Amperon, Hertha Metals and Vaulted Deep were named to this year's Global Cleantech 100 list. Photo via Getty Images
Three Houston-area companies—Amperon, Hertha Metals and Vaulted Deep—appear on this year’s Global Cleantech 100 list.
The unranked list, generated by market intelligence and advisory firm Cleantech Group, identifies the 100 privately held companies around the world that are most likely to make a significant impact in the cleantech market over the next five to 10 years.
For the 2026 list, Cleantech Group received more than 24,000 Global Cleantech 100 nominations from nearly 60 countries. Cleantech Group scored those companies and narrowed the contenders to 264. An expert panel reviewed those nominees, and the list was whittled down to the 100 winners.
Here’s a rundown of the three Houston-area honorees:
Amperon
Founded in 2018 by Sean Kelly and Abe Stanway, Houston-based Amperon offers an AI-enabled energy forecasting and analytics platform designed to help stabilize electric grids. Amperon received undisclosed amounts of venture capital from National Grid Partners and Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd. last year and announced a recent investment from Samsung Ventures earlier this month.
Hertha Metals
Founded in 2022 by Laureen Meroueh, Conroe-based Hertha Metals provides a single-step process for producing sustainable steel. Last year, the company emerged from stealth mode and raised more than $17 million in venture capital.
Vaulted Deep
Vaulted Deep’s technology injects excess organic waste underground to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Julia Reichelstein and Omar Abou-Sayed founded the Houston-based company in 2023. Last year, the startup raised $32.3 million in venture capital. Also in 2025, Vaulted Deep signed a 12-year deal with software giant Microsoft to remove up to 4.9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from the environment.
Vaulted Deep also made the list last year, along with Houston-based Syzygy Plasmonics and Fervo Energy. Fervo was also named the 2025 North American Company of the Year by Cleantech Group.
Amperon, a Houston-based AI-powered forecasting solutions company, has received an investment for an undisclosed amount from Samsung Ventures, the corporate venture arm of Samsung Group.
According to Amperon, the funding will be put toward the company's global growth and next-generation product development. Samsung Ventures invests in emerging businesses developing technologies for the AI, advanced devices and energy-related sectors.
“Samsung Ventures’ investment is a strong validation of our mission to transform the way energy is forecasted and traded,” Sean Kelly, CEO and co-founder of Amperon, said in a news release. “Samsung’s global footprint and leadership in semiconductors, data infrastructure, and AI acceleration make them a natural fit as we expand Amperon’s reach into energy-intensive sectors like data centers. Their track record of scaling next-generation technologies aligns perfectly with our vision to build a more intelligent, resilient, and data-driven energy system.”
Amperon was founded in 2018. Its AI models combine real-time weather, consumption and market data for energy retailers, utilities and independent power producers.
Last year, the company launched its weather-informed grid demand Mid-Term Forecast (MTF), which provides users with data on electricity demand up to seven months in advance. It also secured strategic investments from Acario, the corporate venture capital and innovation division of Tokyo Gas, as well as National Grid Partners, the venture investment and innovation arm of National Grid (NYSE: NGG).
After expanding into Europe in 2024, the company has continued to see international growth, and currently operates in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, Europe and the Middle East.
“Amperon has demonstrated strong technical capabilities and global traction in a rapidly evolving energy landscape,” a spokesperson for Samsung Ventures added in the release. “Their ability to forecast and model real-time energy data at global scale positions them as a key enabler of smarter energy systems and climate resilience. We are pleased to invest in a company developing technologies that support a more sustainable and digitized world.”
Amperon CEO Sean Kelly discuss the AI revolution in energy forecasting. Photo via LinkedIn
“Forecasting isn’t just about demand anymore—it’s about net demand, accounting for the variability of renewables like wind and solar.”
This insight from Sean Kelly, co-founder and CEO of Amperon, captures the seismic shift occurring in energy forecasting. With renewables surging, grid dynamics growing more complex, and demand more unpredictable than ever, the stakes have never been higher.
On a recent Energy Tech Startups Podcast, Kelly breaks down how Amperon’s AI-driven platform is transforming the way energy providers anticipate demand, mitigate risk, and embrace renewables. Named one of the Top 50 AI Companies in the U.S. by Andreessen Horowitz, Amperon is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in energy technology.
Here’s a closer look at Kelly’s journey, the challenges he’s tackling, and the insights driving Amperon’s success.
What problem is Amperon solving?
Why does the energy sector need better forecasting now?
