A model to accelerate energy technology innovation

The global energy industry is under pressure to innovate. Energy companies need vetted, field-tested technologies that improve efficiency, enhance safety, and streamline operations. On the other side of the spectrum, early-stage startups developing new technologies struggle to access customers, test environments, and capital. These parallel challenges can slow crucial energy innovation, creating a commercialization gap. One approach to addressing this challenge has emerged in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a region with deep institutional knowledge and over a century of experience in energy operations. Rose Rock Bridge, a nonprofit based in Tulsa, is a pilot deployment studio that offers a new approach to removing barriers, acting as a bridge between corporations and startups. The nonprofit’s accelerator program differs from traditional models in its design to fast-track pilot deployments, validate technology, connect early-stage startups with corporate energy partners, and provide non-dilutive funding opportunities to accelerate commercialization. Launched in late 2022 as an initiative of Tulsa Innovation Labs, Rose Rock Bridge brings a new perspective: the fastest and most efficient way to commercialize energy technology is to build it alongside the companies that will use it. Here’s what sets the program apart. A DEMAND-FIRST FRAMEWORK The process begins with energy companies’ needs. Working closely with corporate innovation teams to evaluate demand rather than supply, Rose Rock Bridge works with corporate partners to identify high-priority technology solutions. Tapping into a network of more than 40 universities, Fortune 500 companies, and leading industry partners like Devon Energy, H&P, ONEOK, and Williams, Rose Rock Bridge identifies pain points in the energy ecosystem and sources emerging solutions. The goal is not simply to find exciting ideas, but technologies companies can realistically deploy in the near term to solve identified challenges with a real business case. T