Congratulations to all the companies who participated in this year's pitch competition and these 6 finalists who will meet in the finals Oct 8th.
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Finalist
Emerson Reiter·Southborough, MA
Teragen Energy develops high-density solid oxide fuel cell systems designed to provide cleaner, dispatchable power for industrial applications and data centers. By improving power density and performance, the technology offers a more efficient alternative to traditional fuel cells and gas turbines while supporting flexible energy storage.
Finalist
Daniel Kawiecki·West Palm Beach, FL
Solitude Labs provides a zero-trust identity and access platform designed to secure industrial control systems. The technology protects operational technology infrastructure from cyber threats as these systems increasingly converge with traditional IT networks.
Finalist
Joe Sleppy·Orlando, FL
Capacitech Energy provides modular power conditioning systems designed to buffer electrical volatility in AI data centers and microgrids. The company's technology enhances grid stability and protects electrical infrastructure from the rapid power fluctuations associated with modern energy demands.
Finalist
Holly Eagleston·Albuquerque, New Mexico
Firescape is an AI-powered wildfire risk intelligence platform that provides electric utilities with actionable, sub-circuit data to optimize infrastructure management and safety. The technology analyzes weather, vegetation, and grid conditions to help operators proactively mitigate fire risks while maintaining operational reliability.
Finalist
Musaddeq `Khan·Atlanta, GA
Accio Labs provides a secure AI intelligence layer that integrates fragmented operational data from legacy utility systems into a unified platform. This technology enables utility teams to streamline decision-making and automate workflows through natural language queries without the need to replace existing infrastructure.
Finalist
Jay Douglas·Denver, CO
Keyfive provides a reliability analytics platform that integrates physics-informed AI with live operational data to help data centers and utility providers optimize grid interconnection. This solution quantifies site reliability and capacity in real-time, enabling operators to mitigate risks and make more efficient infrastructure planning decisions.
June 17, 2026
Applications Open
Submit your application and wow our judges!
July 31, 2026
Applications Close
EXTENDED: Be sure to get your applications submitted!
Aug 14, 2026
Round 1 Close
Selected startups will be notified and instructed on next steps.
August 17, 2026
Round 2 Open
Selected startups will be notified and instructed on next steps.
Aug 28, 2026
Round 2 Close
Selected startups will be notified and instructed on next steps.
Sept 4, 2026
Finalists Announced
In-person pitch event in San Antonio where finalists compete to win Start@ETS 2026!
Oct 8, 2026
Pitch Day & Winners Announced
Finalists pitch in San Antonio, TX!