Episodes

  • 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.

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    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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    47 mins
  • 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.

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    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

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    59 mins
  • 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.

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    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

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    57 mins
  • Aaron Fitzgerald from Mars Materials
    Aug 21 2025

    Turning CO₂ into carbon fiber sounds like science fiction, but Aaron Fitzgerald and the crew at Mars Materials are making it happen. Their process creates carbon-negative acrylonitrile, the stuff that goes into everything from sleek carbon fiber to water filters and high-tech textiles and they’re doing it with big-name partners like NREL and Shell. Aaron talks about reshoring carbon fiber production to the U.S., cutting carbon from supply chains, and what it takes to build a climate-driven company from the ground up. It’s a mix of chemistry, entrepreneurship, and a clear vision for a more sustainable future.

    Click here to watch a video of this episode.


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    Click here to view the episode transcript.

    00:00 - Energy Tech Nexus
    00:17 - Intro to Mars Materials
    03:48 - Aaron’s Background in Energy
    08:11 - Overview of Kairos Aerospace
    10:46 - Understanding Acrylonitrile
    14:33 - Acrylonitrile Production Process
    17:29 - The Sohio Process Explained
    22:04 - National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
    24:40 - Tech Transfer from National Labs
    27:39 - Finding the Right Technology
    29:26 - Carbon180 Overview
    30:35 - Collaborating with Lawrence Livermore Lab
    32:19 - EnergyTechNexus Insights
    33:56 - LabStart Initiatives
    35:37 - Request for Information (RFI) Explained
    38:36 - Building a Business Deliberately
    41:15 - Mars Materials Today and Future
    48:30 - Fundraising Strategies
    52:40 - What's Next for Mars Materials
    54:45 - Erin's Shell Partnership Journey
    57:16 - Shell's Support for Erin
    1:00:11 - Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts
    1:03:44 - How to Help Mars Materials
    1:06:20 - Outro

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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • Rekha Patel from Xrathus, Inc.
    Aug 5 2025

    Innovation doesn’t have to be slow or siloed and Xerathis is out to prove it. Rekha Patel walks us through how her platform is breaking down barriers between teams, helping everyone from scrappy startups to NASA-level giants turn their ideas into real, working solutions. It’s part hackathon engine, part crowdsourcing hub, and all about making collaboration easy, fast, and actually fun. If you’re building, leading, or dreaming something big, this one’s for you.

    Click here to watch a video of this episode.


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    Click here to view the episode transcript.

    00:00 - Intro
    00:25 - Rekha Patel, Founder & CEO of Xerathis
    03:42 - Rekha’s Career Journey: Geologist to Tech Entrepreneur
    11:28 - CEO Role Decision: Insights and Reflections
    19:20 - Understanding the Ideal Customer Profile
    23:23 - User Interaction on the Platform: A Deep Dive
    26:24 - Finding Advisors: Strategies for Success
    29:01 - Energy Tech Nexus
    35:05 - Meeting Pradeep: Networking in Tech
    37:05 - Pricing Strategy for Tech Products
    40:10 - Advice to My Past Self: Lessons Learned
    46:54 - Guidance for Mid-Career Professionals
    51:48 - Co-Founder Search: Tips and Tricks
    56:19 - Future of Xerathis: Vision and Goals
    1:00:24 - The Meaning Behind the Name Xerathis
    1:03:10 - How to Find Rekha: Contact Information
    1:03:19 - Connect with Rekha on LinkedIn: Networking Tips

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Ian Uriarte from Spindletop AI on Energy Tech Startups
    Jul 22 2025

    What happens when old-school oilfields meet new-school tech? You get something like Spindletop AI, think machine learning and edge computing tailored for mid-sized operators trying to squeeze more out of every drop. Ian’s built a platform that helps producers ditch the spreadsheets and start making smarter, faster decisions right in the field. We talk about managing marginal wells, building hardware on a budget, and how he’s helping folks bump production by double digits. There’s also a great origin story behind the name Spindletop, plus some real talk on what it takes to launch a startup in the energy world without losing your mind (or your budget).

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    Click here to view the episode transcript.

