Introduced by Tulsa Innovation Labs
Tulsa was as soon as referred to as "the oil capital of the world,” and since its launch in 2022, Rose Rock Bridge (RRB), a Tulsa-based non-profit startup incubator led by Tulsa Innovation Labs, has been capitalizing on this heritage, aiming to source and support emerging technologies targeting the energy sector. To create a tech economy that becomes foundational to the future of the sustainable energy industry, and competes on the world stage, they're marrying the expertise and industry that already exists in Tulsa with promising entrepreneurial talent.
"Locations like Tulsa, we’re tailored for tech excellence," says Jennifer Hankins, managing director, Tulsa Innovation Labs. "Our legacy as an oil and fuel chief means we all know how you can construct issues, and we all know how you can seize huge industries, and we're positioned to be a frontrunner in vitality innovation."
RRB, in partnership with major stakeholders, is helping put the region's strong corporate, academic, and workforce resources in the hands of innovative, early-stage startups developing the next-generation solutions that are solving pressing energy industry problems and opening up new markets.
"We're constructing the subsequent era of massive vitality corporations that sort out international challenges in a manner that's genuine to Tulsa's native experience, and never one which feels extra extractive to it," she adds. "
RRB has already accelerated 33 corporations, initiated 22 energetic pilots with trade companions, and secured 11 buyer contracts, leading to over $50 million in funding raised by its member corporations.
What units the Rose Rock Bridge Showcase aside
RRB's Rose Rock Bridge Showcase is a showcase and pitch competitors offered in partnership with 4 native vitality trade companions: Williams, ONEOK, Devon Power, and Helmerich and Payne. These companions establish white house issues they're aiming to resolve — this yr, low carbon pure fuel options — and RRB finds the startups that may clear up them.
From a aggressive pool of greater than 50 purposes, fourteen corporations are chosen to pitch for pilot alternatives and potential funding from main Oklahoma vitality corporations. Whereas most pitch competitions are seen as pathways to enterprise capital, the RRB mannequin is designed to speed up commercialization; as an alternative of vying for funding alone, these corporations are competing for the possibility to place their expertise into follow, Hankins explains.
"What sets the winners apart is the way they're solving big challenges with game-changing ideas in the energy space," Hankins says. "But above and beyond just a great idea, it has to be an idea that’s commercial. We can say that our companies have already demonstrated the technology. They’ve already validated it. They’ve secured a big customer, gained traction, are on the path to secure follow-on funding. Those are things that hold back most startups, and our program brings all of those three things together to accelerate commercialization."
Every startup receives $100,000 in non-dilutive funding to develop their enterprise in Tulsa, together with help companies and pilot alternatives via trade companions, equipping them with each the sources and real-world expertise wanted for long-term market integration — and a stable foothold in Tulsa.
This yr's cohort is comprised of corporations which can be driving innovation in low carbon pure fuel via applied sciences that improve operations, management and scale back emissions, and switch waste from vitality manufacturing into invaluable supplies:
Eigen Management
Growing synthetic intelligence/machine learning-assisted Raman Spectroscopy for real-time chemical evaluation, which helps vitality suppliers course of their product extra effectively.
Erdin Guma, Eigen Management
Kinitics Automation
Rising the reliability of kit whereas lowering methane emissions with spring-loaded electrical valve actuators
Dean Decide, Kinitics Automation
Lukera Power
Changing wastewater and stranded fuel into clear methanol
Brian Worfolk, Lukera Power
Pike Robotics
Making hazardous, high-risk environments safer with robotic inspection platforms.
Connor Crawford, Pike Robotics
Embedding international innovation within the Tulsa market
"We talk a lot about stickiness," Hankins says. "Tulsa Innovation Labs, in addition to the Rose Rock Bridge initiative, is really focused on creating that supportive ecosystem in the region."
For instance, guaranteeing these corporations have lab house if vital, connecting them to school companions to sharpen analysis and improvement, and serving to them set up relationships and follow-on funding with different energy-related funds, and embedding them into the Tulsa vitality tech panorama. The RRB entrepreneur in residence and government in residence supply in-depth mentoring as properly.
"I call it polishing the startups," Hankins explains. "You go through our program, get a pilot, get insight from the corporate perspective. That’s probably the highest value. But along the way, all the support to help you operationalize your company and your idea faster. We’re going to find a way that you’ll leave our program more ready to get to market, whether that be through some of those auxiliary supports, or we’re going to make sure that direct connection to the customer happens."
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