Greentown Labs names newest corporate partners

supporting startups

The nonprofit climatetech incubator with locations in Houston and Somerville, Massachusetts, has a roster of over 80 corporates that provide funding, pilot opportunities, mentorship, and more. Photo via GreentownLabs.com

Greentown Labs has accumulated several new corporate partners in the past year.

The nonprofit climatetech incubator with locations in Houston and Somerville, Massachusetts, has a roster of over 80 corporates that provide funding, pilot opportunities, mentorship, and more.

In March, Ecopetrol joined Greentown as a Terawatt Partner, the highest level partner for the incubator. The company, which the Colombian government holds a majority ownership stake in, has integrated business across the hydrocarbon value chain, as well as low emission solutions and energy transmission. The company followed TotalEnergies, which joined at the Terawatt level, in January, and GE Vernova, a global energy company, which was announced as a partner in November.

Greentown's other new Terrawatt Partners include sustainable building solutions company Holcim and Boston Consulting Group, which helped the organization enhance its strategy for the future.

"As part of the partnership, BCG guided Greentown through a mission, vision, and strategy refresh aimed at maximizing the nonprofit incubator’s impact over the next several years," reads the Greentown Labs news release.

These are the other new additions to Greentown's corporate roster at the other levels:

  • Cell Signaling Technology (Gigawatt Partner), a life science company founded, owned, and led by active research scientists
  • SLB (Gigawatt Partner), a global technology company focused on innovating oil and gas, delivering digital at scale, decarbonizing industries, and developing and scaling new energy systems that accelerate the energy transition
  • Embraer-X (Megawatt Partner), the disruptive innovation company of Embraer, the world’s third-largest aircraft manufacturer
  • Koppers (Megawatt Partner), an integrated global provider of treated-wood products, wood-treatment chemicals, and carbon compounds
  • Re:Build Manufacturing (Megawatt Partner), a family of design, engineering, and manufacturing businesses across the United States whose combined experience creates an industrial powerhouse greater than the sum of its parts
Here's the latest global energy company to sign onto Greentown Labs. Photo via GreentownLabs.com

Greentown Labs names Colombia-owned energy co. as latest top-tier industry partner

looking south

Greentown Labs has named its latest partner, opening a door to Colombia and South America.

Ecopetrol has joined Greentown as its newest Terawatt Partner, the highest level partner for the incubator. The company, which the Colombian government holds a majority ownership stake in, has integrated business across the hydrocarbon value chain, as well as low emission solutions and energy transmission.

"Accelerating the energy transition and fostering climate action is only possible through innovation, entrepreneurship, and meaningful partnerships," Ecopetrol's Chief Innovation Officer Agostinho João Ramalho Almeida says in a news release. "At Grupo Ecopetrol, we believe in joint efforts, orchestration, and access to technology to push barriers and increase value for our business and sustainability agenda. Partnering with Greentown Labs and working alongside industry leaders is an amazing opportunity to tackle common goals and challenges."

The company has a presence in several other locales throughout South and North America, per the release.

With the new partnership, Ecopetrol will have access to the Greentown community and events. Laura Tobón Díaz, head of innovation ecosystems and strategic partnerships for Ecopetrol, will serve on Greentown's Industry Leadership Council.

"Greentown is excited to partner with Ecopetrol, an energy company taking meaningful action on climate in collaboration with the Colombian government," Greentown CEO and President Kevin Knobloch says in the release. "We look forward to seeing our startups' climate technologies advance Ecopetrol's decarbonization efforts, as well as Ecopetrol sharing its energy expertise, connections, and resources with our entrepreneurs."

Earlier this year, TotalEnergies joined the incubator at the Terawatt level, and before that, GE Vernova was the latest top-level partner, joining last fall.

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6 must-attend Houston energy sector events in November 2025

Must-Attend Meetings

Editor's note: It's time to mark your calendar for November's must-attend Houston energy transition events, as they are front-loaded at the beginning fo the month. From a climatetech summit to the annual Houston Innovation Awards, these are the energy events to attend. Learn more below, and register now.

