Addressing the Missing Middle
    24:01 - EnergyTech Nexus
    24:15 - Strategic Partnerships for Growth
    25:45 - Assessing Risk in Energy Ventures
    27:46 - Innovations in Aluminum Ion Batteries
    28:44 - Scaling Energy Solutions
    29:45 - Criteria for Investability
    31:05 - Current Goals in Energy Development
    32:10 - Insights from Houston's Energy Scene
    33:05 - Key Takeaways from the Week
    36:20 - Investor Discussions and Focus Areas
    37:40 - Manufacturing Considerations in Energy Tech
    40:50 - Defining Product Market Fit
    41:35 - How to Support Zenthos Energy
    43:28 - Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

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    https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social

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    47 mins
  • Sandy Guitar from TEX-E

    Sandy Guitar from TEX-E
    Sep 16 2025

    Houston’s got big plans for the energy transition, and Sandy Guitar is right in the middle of it. As Executive Director of TEX-E, she’s helping connect Texas universities (and even MIT) with industry to make sure the next wave of talent has the tools, and the confidence, to take on climate and energy challenges. We swapped stories about how Houston’s legacy as the energy capital is shaping its role as the energy transition capital, the value of disciplined entrepreneurship, and why collaboration across students, startups, and industry leaders is the secret sauce. If you’re curious about how the next generation of innovators is being built right here in Texas, Sandy’s perspective is a masterclass in turning vision into action.

    Click here to watch a video of this episode.


    Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.
    Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.
    Apply today at collide.io


    Click here to view the episode transcript.

    00:00 - Intro
    00:58 - What is TEXI
    08:12 - Favorite Book Recommendations
    16:16 - Disciplined Entrepreneurship Insights
    18:20 - Career Journey to Venture Capital
    20:14 - Entering Venture Capital
    24:30 - Skills for Success in VC
    28:15 - Pivotal Career Moments
    33:20 - EnergyTech Nexus Growth Platform
    37:57 - Luck vs Skill in Venture Capital
    41:10 - Evolving Team Dynamics
    46:10 - Economic Downturn Impact on Tech
    49:18 - Understanding Capital Flows
    53:24 - How Listeners Can Help
    57:20 - Conclusion

    https://twitter.com/collide_io

    https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io

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    https://www.instagram.com/collide.io

    https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io

    https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social

    https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters
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    59 mins
  • Emily Avagliano from Resollant Inc.

    Emily Avagliano from Resollant Inc.
    Sep 2 2025

    Resollant is shaking up hydrogen production with a twist that sounds almost too good to be true, turning natural gas into hydrogen and graphite, without the need for air permits or government handouts. Emily Avagliano, the founder behind the idea, walks us through how her turquoise hydrogen reactors not only cut costs but also capture carbon as a solid product you can actually sell. That means less CO2 floating around and more opportunities for industries to profit while cleaning things up. Jason and Nada dig into what this could mean for oil, gas, and other sectors trying to figure out decarbonization without slowing down their business. It’s a look at how one startup might just rewrite the playbook for clean energy.

    Click here to watch a video of this episode.

    Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.
    Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.
    Apply today at collide.io


    Click here to view the episode transcript.

    00:00 - Ad: Energy Tech Nexus - Connect with fellow founders and access critical resources
    00:16 - Emily Avagliano, CEO of Resolent
    00:45 - Overview of Resolent
    05:01 - Understanding Entrained Flow Reactors
    08:52 - Introduction to Turquoise Hydrogen
    11:27 - Ideal Clients for the Resilient Reactor
    14:53 - Development of the Resilient Reactor
    19:15 - Involvement with Resilient Energy Systems
    22:28 - Starting a Company in Energy Tech
    24:10 - Corporate Partnerships and Expectations
    28:58 - Joining Accelerators: Key Learnings
    31:00 - Insights on EnergyTech Nexus
    35:54 - Overview of Rice Clean Energy Accelerator
    38:20 - Embracing the CEO Role in Startups
    39:50 - Qualities of an Effective CEO
    42:49 - Importance of Sales Skills
    45:00 - Emotional Management for CEOs
    48:51 - Learning from Customer Feedback
    49:05 - Future Outlook for Energy Tech
    52:26 - Emily's Vision for the Next 10 Years
    54:03 - Contact Information for Emily
    55:13 - Acknowledgments and Thank You's

    https://twitter.com/collide_io

    https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io

    https://www.facebook.com/collide.io

    https://www.instagram.com/collide.io

    https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io

    https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social

    https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters
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    57 mins
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