Executive Director, Rice Alliance Clean Energy Accelerator
Associate Managing Director, Rice Alliance
Associate Managing Director, Rice Alliance
FIVE YEARS. 69 STARTUPS. $345M RAISED.
About the Rice Clean Energy Accelerator
Launched in 2021 with founding support from Wells Fargo, the Rice Alliance Clean Energy Accelerator built on the two-decade foundation of the Rice Alliance to help seed-stage clean energy startups become investor-ready and pilot-ready faster.
Based in Houston, the energy capital of the world, the program ran five cohorts over five years, supporting 69 companies through hands-on training, practical curriculum, and direct access to a deep network of industry partners, mentors, and operators. Across the portfolio, startups raised $345M in funding — with approximately $221M secured after completing the program — advancing technologies across renewable power, carbon management, energy storage, and more. Beyond the numbers, the accelerator built a highly engaged community that continues to shape the energy innovation ecosystem.
The program concluded in 2025 as Rice Alliance expanded its efforts into a broader, always-on platform supporting founders at every stage, with that work continuing at the Ion through Houston’s Venture Advantage Platform.
In their Words
“The programming delivered through Rice CEA, along with the mentors and speakers, gave us a strong, repeatable framework for running effective, high-impact conversations with investors. As a direct result, we’re currently in due diligence with two prospective lead investors.”
— Hasan Kazmi, Co-Founder, Innowind (Class 5)
“I use those slides all the time to help others frame their pitches and business strategy. They all ask me how I learned to do this, and I tell them I learned from the best.”
— Jesse Gray, Co-Founder, Metal Light (Class 5)
Our Work Continues
The work in clean energy continues at Rice Alliance, an anchor of Houston’s energy innovation ecosystem through:
- Rice Alliance Energy Tech Venture Forum — The premier annual energy tech VC conference, now in its 23rd year.
- Energy Venture Day — An annual pitch competition held during CERAWeek, connecting startups with investors and corporate partners.
- Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week — A founding partner event that convenes the global energy innovation community each fall in Houston.
Our Sponsors & Supporters
This program would not have existed without the generosity of our partners. Wells Fargo provided the founding sponsorship that launched the accelerator in 2021, and our network of corporate partners and supporters sustained it across five cohorts.
Our Portfolio
Over five years, the Rice Alliance Clean Energy Accelerator worked with 69 seed-stage startups developing breakthrough technologies across the clean energy landscape. Our approach was practical and personalized — focusing each founder’s time on the short-term milestones that mattered most to their business. Startups left Houston with the network, materials, and momentum to move their work forward.
Questions about the program or our portfolio? Contact us at alliance@rice.edu.
The People Who Built It
The Clean Energy Accelerator was made possible by a dedicated community of operators, mentors, and leaders who gave their time, expertise, and networks to support the next generation of clean energy founders.
Director - Rice Alliance Clean Energy Accelerator
Executive in Residence (XiRs)
- Nathan Ball — Classes 2, 3
- Fatimah Bello — Classes 2, 3
- Kevin Doffing — Class 1
- Michael Egan — Class 3
- Michael Evans, PhD — Classes 1, 2, 3
- Tim Franklin-Hensler — Class 4
- Lynn Frostman — Class 5
- David Horsup — Class 5
- John Jeffers — Classes 4, 5
- Dev Motiram — Class 5
- Ritu Sachdeva — Class 4
- Stephen Sims — Classes 2, 3
- Nick Tillmann — Class 4
- Caroline Wachtman — Class 1
- Deanna Zhang — Classes 2, 3