Energy Tech Nexus

🎉 One Year of Building Thunderlizards In just one year, Energy Tech Nexus has become a global hub for Energy and Carbontech Founders, laser-focused on accelerating the world’s energy transition. 🚀 The Numbers Speak for Themselves: ✨78 companies across 90+ members ✨69 events totaling over 2,277 hours of impactful community engagement ✨A network of 275 registered community supporters, amplifying innovation and collaboration From day one, we set out to create a founder-led, results-oriented community powered by data and AI. Together, we’ve fostered authentic connections between innovators, investors, and partners dedicated to tackling the energy trilemma head-on. 2024 was transformational—not just for us, but for the energy ecosystem. None of this would be possible without our passionate founders, members, investors, and community partners. Your drive, vision, and collaboration have laid the groundwork for what’s to come. 🔗 Looking Ahead to 2025: The momentum is unstoppable. As we step into the new year, we’re doubling down on our mission to connect and empower innovators. With every collaboration, every breakthrough, and every opportunity, we’re reshaping the future of clean energy innovation. Thank you to all our members, allies, and supporters for believing in the mission. Here’s to even greater impact in 2025 and beyond! 💡 Juliana Garaizar Jason Ethier Nada Ahmed Advanced Ionics AISPEX ALLY Energy Anessa AQUOSMIC AtmoSpark Technologies Inc. BiaTech Corporation CarbonForge Cavern Energy Storage Cemvita Inc. Claritycastle, Inc Climate Bonds Initiative CLS Wind Cool Edge Bits Inc. Digital Wildcatters Dsider Dynamik Fluid Power eDNAtec ELC Fine Art Energy AI Solutions LLC Energy Underground EnergyGigs Excipio Energy Fysikes Biosolutions Gazelle Ecosolutions GRi Simulations Inc. GS VORTEX SYSTEMS Hertha Metals Inc. HEXAspec

🎉 Happy New Year from the Energy Tech Nexus Family! 🎉 Wishing you a year filled with innovation, growth, and success. Thank you for being part of our journey in 2024—we’re excited to build an even brighter future together in 2025! 🌍⚡ Here’s to new beginnings and limitless possibilities. Cheers! 🥂 #HappyNewYear #EnergyTechNexus #Welcome2025

What a year it’s been! 🌍⚡ From global treks to groundbreaking launches, Energy Tech Nexus pushed the boundaries of innovation and collaboration in 2024. Here’s how we built momentum, championed clean energy, and connected world-class entrepreneurs to lead the energy transition. ✨January - March: Took 18 Houston-based climatetech companies to #Bilbao, Spain, for the Energy Tech Summit. Engaged with global leaders like REPSOL and Iberdrola , showcasing Houston's innovation on a global stage. ✨April 1: accionvegana into our new home in the iconic Esperson Building District—a hub for collaboration and growth. ✨April 23: Secured our first U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Growth Accelerator Fund grant in partnership with Impact Hub Houston , launching the Equitable Energy Transition Alliance (HEETA). ✨July 1: Official launch of #HEETA, paving the way for an inclusive clean energy future. ✨September 9–13: During the Inaugural Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week , we had our Official Grand Opening and the unveiling of the Houston Equitable Energy Transition City Lab. ✨December 11: Wrapped up the year with the #JingleMingle, celebrating with over 430 community members and marking Energy Tech Nexus’s first anniversary. By the numbers: ⚡78 companies joined our network, representing over 90+ members.⚡ Entrepreneurs from diverse clean energy sectors—including #solartechnology, #energystorage, and #decarbonization platforms—are driving innovation with us. The takeaway: 2024 wasn’t just about milestones—it was about empowering a global community to lead the energy transition. Here’s to building more thunderlizards and scaling new heights in 2025! 🚀 Juliana Garaizar Jason Ethier Nada Ahmed #EnergyTech #CleanEnergy #EnergyTransition #HoustonInnovation #ThunderLizards

Is AI working for us not against us? Read this piece by our founding partner Nada Ahmed

Aaron Fitzgerald, CEO of Mars Materials , is turning captured CO₂ into a resource for the future, transforming greenhouse gases into materials like carbon fiber, polymers, and fibers. Under his leadership, Mars Materials is addressing the urgent challenge of industrial decarbonization with innovative solutions that reduce reliance on fossil fuels and create scalable opportunities for a defossilized future. Supported by the Breakthrough Energy Innovator Fellowship, Mars Materials has accelerated its pilot plant development in just 18 months. Collaborating with global leaders like Shell and research institutions such as Northwestern University , the company is demonstrating how captured CO₂ can drive sustainable manufacturing and redefine what’s possible in clean tech. Aaron’s leadership is guided by a clear vision: to maintain the quality of life we value while eliminating fossil fuel dependence. His practical approach to leadership focuses on prioritizing critical path activities to maximize impact. Reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey, Aaron offers this advice to his younger self: “In a startup, not every opportunity is worth pursuing. Staying focused on critical path activities increases the likelihood of success.” As part of the Energy Tech Nexus community, Aaron is a resource for fellow founders, offering guidance on product development, team building, capitalization, and commercialization. His work embodies the spirit of collaboration and innovation that drives the clean energy transition. Aaron also credits ETN’s global network for helping de-risk Mars Materials’ commercial plans for an eventual European market entry. This shared ecosystem of innovation underscores the importance of community in driving the energy transition. We are proud to feature Aaron Fitzgerald—a leader whose vision and determination are unlocking the value creation potential in addressing climate challenges. Onwards and upwards, Aaron! ✨ #EnergyTransition #ETNMemberSpotlight #Decarbonization

🎄✨ From all of us at Energy Tech Nexus, a heartfelt thank you to our founder members, colleagues, and the incredible Houston energy ecosystem for making 2024 an amazing year! Your passion, innovation, and support have fueled our mission and brought countless opportunities to life. Here's to an even brighter 2025 filled with more growth, collaboration, and impact! Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year!

