#United States #Oakland #Pacific Gas and Electric #Climate Tech #energy innovation

PG&E Unveils 57 Startups for the 2025 Pitch Fest

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has unveiled the roster of 57 innovative organizations that have been invited to present at its 2025 Pitch Fest, scheduled for September 23–25 at the company's headquarters in Oakland, California. This year’s event is particularly special, as it builds on the success of previous Innovation Summits and Pitch Fest occasions, and highlights PG&E's ongoing commitment to addressing California's pressing energy and climate challenges.

Selecting from a pool of over 400 applicants, these finalists represent the forefront of innovation in areas including climate tech, grid modernization, and wildfire resilience. The diverse range of companies chosen illustrates PG&E's dedication to fostering breakthrough solutions that aim to enhance safety, sustainability, and affordability across California's energy grid.

Mike Delaney, Vice President of Utility Partnerships and Innovation at PG&E, expressed enthusiasm for this year's event, stating, "Pitch Fest is one of the most impactful ways we connect with the energy and climate tech ecosystem. We're excited to accelerate solutions that can make our grid safer, more sustainable, and more affordable — and we're energized by the creativity and commitment of this year's presenters." This keynote sentiment underscores the significance of collaboration between startups and established utilities to spearhead effective energy solutions.

The 2025 Pitch Fest promises a rewarding opportunity, with up to $25 million in funding available to support the implementation of innovative projects before the year's end. PG&E intends to engage closely with the selected finalists to co-develop and integrate their solutions within existing systems, ensuring a streamlined transition from initial concept to impactful implementation. This funding initiative is facilitated through the utility's electric research and development budget as part of the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC), a program designed to encourage the introduction of new technologies while meeting essential goals around safety, reliability, affordability, environmental sustainability, and equity for California’s electric customers.

In addition to showcasing startups, the event will host a prominent day-one panel featuring successful co-founders from the energy and climate tech sectors who have recently partnered with PG&E. Notables such as Anukool Lakhina (CEO of BurnBot), Steven Chen (CEO of Treeswift), and John Taggart (President of WeaveGrid) will engage in a conversation moderated by Quinn Nakayama, Senior Director of Grid Research Innovation and Development at PG&E. This interactive panel promises to provide vital insights to nascent entrepreneurs seeking to forge successful partnerships with utilities.

The participating organizations represent various themes covering critical issues:

Finalist Categories in Pitch Fest

• - Wildfire & Forest Management: Companies such as Climformatics, Firescape, and Pinepeak aim to enhance forest management strategies.
• - EV & DER Management: This cohort includes Alderbuck Energy and WeaveGrid, focusing on electric vehicles and distributed energy resources.
• - Customer Electrification & Resilience: Finalists like Maiven Energy and Base Power work toward customer-centric energy solutions.
• - Operational Efficiency: Solutions from Emerald AI, Neara, and Camus Energy focus on driving operational cost savings.

The breadth of innovators showcased at the Pitch Fest underscores the growing emphasis on sustainability and resilience in the energy sector. PG&E's initiative not only highlights some of the brightest innovators currently breaking ground in the energy landscape, but also demonstrates the commitment of major utilities to actively pursue collaborations that promise to reshape California’s energy future.

For more information about PG&E and their innovation initiatives, visit their official website at pge.com.