Seventh annual Energy Startup Village Competition, wrapped off with great success on October 17 in San Antonio marking a victorious return to its original in-person format.
The seventh annual Energy Startup Village Competition, a highlight of the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE), wrapped off with great success on October 17 in San Antonio, Texas, marking a victorious return to its original in-person format. Following three years of virtual hosting owing to the COVID-19 epidemic, 10 up-and-coming energy technology businesses’ leaders were invited to the competition.
Emerging as the standout victor was Pix Force, a pioneering computer vision startup based in Porto Alegre, Brazil, under the dynamic leadership of President and Co-founder, Renato Gomes. Pix Force not only clinched the coveted “Best in Show” award, securing a substantial prize of $25,000, but also garnered the esteemed “People’s Choice” award, adding an additional $3,000 to their accolades.
Additionally, the title of “Rising Star” was bestowed upon two promising startups. Saher Flow Solutions, a specialized flow meter company represented by its CTO, Muhammad Akram Karimi, and hailing from Towal, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, was one of the recipients.
The other was WellWorth, a financial modeling startup based in Houston, Texas, spearheaded by Co-founder and CEO, Samra Nawaz. Both startups were awarded $5,000 in recognition of their exceptional potential and innovation.
The award ceremony, graced by the presence of the 2024 SPE President, Terry Palisch, saw Bryant Mueller, Chairperson of the Startup Village Committee, officiating the proceedings. Palisch, in his address, emphasized the pivotal role of innovation and startups in propelling the industry forward. He then presented the winners with their well-deserved accolades.
Since its inception in 2017, the ATCE Startup Village has stood as a testament to the collaborative efforts between SPE and the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship. Over the years, the competition has disbursed over $385,000 in support of burgeoning talent and innovation within the upstream oil and gas sector.
The Startup Village continues to serve as a pivotal platform for nurturing groundbreaking ideas and technologies in the industry.