The energy grid is evolving at lightning speed. With 25 gigawatts of wind and 20 gigawatts of solar in Texas alone, the focus has shifted from simple demand forecasting to net demand forecasting. It’s not just about predicting how much electricity people will use—it’s about understanding how renewables will interact with that demand.
For example, if it’s a windy day in Texas, prices drop, and the grid behaves very differently. Accurate forecasting helps providers mitigate risk, plan ahead, and prevent costly errors in buying or selling electricity.
The Amperon approach: Why AI is essential
What sets Amperon’s technology apart?
Our models retrain every hour—not every month or even daily. Since launching in 2018, we’ve been continuously learning and adapting to the grid’s behavior. This is critical because the energy sector’s complexity is increasing every day.
We also leverage data from over 10 million meters across the U.S. and Europe, giving us unmatched insights into both individual assets and entire markets. Our tech isn’t about static solutions; it’s dynamic, evolving alongside the grid.
Building for scale: A strategic playbook
How has Amperon scaled from a Houston startup to a global player?
It starts with focus. We began with a clear problem: helping Texas retailers manage risk in a deregulated market. From there, we expanded into other customer segments—traders, public utilities, independent power producers, and more.
Partnerships have been key, too. For example, Microsoft has been instrumental in connecting us with utilities through the Azure marketplace. These collaborations not only enhance credibility but also streamline access to new customers.
The Case for Better AI in Energy
Kelly believes the energy industry is overdue for a technological overhaul. While legacy companies rely on outdated models, Amperon is built on cloud-native AI systems that can handle today’s complexity.
“The challenge isn’t just predicting demand—it’s adapting to constant change,” Kelly says. “Legacy systems weren’t built for this level of complexity. AI that learns every hour is no longer optional—it’s essential.”
Lessons for Entrepreneurs
Stay Customer-Centric: Amperon’s early success came from solving a clear, urgent need for Texas energy retailers. “Product-market fit is everything,” Kelly emphasizes.
Invest in Talent: By hiring data scientists from top companies like Google and Meta, Amperon has built a team capable of tackling the hardest problems.
Leverage Partnerships: Collaborations with players like Microsoft have amplified Amperon’s reach and trust in the market.
What’s next for Amperon?
With over $30 million raised and a rapidly growing global presence, Amperon is doubling down on innovation. The company plans to expand its asset-level forecasting capabilities and deepen its presence in international markets.
“The energy transition is running through Houston,” Kelly says. “This city has the talent, the capital, and the expertise to lead the way.”
Listen to the full episode with Sean Kelly on the Energy Tech Startups Podcast
here.
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Energy Tech Startups Podcast is hosted by Jason Ethier and Nada Ahmed. It delves into Houston's pivotal role in the energy transition, spotlighting entrepreneurs and industry leaders shaping a low-carbon future.
Clockwise from top left: Sean Kelly of Amperon, Dianna Liu of ARIXTechnologies, Matthew Dawson of Elementium Materials, Vibhu Sharma of InnoVent Renewables, Cindy Taff of Sage Geosystems, and Emma Konet of TierraClimate. Photos courtesy
From finding funding to navigating the pace of traditional oil and gas company tech adoption, energy transition companies face their fair share of challenges.
This year's Houston Innovation Awards finalists in the Energy Transition category explained what their biggest challenge has been and how they've overcome it. See what they said below, and make sure to secure your tickets to the Nov. 14 event to see which of these finalists win the award.
"The evolving nature of the energy industry presents opportunities to solve some of our industry's greatest
challenges. At Amperon we help optimize grid reliability and stability with the power of AI demand
forecasting."
— Sean Kelly, CEO of Amperon, an AI platform powering the smart grid of the future
"The biggest challenge in leading an energy transition-focused startup has been balancing the urgency for
sustainable solutions with the slow pace of change in traditional industries like oil and gas. Many
companies are cautious about adopting new technologies, especially when it comes to integrating
sustainability initiatives. We overcame this by positioning our solutions not just as environmentally
friendly, but as tools that improve safety, efficiency, and cost savings. By aligning our value proposition
with their operational goals and demonstrating real, measurable benefits, we were able to gain traction
and drive adoption in industries that are traditionally resistant to change."