Nov. 4: Greentown Labs Climatetech Summit

Greentown Labs hosts its Houston Climatetech Summit, bringing together philanthropists, executives, and innovators in the energy transition space. Attendees will be able to explore climatetech solutions from dozens of startups, as well as hear insightful keynotes and discussions with industry leaders throughout the day.

The event begins with check-in and breakfast at 8 am on Nov. 4 at Greentown Labs. Register here.

Nov. 4-6: Operational Excellence in Oil and Gas Summit 2025

More than 300 industry leaders and change-makers will explore smarter, faster, more sustainable paths to operational excellence in the oil and gas industry at this annual three-day summit.

The event begins Nov. 4 at Norris Conference Center - City Centre Location. Register here.

Nov. 11-12: 20th Annual API Cybersecurity Conference for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry

The API Cybersecurity Conference has been an annual event since 2005. For 20 years, it has been the only cybersecurity conference dedicated to the oil and gas industry. Don't miss two days of compelling programming, networking and idea-exchange opportunities, as well as exhibitors sharing the latest products and services.

The event begins Nov. 11 at Woodlands Waterway Marriott. Register here.

Nov. 12-13: Energy Supply Chain & Procurement Summit

Senior executives from across the U.S. come to Houston, the energy capital, to discuss the energy supply chain, procurement and logistics ecosystems. The summit is focused on fostering dialogue and facilitating commercial relationships to further the mission of decarbonization and digitalization of the energy sector.

The event begins Nov. 12 at Hyatt Regency Houston West. Register here.

Nov. 13: Houston Innovation Awards

Houston's innovation ecosystem comes together for the fifth annual Houston Innovation Awards, taking place for the first time at Greentown Labs. Get your tickets to this intimate networking event and awards program, where winners in 10 prestigious categories — including Energy Transition Business, Scaleup of the Year, and Startup of the Year — will be revealed.

The event begins at 7 pm on Nov. 13 at Greentown Labs. Tickets are available here.

Nov. 14: Powering the Future via Geothermal, Lithium Extraction, and Battery Storage

Innovators and energy experts will converge for an in-depth panel discussion on how geothermal energy, lithium extraction and battery storage are shaping the next era of the low-carbon economy. At this event, hosted by Society for Low Carbon technologies, attendees will engage with thought leaders across sectors and explore how these technologies will help power a cleaner and smarter energy future.

This event begins at 9:10 am on Nov. 14 at NOV Towers. Register here.

Houston energy giants among top AI adopters and more news to know

Trending Topics

Editor's note: The top energy transition news for Oct. 15-31 includes AI integration among energy leaders and the most promising startups from an annual pitch competition. Here are the most-read EnergyCapitalHTX stories for the second half of October:

1. 2 Houston energy giants appear on Fortune’s inaugural AI ranking

ExxonMobil is on Fortune's first-ever AIQ ranking. Getty Images

Two Houston-area energy leaders appear on Fortune’s inaugural list of the top adopters of AI among Fortune 500 companies. They are: No. 7 energy company ExxonMobil, based in Spring and No. 47 energy company Chevron, based in Houston. They are joined by Spring-based tech company Hewlett Packard Enterprise, No. 19. All three companies have taken a big dive into the AI pool. Continue reading.

2. Energy Tech Nexus names 8 startup winners from Pilotathon pitch event

Eight startups were given awards at Energy Tech Nexus' Pilotathon. Photo via Getty Images.

Energy Tech Nexus held its Pilotathon and Showcase during the second annual Houston Energy & Climate Startup Week last month and granted awards to eight startups. This year's event, focused on the theme "Energy Access and Resilience," offered 24 startups an opportunity to pitch their pilot projects. Continue reading.

3. Houston organization proposes Gulf Coast index for hydrogen market

The Clean Hydrogen Buyers Alliance plans to create the Gulf Coast Hydrogen Index to bring to bring transparency and confidence to hydrogen pricing. Photo via Getty Images

The Clean Hydrogen Buyers Alliance has proposed an index aimed at bringing transparency to pricing in the emerging hydrogen market. The Houston-based alliance said the Gulf Coast Hydrogen Index, based on real-time data, would provide more clarity to pricing in the global market for hydrogen. The benchmarking effort is being designed to benefit clean hydrogen buyers, sellers and investors. The index would help position the U.S. “as the trading anchor for hydrogen’s next chapter as a globally traded commodity,” the alliance said. Continue reading.

