The Rice Alliance is launching a clean energy accelerator in 2021 at The Ion, the innovation hub in midtown Houston. 

The new hands-on, 12 week program will support early-stage energy startups from across the U.S. and around the world. Startups will have access to Rice Alliance’s network of energy corporations, energy investors, and energy advisors, and experience curriculum and programming designed to increase their likelihood of success and accelerate their path forward.  

“Houston is our home, and we are strong believers in our city, " said Brad Burke, Managing Director of the Rice Alliance. "It is here that some of the greatest minds in energy are innovating. New technologies, many driven by startup companies, have enabled the US to become energy self-sufficient for the first time in history. But the global energy needs are growing and changing. So we need to apply that same entrepreneurial spirit and technology innovation to meet these challenges for the future.” 

The energy accelerator will support, champion, and align with the momentum and efforts happening in Houston to further the energy transition. The Greater Houston Partnership is working alongside the business community, stakeholders, elected officials and others to identify solutions to take on the dual challenge of meeting the world’s increasing energy needs while lowering the world’s carbon footprint. Over the last year, the Partnership has been dedicated to strengthening Houston’s position by convening key leaders, advocating for sound public policy and attracting innovative companies who share this vision.

“Houston truly is the hub of the global energy industry, and it is here where the next generation of energy leaders will create and scale innovations that will change the world,” said Bob Harvey, President and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership. “We are home to major corporate energy R&D centers, corporate venture arms, a range of VC-backed energy startups, and a host of startup development organizations supporting energy technology. Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship has long served as a catalyst for positioning Houston as a leading center of technology entrepreneurship. The new Clean Energy Accelerator will build on that legacy and align with the work already taking place in Houston’s robust energy innovation ecosystem.”

This announcement aligns with Rice Alliance’s 20-year anniversary. The globally recognized initiative, within the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University, supports entrepreneurship education, technology commercialization, and the launch of technology companies. Since inception, Rice Alliance has connected with more than 2,675 startups that have raised $21.5 billion in funding. With a vibrant community, including more than 52,000 entrepreneurs, investors, and members of the entrepreneurial ecosystem attending over 200 programs hosted by the Rice Alliance, the accelerator is a commitment to expand that impact and continue to support the energy transition. 

Applications for startups will open in early 2021.

Learn more about innovation in Houston.