— Dianna Liu, CEO of ARIXTechnologies, an integrated robotics and data analytics company that delivers inspection services through its robotics platforms
"Scaling up production of hard tech is a major challenge. Thankfully, we recruited top-notch talent with
experience in technology scale-up and chemical processes. In addition, we've begun building partnerships
with some of the world's largest chemical manufacturers in our space who are excited to be a part of our
journey and could rapidly accelerate our go to market strategy. We have significant demand for our
product as early as 2025, so partnering with these companies to scale-up will bring our technology to
market years ahead of doing it alone."
— Matthew Dawson, CEO of Elementium Materials, a battery technology with liquid electrolyte solutions
"Our pyrolysis reactor is a proprietary design that was developed during Covid. We ran simulations to
prove that it works, but it was not easy to test it in a pilot facility, let alone scaling it up. We managed ... to run our pilot
plant studies, while working with them remotely. We proved that our reactor worked and produced high
quality products. Later, we built our own pilot plant R&D facility to continue running tests and optimizing
the process. Then, there was the challenge of scaling it up to commercial size. ... We put together a task force of four different companies to come together to design and build this complex reactor in record time."
— Vibhu Sharma, CEO of InnoVentRenewables, a startup with proprietary continuous pyrolysis technology that converts waste tires, plastics, and biomass into valuable fuels and chemicals
"Energy storage and geothermal power generation are capital-intensive infrastructure projects, requiring
investors with a deep commitment and the patience in terms of years to allow the technology to be
developed and proven in the field. One challenge is finding that niche of investors with the vision to join
our journey. We have succeeded in raising our $30 million series A with these types of investors, whom we’re
confident will continue the journey as we scale."
— Cindy Taff, CEO of SageGeosystems, an energy company focused on developing and deploying advanced geothermal technologies to provide reliable power and sustainable energy storage solutions regardless of geography
"The biggest challenge we've faced has been to bring together massive independent power producers on one side who are investing hundreds of millions of dollars into grid infrastructure with multi-
national tech giants on the other that don't have experience working much with energy storage. As a
startup with only four employees, gaining credibility with these players was critical. We overcame this
hurdle by becoming the preeminent thought leader on storage emissions, through publishing white papers,
discussing the issues on podcasts, and (more)."
— Emma Konet, CTO of TierraClimate, a software provider that helps grid-scale batteries reduce carbon emissions
With the collaboration, joint customers can seamlessly integrate accurate energy forecasts into power market trading. Photo via amperon.co
In an effort to consolidate and improve energy data and forecasting, a Houston software company has expanded to a new platform.
Amperon announced that it has expanded its AI-powered energy forecaststoSnowflake Marketplace, an AI data cloud company. With the collaboration, joint customers can seamlessly integrate accurate energy forecasts into power market trading. The technology that Amperon provides its customers — a comprehensive, AI-backed data analytics platform — is key to the energy industry and the transition of the sector.
“As Amperon continues to modernize energy data and AI infrastructure, we’re excited to partner with Snowflake to bring the most accurate energy forecasts into a single data experience that spans multiple clouds and geographies," Alex Robart, chief revenue officer at Amperon, says in a news release. "By doing so, we’re bringing energy forecasts to where they will be accessible to more energy companies looking to increase performance and reliability."
Together, the combined technology can move the needle on enhanced accuracy in forecasting that strengthens grid reliability, manages monetary risk, and advances decarbonization.
“This partnership signifies Amperon’s commitment to deliver world-class data-driven energy management solutions," Titiaan Palazzi, head of power and Utilities at Snowflake, adds. "Together, we are helping organizations to easily and securely access the necessary insights to manage risk and maximize profitability in the energy transition."
With Amperon's integrated short-term demand and renewables forecasts, Snowflake users can optimize power markets trading activity and manage load risk.
"Amperon on Snowflake enables us to easily integrate our different data streams into a single unified view," Jack Wang, senior power trader and head of US Power Analysis at Axpo, says. "We value having complete access and control over our analytics and visualization tools. Snowflake allows us to quickly track and analyze the evolution of every forecast Amperon generates, which ultimately leads to better insights into our trading strategy."
It's official. Houston-based, AI-powered electricity forecasting and analytics services company Amperon Holdings is live in Europe.
The expansion, which Co-Founder and CEO Sean Kelly previously told InnovationMap about, is official, the company announced this month. In addition to the expansion, Amperon announced Jon Ecker as general manager, Europe, and Kelsey Hultberg as executive vice president, communications, and chief of staff.
Now, European companies that buy and sell energy in the renewable energy producers, financial institutions, and utilities markets can leverage Amperon's platform of AI and machine learning technologies to access short- and long-term forecasts for their individual meters and generation assets.