4. Houston clean energy company to develop hybrid renewable project in Port Arthur

The new Pleasure Island Power Collective in Port Arthur is expected to generate 391 megawatts of clean power. Photo via unsplash.

Houston-based clean energy company Diligence Offshore Services has announced a strategic partnership with Florida-based floating solar manufacturing company AccuSolar for the development of a renewable energy project in the Port Arthur area. Known as the Pleasure Island Power Collective, it will be built on 2,275 acres across Pleasure Island and Sabine Lake. It is expected to generate 391 megawatts of clean power, alongside a utility-scale battery energy storage system. Continue reading.

5. Port Houston reports emissions progress as cargo volumes climb

Ric Campo says Port Houston is “moving in the right direction.” Photo via Getty Images.

Port Houston’s initiatives to reduce emissions have shown some positive results, according to new data from the Port of Houston Authority. Pulling from the Goods Movement Emissions Inventory (GMEI) report, which tracks port-related air emissions, Port Houston cited several improvements compared to the most recent report from 2019. Continue reading.

3 energy transition cos. in the running for Houston Startup of the Year

People's Choice

We're just two weeks away from the 2025 Houston Innovation Awards, presented by InnovationMap.com, and while an expert panel of judges will determine the winners in most categories, one award is up to the public.

Voting is now open for 2025 Houston Startup of the Year, the people's choice award. Six exceptional finalists are in the running for the title, including three from the energy transition sector.

From next-gen biobased materials to technology that creates chemicals without carbon emissions, these companies are shaping the future.

Read about all of the Startup of the Year finalists and their missions below, then cast your vote. You can vote once per day through November 12.

The winner, along with winners in all other categories, will be revealed live on November 13 at Greentown Labs. Tickets to the 2025 Houston Innovation Awards are available now — get yours today.

2025 Houston Startup of the Year finalists:

Eclipse Energy

Eclipse Energy, previously known as Gold H2, is a climatetech startup converting end-of-life oil fields into low-cost, sustainable hydrogen sources. The company completed its first field trial this summer, which demonstrated subsurface bio-stimulated hydrogen production. Eclipse Energy says Its technology could yield up to 250 billion kilograms of low-carbon hydrogen.

Rheom Materials

Rheom Materials is a next-generation startup developing biobased materials for a more sustainable future. Its two flagship offerings are Shorai, a sustainable leather alternative that is usable for apparel, accessories, car interiors, and more, and Benree, an alternative to plastic without the carbon footprint.

Solidec

Solidec is a chemical manufacturing company developing autonomous generators that extract molecules from water and air and convert them into pure chemicals and fuels that are free of carbon emissions. The technology eliminates the need for transport, storage, and permitting.

FlowCare

FlowCare is developing a period health platform that integrates smart dispensers, education, and healthcare into one system to make free, high-quality, organic period products more accessible. FlowCare is live at prominent Houston venues, including Discovery Green, Texas Medical Center, The Ion, and, most recently, Space Center Houston, helping make Houston a “period positivity” city.

MyoStep

MyoStep is a next-generation, lightweight, soft exoskeleton developed at University of Houston for children with cerebral palsy. The soft skeleton aims to address motor impairments that impact their ability to participate in physical activities, self-care, and academics, via an affordable, child-friendly solution that empowers mobility and independence.

Persona AI

Persona AI is a humanoid robotics startup that is creating rugged, autonomous robots for skilled, heavy industry work for various "4D" (dull, dirty, dangerous, and declining) jobs. In May, the company announced a memorandum of understanding with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, HD Hyundai Robotic, and Vazil Company to create and deploy humanoid robots for complex welding tasks in shipyards. The project will deliver prototype humanoids by the end of 2026.

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