NATIONAL LABORATORY OF THE ROCKIES
52 Energy Startups Secure a Spot in 2026 Industry Growth Forum Pitch Competition

The finalists have been selected, and the stage is set for the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) 2026 Industry Growth Forum (IGF) Pitch Competition.

Fifty-two startups just earned the chance to spotlight their energy technologies in the IGF 2026 pitch competition. The annual IGF brings together energy investors and startups to network, learn, and forge partnerships that could help bring novel tech closer to market success.

This year, the forum will welcome companies advancing tech for a wide range of fields, including manufacturing, artificial intelligence, microgrids, and critical minerals. Their novel ideas could help manufacturers automate their processes, data center operators conserve power, and energy system designers capitalize on artificial intelligence (AI) to help make energy more affordable and accessible.

"IGF is a one-of-a-kind place," said Michael Solomentsev, co-founder and CEO of Palanquin Power and the winner of the IGF's 2025 Best Early Venture award. "There are deals being made, and there is no such thing as a bad conversation."

All Systems Go

NLR has hosted the IGF for more than 30 years. But this year's event themed "All Systems Go" is likely to be 10 times the size of the laboratory's first. Last year, startup founders, like Solomentsev, mingled with more than 200 investors. A record-setting 1,000-plus attendees participated in more than 2,600 meetings.

One-on-one meetings between startup and investors take place during the formal and ad hoc sessions. Photo from Kira Vos

"There's nothing more optimistic than a room full of startups," said Trish Cozart, the director of NLR's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, which hosts the IGF, in a 2025 video about the event.

The 52 investor-selected startups that earned a spot in the pitch competition will vie to win one of four categories Early Stage, Pre-Commercialization Stage, Commercialization Stage, and Growth Stage based on where their tech lies in the spectrum from prototype to market. This year also features a dedicated AI track and an international track. Here are the 52 companies selected to pitch by a committee of leading energy venture capitalists:  

Early Stage

Pre-Commercialization Stage

Commercialization Stage

Growth Stage

AI-Track

Companies can also win Best International Venture, Best AI Venture, People's Choice, and Best Overall Venture. Each of the eight winning companies will also pitch on the main stage in front of the full IGF audience during the closing awards luncheon.

The pitch competition is just one way that startups connect with potential investors at IGF. Attendees can also participate in 1:1 networking, service provider table topics, corporate reverse pitches (where industry investors share what they and their customers need), receptions, panels, and the expo hall.

"What we're really trying to do is match up motivated capital investors writing checks with startups who are raising funds to take the next step forward for their technology," Cozart said.

Pitch competition winners receive awards after presenting their pitches during the closing luncheon of IGF 2025. Photo from Kira Vos

Peptalks, Jumpstarts, and Demo Days

This year, attendees can also join a few new events.

In the Startup Pep Talk session, companies can receive practical advice and insider guidance on how to have a successful IGF, including how to prepare for meetings, network effectively, and follow up with investors. In Jumpstart Pre-Conference Technical Workshops, attendees can learn about emerging technical advances. Ask-an-Expert Knowledge Bars give attendees a chance to pick the brains of experts across various energy topics.

"There really isn't another event that happens at this scale that brings this many investors and companies together. There isn't an equivalent," said Tim Woodward, the managing director of Prelude Ventures, in an article recapping the 2025 event. Woodward has attended the IGF for almost 30 years.

This year, applicants represent 15 different countries and 34 different states. International startups based outside the United States, Canada, and Europe can also join International Demo Day, to be held on Feb. 18, 2026, to participate in a virtual pitch competition, where the winner will receive funding to attend and pitch at the in-person event at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel in Denver, Colorado, from March 31 to April 2.

For more information about the 2026 IGF, including the agenda, participating companies, sponsors, and registration details, visit the Industry Growth Forum website.