Juliana Garaizar from our Industry Advisory Board who was pivotal in launching the inaugural Houston Energy and Climate Week in the U.S., recently received the Investor of the Year award at the Houston Innovation Awards hosted by InnovationMap. She achieved this in her remit as Founding Partner of Energy Tech Nexus (ETN). It is important to note that this recognition, via the foregoing awards event, comes in addition to being nominated for three awards, which is unsurprising due to her pronounced #contributions to the city’s clean tech and energy transition ecosystem. Additionally, she equally established Greentown Labs Houston prior to founding ETN, which speaks to her ability to leverage her talent to #develop ecosystems. #EnergyTransition #Evolve #Develop

At Energy Tech Nexus, we’re always seeking opportunities to learn from leading innovation hubs and apply those lessons to Houston’s energy transition. Yesterday’s luncheon, hosted by MetroNational , spotlighted the University of Washington ’s Clean Energy Institute (CEI), a powerhouse of collaboration and scale-up strategies. What stood out was CEI’s focus on action—removing barriers, connecting innovators to markets, and creating real impact. These are values we champion at ETN as we work to support Houston’s ecosystem of energy startups, researchers, and industry leaders. 💡Insights that Resonate for Houston ⚡Streamlined Collaboration: Building partnerships that work seamlessly without getting bogged down in complexity. ⚡Pathways to Market: Linking innovation with end users, a critical piece for turning potential into reality. ⚡Sustainable Growth Models: Supporting commercialization with funding strategies that minimize risk while enabling scale-up. The event brought together the University of Washington’s Clean Energy Institute (CEI) and leaders from Houston’s innovation ecosystem, including our foundning partners Nada Ahmed and Juliana Garaizar , and representatives from forward-thinking companies like ISR Energy , Revterra , and AISPEX . As Houston continues to lead the energy transition, we see immense potential in applying these approaches locally. From Memorial City to the broader Gulf Coast region, the opportunities to build innovation testbeds and foster transformative partnerships are endless. ETN, a startup hub for building energy transition thunderlizards, is committed to digging deep and working with our community to turn bold ideas into actionable solutions. Together, let’s shape Houston’s future as the epicenter of clean energy leadership. Jason Ethier Daniel Schwartz LeVass Ventures Ryan LeVasseur Jan E. Odegard Neal Dikeman Tracy L Jackson Robert Rolnik , Sean Thomas, PE #HoustonInnovates #EnergyTransition #CleanEnergy #Collaboration

Cemvita Inc. is one of Houston's home-grown heroes playing an important role in sustainability and decarbonization. A pleasure to connect with dynamic Co-Founders Moji Karimi and Tara Karimi and the important role their technology could play in supporting Australia to redefine industrial processes through circular bioeconomy. Thank you for welcoming us!

Building Energy Transition Thunderlizards with World-Class Innovators At Energy Tech Nexus, December was packed with events that brought together #founders, #funders, and #innovators to drive the energy transition forward. Here’s what happened: ✅ Founders & Funders Fusion Founders met funders, and this fusion sparked new opportunities, collaborations, and connections to drive the energy transition forward. ✅ Fireside Chat: Clean Tech Founders & Belgium Delegation We hosted key players from Antwerp, including startups, city officials, and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges . The day featured B2B matchmaking and a panel with Houston clean tech leaders: Kent Johnson ( CLS Wind ) Murtaza Marfani ( Syzygy Plasmonics ) ✅ Investor Hour We provided startups with curated access to investors actively funding the energy transition, offering real opportunities to scale groundbreaking solutions. ✅ Determined to Lead Women’s Lunch We spotlighted Yelda Nur Demirdöğen, Global Market Manager at Air Liquide , who led a powerful discussion on decarbonizing mining operations through hydrogen-powered solutions for heavy equipment. ✅ Jingle Mingle: ETN’s First Anniversary Celebration Ending the year with a bang at #JingleMingle2024, celebrating ETN’s first anniversary!🎉 Special thanks to our sponsors: Digital Wildcatters , Cemvita Inc. , CLS Wind , Aeromine Technologies, Inc. , Lloyd & Mousilli , Howdy.com , More than Capital, Bank of Texas , and Free Association Editorial . At ETN, our events are more than gatherings—they are opportunities to collaborate, share knowledge, and drive innovation. From building partnerships to scaling world-class startups, we’re proud to be Houston’s hub for energy transition and decarbonization. A big thank you to our founders Jason Ethier, Juliana Garaizar , and Nada Ahmed, and to everyone who joined us on this journey. Here’s to driving innovation together into 2025! 🚀 #EnergyTechNexus #FoundersAndFunders #EnergyTransition #InnovationCommunity #HoustonStartups #CleanTech #Collaboration #Decarbonization