Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship

ETVF Schedule

Check out what's in store for the 22nd Annual Forum

Keynotes and Panels: Explore emerging energy sources, enhancements and efficiencies within existing energy resources and advances in clean or renewable technologies—and where investors are contributing to the acceleration of these advancements.

Energy Venture Pitches: Through 50 dynamic venture pitches, leaders will showcase energy tech innovations to shift towards a more sustainable, reliable and lower carbon future.

Clean Energy Accelerator Class 5 Demo Day Pitches: Class 5 will cap off their time in the accelerator by pitching.

Announcement of Most Promising Company: Chosen by energy tech industry experts and participating investors.

Invite-Only Investor Office Hours: A critical element of the event is the opportunity for more in-depth discussions with key investors, corporations and partners. Selected energy tech ventures connect with investors for individual, invite-only office hours on Sept. 17.

2025 Schedule | September 18 | Jones Graduate School of Business, Rice University

The 2025 conference will facilitate connections between energy tech ventures and industry leaders and investors, while providing energy corporations the opportunity to identify fresh solutions for their technology challenges.

  • Brad Burke, Associate Vice President, Industry and New Ventures, Rice Innovation
       Executive Director, Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship

    Paul Cherukuri, PhD, Vice President for Innovation and Chief Innovation Officer, Rice University

     

  • Keynote: Arjun Murti, Partner, Energy Macro and Policy, Veriten

  • Moderator: Michael Torosian, JD, Partner, Baker Botts

    Panelists:

    • Tim Bartlett, US Ecosystems Lead, Equinor
    • Wei Cai, PhD, Chief Technology Officer, Technip Energies
    • Lynda Clemmons, SVP, Chief Sustainability Officer & Head of Strategy Implementation, NRG Energy
    • Fabien Duclocher, Technology Director, Eni Next

  • Moderator: Art J. Schroeder, Jr., CEO, Energy Valley

    Panelists:

    • Darrell Adkins, Completions Tools Lead,  Sustainable Markets & Low Carbon Solutions, Halliburton
    • Mike Hurd, Business Development, Carbon Capture and Storage, ExxonMobil
    • Megan Lund, Manager, International Innovation Ecosystems, Woodside Energy
    • Ash Shepherd, JD, President, CarbonCycle

  • Moderator: Mitra Miller, Vice President, Houston Angel Network

    Panelists:

    • Kemal Anbarci, PhD, GM Venture Capital & Managing Executive, Chevron Technology Ventures
    • Chad Bown, Americas Managing Director, bp Ventures
    • Rob Crane, PhD, Technology Scouting & Venturing Manager, ExxonMobil
    • Brian Panoff, Head of Ventures, Americas, Shell Ventures
    • Jim Sledzik, Managing Director, North America, Strategic Venturing Program, Aramco Ventures

       

  • Brad Burke, Associate Vice President, Industry and New Ventures, Rice Innovation
       Executive Director, Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship

  • Moderator: Barbara Burger, PhD, Energy Director and Advisor 

    Panelists:

    • David Hayes, Managing Director, Investments, Decarbonization Partners, a BlackRock & Temasek JV
    • Bala Nagarajan, Managing Director, Energy Investment Team, S2G Investments
    • Cory Steffek, PhD, Partner, Ara Partners
    • Jesse Teichman, Partner, MKB
       

  • Welcoming Remarks: Kerri Smith, Executive Director, Rice Alliance Clean Energy Accelerator
       Associate Managing Director, Rice Alliance

  • Moderator: Alex Gras, Senior Associate, Mercury

    Panelists:

    • Buck Crum, Director of Operations, Winn Resources
    • John Kalfayan, Director of Data Drilling & AI Wildcatting, collide.
    • Nancy Zakhour, Venture Partner, Ascent Energy Ventures

  • Moderator: Scott Craig, Partner, Latham & Watkins

    Panelists:

    • Sean Ebert, Senior Partner, Altira
    • Christina Karapataki, Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures
    • Victor Liu, CEO & Co-General Partner, HL Energy Ventures
    • Vic Pascucci III, Managing General Partner & Co-Founder, Energy Capital Ventures
       

  • Moderator: Sandy Guitar, Executive Director, TEX-E “Texas Exchange for Energy & Climate Entrepreneurship” 

    Panelists: 

    • George Coyle, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Energy Innovation Capital
    • Adam Lasics, Partner, Piva Capital
    • Eric Rubenstein, Founding Managing Partner, New Climate Ventures
    • Paul Sheng, PhD, Managing Partner, Fathom Fund
       

  • Moderator: Barbara Burger, PhD, Energy Director and Advisor

    Keynote: Susan Schofer, PhD, Partner & Chief Science Officer, HAX, SOSV

  • Brad Burke, Associate Vice President, Industry and New Ventures, Rice Innovation
       Executive Director, Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship

    Danny David, JD, Managing Partner, Baker Botts, L.L.P.