Editor's note: Dive headfirst into the new week with three quick things to catch up on in Houston's energy transition.
Events not to miss
Put these Houston-area energy-related events on your calendar.
- Taking place in Downtown Houston November 19 to 20, the Global Clean Hydrogen Summit will provide project developers, buyers, and financiers with the information they need to establish winning strategies for global clean hydrogen markets.
- The Ion is hosting Dan Ammann, President of ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions for a fireside chat on November 21.
- On December 4-5, Reuters is hosting its Energy Transition North America 2024, for key decision makers in the industry wanting to learn how to build collaborative pathways to modernize infrastructure, futureproof assets, and more.
- The Greater Houston Partnership is putting on its Upskill Works: Energy & Energy Transition in its workforce-focused series on Wednesday, December 4. It's open to both members and non-members.
- Energy Tech Nexus and its partners are putting on its Jingle Mingle and the Houston Tech & Energytech Extravaganza on Dec. 11. Tickets are available online.
Big raise: Helix Earth secures $5.6M seed led by local investor
Helix Earth's technology is estimated to save up to half of the net energy used in commercial air conditioning, reducing both emissions and costs for operators. Photo by Sergei A/Pexels
A Houston startup with clean tech originating out of NASA has secured millions in funding.
Helix Earth Technologies closed an oversubscribed $5.6 million seed funding led by Houston-based research and investment firm Veriten. Anthropocene Ventures, Semilla Capital, and others including individual investors also participated in the round.
“This investment will empower the Helix Earth team to accelerate the development and deployment of our first groundbreaking hardware technology designed to disrupt a significant portion of the commercial air conditioning market, an industry that is ready for innovation,” Rawand Rasheed, Helix Earth co-founder and CEO, says in a news release. Continue reading.
Podcast: Sujatha Kumar of Dsider on helping startups bridge the critical gap between vision and execution
Through Dsider’s techno-economic analysis platform, Sujatha Kumar is helping startups bridge the critical gap between vision and execution, ensuring they can navigate complex markets with confidence. Photo via LinkedIn
What if the future of clean energy wasn’t just about invention, but execution? For Sujatha Kumar, CEO of Dsider, success in clean tech hinges on more than groundbreaking technology—it’s about empowering founders with the tools to make their innovations viable, scalable, and economically sound.
Through Dsider’s techno-economic analysis (TEA) platform, Kumar is helping startups bridge the critical gap between vision and execution, ensuring they can navigate complex markets with confidence.
In a recent episode of the Energy Tech Startups Podcast, Kumar shared her insights on the growing importance of TEA in the hard tech space. While clean energy innovation promises transformative solutions, the challenge lies in proving both technical feasibility and economic sustainability. Kumar argues that many early-stage founders, especially in fields like carbon capture, microgrids, and renewable energy, lack the necessary financial tools to assess market fit and long-term profitability—a gap Dsider aims to fill. Read more and listen to the episode.