“As a warmer-than-expected June ushers in a hot summer, and increasing uncertainty looms for the calmer fall months due to the influx of wind and solar generation, we are eager to assist our European customers in navigating the power market volatility caused by heat waves, extreme weather events, and shifts in power usage across the region,” Kelly says in a news release.
“Our cutting-edge AI models are enabling our North American customers to benefit from data and asset optimization, on-site solar to commercial load management, and backup generation and we’re excited to bring these tools to our European customers,” he continues.
Leading the new initiative for Amperon is Ecker , who previously served as an executive at energy market simulation software company Energy Exemplar and as CEO of real-time energy data provider Genscape, which is now owned by Wood Mackenzie. He also co-founded at Energy Velocity, an energy data and software company now owned by Hitachi Energy.
“Amperon is providing North American, and now European renewable energy markets, with the critical tools they need to optimize their clean energy operations and support grid reliability,” Ecker says in the release. “As Europe faces high temperatures and rising power demand this summer, power market participants will need precise energy forecasting, and Amperon is looking forward to delivering these critical tools to help participants succeed.”
Hultberg joins Amperon from Houston-based Sunnova Energy International, where she was executive vice president of corporate communications and sustainability.
Founded in 2018, Amperon closed its series B round at $20 million last fall. This year, the company Amperon announced that it replatformed its AI-powered energy analytics technology onto Microsoft Azure. The partnership with the tech giant allows Amperon's energy sector clients to use Microsoft's analytics stack with Amperon data.
"For Amperon, 2024 is the year of partnerships," Kelly shares on the Houston Innovators Podcast. "I think you'll see partnership announcements here in the next couple of quarters."
Three Houston-based companies—Fervo Energy, Quaise Energy and XGS Energy—have been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to advance geothermal technologies and field tests.
Combined, the companies will receive more than $45 million in funding from the DOE's Next-Generation Geothermal Field Tests and Geothermal Resource Characterization and Confirmation initiative. The projects were among 21 selected from around the country to receive a total of $99 million.
Fervo was selected to conduct two projects under the initiative for approximately $20 million in funding. For the first project, the geothermal unicorn, which achieved first power at its flagship geothermal plant last week, will drill and complete enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) wells in Elmore County, Idaho, and will deploy high-temperature seismic monitoring technology at record-high temperatures at or above 200°C.
For the second project, the company will conduct an appraisal drilling campaign at a "high-priority" site in Humboldt County, Nevada, to confirm if the reservoir is suitable for EGS development.
“We are grateful to the Department of Energy for funding these grants. We believe this is a clear indication from the federal government that expanding geothermal energy to new states is a national priority,” Jack Norbeck, CTO and co-founder of Fervo Energy, said in a news release. “We expect this funding to accelerate Fervo’s pipeline and advance the cutting edge of geothermal technologies.”
Fresh off a $180 million Series B, Quaise Energy also received $25 million in DOE funding through the initiative to support its Project Obsidian super hot geothermal plant in Central Oregon. The funding will go toward the analysis of the drilling, stimulation and flow results of the first two wells at the Project Obsidian site, which will help the company optimize its third well on site.
“This DOE support is a recognition of what we are building at Quaise and the progress we are making in the field, including the confirmation well currently being drilled at Project Obsidian,” Carlos Araque, CEO and president of Quaise, said in a release. “Our ambition has always been to make superhot geothermal a commercial reality, and Project Obsidian is where we first deliver on that promise.”
XGS Energy, which recently relocated its headquarters from Palo Alto, California, to Houston, was also selected for an exploration drilling project. The company will drill a deep vertical appraisal well in Socorro County, New Mexico, to determine if the site is a viable source of geothermal energy. XGS had not disclosed a funding estimate at press time.
The full value of the proposed DOE funding is subject to completion of award negotiations, according to Quaise.
Data from these projects will be shared through DOE’s Geothermal Data Repository (GDR), providing valuable information to researchers and stakeholders in the geothermal sector.
“This is an excellent example of how public and private entities can partner together to scale critical energy technologies,” Tim Latimer, CEO and co-founder of Fervo, added in a release. “With this funding, the Department of Energy is making important investments to help Americans across the country gain access to clean, affordable geothermal energy.”
Other geothermal companies and institutions from around the country will complete the 17 remaining projects. They include:
Denver-based 400C Energy Inc.
Salt Lake City-based AlterG Resources
Denver-based DAVINCI EP LLC
Anchorage-based GeoAlaska LLC
Oklahoma City-based GreenFire Energy Inc.
