Welcome to the vibrant and innovative Startup Village at ATCE!
Designed to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit in the energy industry, this competition showcases a remarkable competition for emerging startups in the energy field.
This is your chance to promote your ingenuity and creativity by presenting your groundbreaking solutions, technologies, and business models that will revolutionize the energy sector. Compete with other energy startups to win prizes, gain visibility and recognition by industry leaders, obtain mentorship and network with energy investors!
Join the 2025 ATCE Startup Village LinkedIn Event Page to learn more.
Cheer on the Competitions at the 2025 ATCE Startup Village Energy Startup Competition
Join the competitiors and cheer them on at the Startup Village Energy Startup Competition on Tuesday, 21 October,
in Houston, Texas, USA, at the SPE ATCE.
This year, the competition will occur on the Exhibit floor.
Please note that:
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All SPE members have complimentary access to the Exhibition space from 20-22 October. If you are a member, please register normally to secure your badge for access the Exhibition floor.
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Nonmembers must register to secure your badge for access the Exhibition floor.
SPE Live Pre-ATCE Series: Scaling Core Oil and Gas Technologies Through Investment and Trials
Choose the graphic to the right to access this SPE Live segment, moderated by
Bryant Mueller, Chairman, SPE Startup Village Energy Competition. This session explores how startups and corporations are advancing core oil and gas technologies through venture capital investment and proof-of-concept trials. The SPE Startup Village connects energy-based startups with corporations through its pitch competition at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE), fostering partnerships that drive innovation. Discover how equity funding and strategic trials are shaping the industry’s future.
Speakers:
• Ishan Rao, VP of Commercial, Syzygy Plasmonics
• Richard Jahnke, Venture Director, Honeywell ESS
Speakers:
• Ishan Rao, VP of Commercial, Syzygy Plasmonics
• Richard Jahnke, Venture Director, Honeywell ESS
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Gold Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Supporter
Supporter
Startup Village Sponsorship Gallery
Give your organization maximum exposure to an audience of E&P professionals, including top decision-makers. Consider a sponsorship package for Startup Village!
View the Startup Village Sponsorship Gallery
Startup Village Sponsorship Brochure
With the Startup Village sponsorship, you can target venture capitalists, angel investors, veteran entrepreneurs, and industry leaders. This is a great way to showcase your company's support of innovative technologies and newly-formed companies.
Digital Startup Village Sponsorship Brochure
(downloadable)
Sponsorship Levels
Platinum - USD 15,000
A Startup Village Platinum Sponsor receives the following benefits:
- Three (3) complimentary, full conference registrations for company employees
- Recognition with company logo on the Startup Village webpage, including a link to company’s website
- May nominate a coach
- May nominate a competition judge
- Photo with winners
- Recognition in digital conference program
- Recognition on conference signage
- Recognition on the conference website
- Recognition on the presentation slides shown between technical sessions
- and more!
Gold - USD 10,000
A Startup Village Gold Sponsor receives the following benefits:
- Two (2) complimentary, full conference registrations for company employees
- Recognition with company logo on the Startup Village webpage, including a link to company’s website
- May nominate a coach
- May nominate a competition judge
- Recognition in digital conference program
- Recognition on conference signage
- Recognition on the conference website
- Recognition on the presentation slides shown between technical sessions
- and more!
Silver - USD 5,000
A Startup Village Silver Sponsor receives the following benefits:
- One (1) complimentary, full conference registration for company employees
- Recognition with company logo on the Startup Village webpage, including a link to company’s website
- May nominate a coach
- Recognition in digital conference program
- Recognition on conference signage
- Recognition on the conference website
- Recognition on the presentation slides shown between technical sessions
- and more!
Competition Award Ceremony Social - USD 5,000
A Startup Village Competition Award Ceremony Social receives the following benefits:
- Recognition at the Startup Village Competition Award Ceremony
- Recognition with company logo on the Startup Village webpage, including a link to company’s website
- Recognition in digital conference program
- Recognition on conference signage
- Recognition on the conference website
- Recognition on the presentation slides shown between technical sessions
- and more!
Bronze - USD 2,500
A Startup Village Bronze Sponsor receives the following benefits:
- Two (2) Exhibits-Only Registration
- Recognition with company logo on the Startup Village webpage, including a link to company’s website
- Recognition in digital conference program
- Recognition on conference signage
- Recognition on the conference website
- Recognition on the presentation slides shown between technical sessions
- and more!
Partner - USD 1,000
A Startup Village Partner receives the following benefits:
- One (1) Exhibits Only Registration
- Recognition with company logo on the Startup Village webpage, including a link to company’s website
- Recognition in digital conference program
- Recognition on conference signage
- Recognition on the conference website
- Recognition on the presentation slides shown between technical sessions
- and more!
Supporter - USD 500
A Startup Village Supporter receives the following benefits:
- Recognition with company logo on the Startup Village webpage, including a link to company’s website
- Recognition in digital conference program
- Recognition on conference signage
- Recognition on the conference website
- Recognition on the presentation slides shown between technical sessions
- and more!
Startup Village Energy Startup Competition Factoids
So far, the Startup Village program has awarded almost USD 460,000 in prize money to startups through its Energy Startup Competition.
Startup Competitors receive visibility and recognition as technology leaders, cash prizes, and networking opportunities with leading energy investors, including a one-on-one coaching session before the Competition.
The Energy Startup Competition is funded entirely by Startup Village Sponsors.
Competition winners are from around the globe, including Canada, France, The Netherlands, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and the United States.
