AI Driller Named Most Promising Energy & Clean Technology Company at Rice Alliance Energy & Clean Technology Venture Forum

HOUSTON – (Sept. 14, 2017) – The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship (Rice Alliance) announced the 10 Most Promising Energy & Clean Technology Venture Companies at the 15th Annual Energy & Clean Technology Venture Forum in Houston this week. Energy & Clean Technology companies showcased their new offerings at the largest venture capital conference in the Southwest with 600 attendees, including investors, venture capitalists, industry representatives, business leaders, service providers, and entrepreneurs.

The two-day event culminated in an announcement of the 10 Most Promising Energy & Clean Technology Companies Award companies chosen from more than 225 startup applicants and judged by the Rice Alliance Energy & Clean Technology industry experts and interest generated from participating investors.  This was the most startups to ever participate in the Energy Forum.

Eight of the ten most promising companies are based in the Houston area: Advantek Waste Management Services, Commando Pressure Control, Comitt, Well Solutions, AI Driller (DataJudo), DynaView, FlexGen Power Systems, FlowCommand, Vertice Oil Tools and two from Canada: Ingu Solutions and Flyscan Systems. The announcement of the top companies was made at the end of the program.

“Every year the quality of companies improves,” said Rice Alliance managing director Brad Burke, who presided over the announcement of the winners of the Energy & Clean Technology Venture awards at the event. “Over the past 15 years, more than 2,000 companies have presented at Rice Alliance Technology Venture Forums.  These companies have raised more than $3.1 billion in funding. This speaks to the quality of the companies and to the robust entrepreneurial ecosystem of investors that has been developed to support these companies. Despite the challenging economic environment over the past several years, good companies have been able to attract investors.”

The Forum was supported by Chevron, Shell, Mercury Fund, Aramco Energy Ventures, BP, GE, TechnipFMC, Total, Altira, ConocoPhillips, Lime Rock Partners, EV Equity Investment, Statoil, Energy Innovation Capital, Wells Fargo, Andrews Kurth, Norton Rose Fulbright, PKF Texas, Winstead, Vinson & Elkins LLP with supporting organizations Energy Valley, Inc., Leyendecker Executive Search, Greater Houston Partnership, Canadian Consulate and CleanTech Open, Energy Valley, Inc. Houston Angel Network and U.S. Department of Energy.