Virginia-based Hexagon Energy LLC
Virginia-based INTEK Inc.
Chicago-based Invenergy Geothermal Development LLC
Massachusetts-based LiPower Geothermal LLC
Fort Worth-based Oriah Geothermal LLC
Reno-based Raser Power Systems LLC
Santa Fe-based San Ildefonso Services LLC
Salt Lake City-based The University of Utah
Reno-based TLS Geothermics Corp.
Salt Lake City-based Zanskar Geothermal and Minerals
A $50 million federal grant will help Houston-based CenterPoint Energy strengthen Houston’s power grid.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant will support power substation upgrades in the Houston area.
“Our mission is to build the most resilient coastal grid in the nation for the 2.9 million customers we proudly serve in the greater Houston area … [The grant] will directly fund industry-leading technology improvements that are expected to strengthen resiliency, reliability, and meet the growing energy needs of our region,” Jason Ryan, CenterPoint Energy’s executive vice president for regulatory services and government affairs, said in a release.
CenterPoint says the project will make it one of the first U.S. utilities to install Siemens Energy’s grid-stabilizing technology.
The project will create more than 500 construction and installation jobs, CenterPoint says.
“Generations of CenterPoint customers and families in the region will benefit from the advanced technology this grant is funding,” said Kathleen Jackson, a member of the Public Utility Commission of Texas. “And any time companies make improvements like this to their systems, the long-term impact is making the entire grid stronger for Texans.”
The $176.7 million substation project is part of CenterPoint’s Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative, which launched in 2024.
Installed nearly 82,400 storm-resilient poles and equipment
Trimmed and cleared more than 13,700 miles of trees and vegetation near power lines
Added nearly 820 grid automation and intelligence devices
Put more than 880 miles of power lines underground
The initiative kicked off three years after Winter Storm Uri. CenterPoint received harsh criticism for what customers complained was the utility’s slow response to the 2021 storm. Uri caused a massive power outage and at least 246 deaths across Texas.
CenterPoint blamed the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which operates the power grid for most Texans, for not supplying the utility with enough electricity during and after the storm.
Houston Energy and Climate Week was full of fast-paced pitches and inspiring technology, showcased during some of the week's signature events.
EnergyTech Cypher's annual Piloathon and Startup Showcase was one of the places to be, bringing together 16 pilot-ready startups to present their best seven-minute pitches before investors, plus 52 companies that demonstrated their technologies on the showcase floor.
"This year's cohort raised the bar," Nada Ahmed, co-founder of EnergyTech Cypher, shared in a news release. "Working with these founders through the pitch preparation process, we saw firsthand the depth of technology and commercial readiness they brought to the stage. Three ties in four categories says it all."
Seven startups took home top honors in various categories, all under this year's theme of "The NEW Energy Industrial Revolution," with three categories ending in a tie. Judges included leaders from Baker Tilly, NRG Energy, Shell, Aramco Ventures, Baker Hughes, Avatar Innovations, Kanin Energy, NoviDigiTech, aiCTO Services, and the FIFA World Cup Houston Committee.
Here's who won in their respective categories:
Future of Industrial Work: Houston-based BigMachine AI, an AI engineer for industrial projects, and Oslo, Norway-based OTee, an automation machinery manufacturer. Otee was also named one of the 10 most-promising startups at the Rice Alliance Energy Tech Venture Forum during HECW.
Industrial Decarbonization: Berkeley-based Oleo, which is developing a biomanufacturing platform to transform biomass waste into carbon-negative, cost-competitive oil feedstocks for advanced fuels
Grid Infrastructure and Distributed Energy: Edinburgh-based Mocean Energy, which works to deliver renewable ocean energy to power offshore industry, and Tulsa-based RyuGen Energy Solutions Inc., which works to turn underused commercial power into distributed AI infrastructure
Critical Minerals and Resource Security: Houston-based Resollant, which is working to produce battery-grade graphite and ultra-low-cost hydrogen, and Berkeley-based Sunchem, which provides precision separation of critical metals from sources including e-waste, evaporator scrap, solar panels, and mining ores and concentrates.
Last year, the Pilotathon named eight winners from the competition, which focused on the theme of "Energy Access and Resilience." See the winners here.
EnergyTech Cypher rebranded from EnergyTech Nexus earlier this year. The energy transition hub also launched Cephyron, EnergyTech Cypher's new investor relationship management platform, built specifically for energy and climatech founders.