    00:00 - Energy Tech Nexus
    00:16 - Intro to Ian Uriarte
    05:40 - Lifecycle of an Oil Well
    12:19 - TimberGrove vs Spindletop
    17:29 - Spindletop's Innovations
    19:14 - Spindletop Network Functionality
    25:42 - Spindletop's Current Journey
    34:00 - Insights from the Pilot Program
    34:42 - Achieving 17% Improvement
    40:18 - Fundraising Journey Overview
    47:15 - Motivations Behind Spindletop
    50:48 - Current Opportunities for Spindletop
    51:39 - Audience Support for Spindletop
    53:34 - Learning More About Spindletop

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    56 mins
  • Anwar Sadek from CORROLYTICS on Energy Tech Startups
    Jul 8 2025

    Corrosion isn’t just rusty metal, it's a billion-dollar buzzkill that sneaks into everything from oil rigs to your local water plant. Luckily, we've got someone who’s flipping the script on this hidden villain using some seriously clever tech. He's developed tools that sniff out microbial corrosion right at the source, helping companies slash costs, stay safe, and shrink their carbon footprint. We chat about how sneaky microbes cause chaos in pipelines, biodiesel tanks, and even HVAC systems—and why those old-school detection methods just don't cut it anymore. Plus, hear his story from PhD researcher to startup founder, building a mission-driven company that's shaking up industries for the better.

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    Click here to view the episode transcript.

    00:00 - Energy Tech Startups Overview
    00:24 - What Does CORROLYTICS Do?
    05:05 - Types of Corrosion Explained
    08:17 - Corrosion Mitigation Strategies
    14:05 - Early Traction & Customer Use Cases
    18:15 - Journey into Entrepreneurship
    23:35 - Academia to Entrepreneurship Transition
    26:38 - Leading the Decarbonization Charge
    28:49 - Moments of CEO Leadership
    37:37 - Advice for Your Younger Self
    38:00 - Building Relationships with Stakeholders
    39:30 - Raising Your First Million
    41:16 - Anwar’s Fundraising Journey
    45:18 - External Factors in Fundraising
    48:20 - Fundraising in the Energy Sector
    50:40 - Impact Metrics & Carbon Abatement
    52:30 - Contacting Anwar

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    56 mins
  • Brighten Praslicka from FluxWorks on Energy Tech Startups
    Jun 24 2025

    Magnetic gearboxes built for the moon? Yeah, you read that right. Bryton Praslicka started out zapping circuits in his garage as a kid and ended up engineering contactless gear systems originally meant for NASA and now they’re showing up in everything from factory robots to aerospace tech. In this episode, he breaks down how FluxWorks went from a research lab to raising \$5M to bring its sci-fi-sounding gearboxes into the real world. We talk about why “motion solutions” are bigger than gears, what it takes to scale hard tech, and how magnetic tech is changing the game for robotics and automation.

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    00:00 - Bryton Praslicka Intro
    01:14 - Causes of Wear and Tear in Systems
    06:06 - Invention of FluxWorks Technology
    09:17 - How FluxWorks' Magnetic Gear Operates
    12:14 - Understanding Slippage in Technology
    14:15 - Finding Value in Society through Innovation
    18:17 - Deciding to Start a Company
    21:39 - Tailoring Pitches for Different Audiences
    23:23 - The Importance of Storytelling in Business
    24:26 - Snobby Founder Moment Explained
    26:25 - Insights from EnergyTechNexus
    26:40 - Hiring Strategies for Startups
    27:00 - Managing Older Employees Effectively
    28:10 - Defining Mission, Vision, and Core Values
    31:40 - Deciding on Core Values for Your Company
    33:24 - Overcoming Significant Challenges in Business
    37:35 - Navigating the Fundraising Journey
    40:45 - Learning Fundraising Terminology
    42:30 - Fundraising Beyond Texas
    45:33 - Misunderstandings in Hard Tech Companies
    49:24 - Legacy: What Do You Want to Be Remembered For?
    51:20 - Contacting Jason for Insights
    52:40 - Podcast Wrap-Up

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    55 mins