Join Our Circle of Winners
2024 Award Winners
Best in Show (First Place)
Decimetrix
Rising Star (Runner Up)
Revolink Technology Company
Rising Star (Runner Up)
Corvera, LLC
People's Choice
Decimetrix
2023 Award Winners
Best in Show (First Place)
Pix Force
Rising Star (Runner Up)
Saher Flow Solutions
Rising Star (Runner Up)
WellWorth
People's Choice
Pix Force
2022 Award Winners
Best in Show (First Place)
LongPath Technologies, Inc.
Rising Star (Runner Up)
Arolytics
Rising Star (Runner Up)
Vidya Technology
People's Choice
Vidya Technology
2021 Award Winners
Best in Show (First Place)
Hivecell
Rising Star (Runner Up)
CRA-Tubulars
Rising Star (Runner Up)
Cheetah Networks Inc
Rising Star (Runner Up)
Spotlight
People’s Choice
Spotlight
2020 Award Winners
Best in Show (First Place)
FLITE Material Sciences
Rising Star (Runner Up)
Nesh
Rising Star (Runner Up)
OriGen.AI
Rising Star (Runner Up)
Tri-D Dynamics
People’s Choice
ViiBE Communication
2019 Award Winners
Best in Show (First Place)
Ingu Solutions Inc.
Rising Star (Runner Up)
Nanoprecise Sci Corp
Rising Star (Runner Up)
Enersoft Inc.
Rising Star (Runner Up)
Modern Wellbore Solutions Ltd
People’s Choice
Nanoprecise Sci Corp
2018 Award Winners
Best in Show (First Place)
MicroSilicon Inc
Rising Star (Runner Up)
Belmont Technology
Rising Star (Runner Up)
Interface Fluidics
Rising Star (Runner Up)
ResFrac Corporation
People's Choice
ResFrac Corporation
2017 Award Winners
Best in Show (First Place)
Veros Systems, Inc.
Rising Star (Runner Up)
Rheidiant
Rising Star (Runner Up)
Factor Technology
Rising Star (Runner Up)
16S Technologies
People's Choice
Veros Systems, Inc.
Meet Our Past Startup Village Energy Startup Competition Finalists
2022 Competition Finalists
2021 Competition Finalists
Khaos
2020 Competition Finalists
Tri-D Dynamics
ViiBE Communication
Virtuio
2019 Competition Finalists
2018 Competition Finalists
2017 Competition Finalists
8SIgma Energy Services Incorporated
DataNova Analytics Incorporated
Kinetic Pressure Control Limited
Mims Well AS
Sinsal LLC
Meet Some of Our Previous Competitors
Hear the Experiences of Our Startup Village Committee Members
Hear Past Winners Testimonials about the Startup Village Program
Hear the message from Dan Cohen of Flite Material Sciences, the 2020 Startup Village "Best in Show" winner.
Listen to Habib Al Khatib, CEO of SpotLight Earth, the 2021 Startup Village Energy Startup Competiton Rising Star and People’s Choice winner.
Hear Michael McCallen, CEO of Cheetah Networks explain why competing and attending the Startup Village program is worth your investment.
Startup Village Committee
Chairperson
Bryant Mueller
SVP Sales, Western Hemisphere
Datagration
Committee
Alex Biholar
Manager, Devon Energy Ventures
Devon Energy
Ervel Boyd
Financial Analyst
Devon Energy
Brad Burke
Managing Director
Rice Alliance
Nayeem Chowdhury
Director- Integrated Climate Solutions
Honeywell
Sean Ebert
Partner
Altira Group
Josh Etkind
Upstream Deepwater Digital Transformation Manager & Business Opportunity Manager
Shell
Diana Grauer
Director
Grauer Consulting LLC
João Guandalini
Innovation Manager
Foresea
Jesse Guerra
Venture Principal
Chevron Technology Ventures
Nikhil Kulkarni
Expert, Sustainability and Energy CoE
JSW
Ali Marzban
Director of Data Science and Analytics
NOV
Nii Nunoo
Energy Strategy & M&A
PwC
Ishan Rao
VP, Commerical
Syzygy Plasmonics
David Reid
Chief Technology Officer and Chief Marketing Officer
NOV and past Chairperson
Jose Silva
EVP Business Dev and Strategy
Xecta Digital Labs
Anouk van Pol
Co-Founder and COO
INGU
Tara Williams
Director of Venture Programs
Rice Alliance
John Willis
VP Technology Ventures
Oxy
Startup Village and the Energy Startup Competition
The ATCE Startup Village is a partnership between SPE and the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship at Rice University.
Launched in 2017, the Energy Startup Competition is a fast-paced competition showcasing emerging energy technology companies.
Competitors will receive visibility among leaders in the upstream energy industry, recognition as technology leaders, the opportunity for cash prizes, networking with leading energy investors, and mentoring.
The 12 finalist companies selected to present (10 primary and 2 alternates) will have the opportunity to participate in a mentoring session before the Competition and will receive complimentary admission to ATCE.
The Startup Village will take place in person this year. The Energy Startup Competition and the Competition Awards Announcements will occur on Tuesday, 21 October.
During the competition, each company will have 7 minutes to provide information about their company and technology to a group of venture capitalists, angel investors, and industry leaders. They will have an additional 7 minutes of Q&A to further promote their company.
After the Competition, plan to join the Competition winners and the incoming SPE President for the Award Ceremony.
The ATCE Startup Village is a partnership between SPE and the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship at Rice University.
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Questions?
For ATCE Startup Village or event sponsorship, contact Gail Smith, SPE Senior Event Manager.
For the Energy Startup Competition, contact Tara Williams, Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship Program Manager.