Presented by Tulsa Innovation Labs
As the global energy system evolves, companies are rushing to adopt technologies that can deliver real-world solutions, especially in hard-to-scale industries. Oklahoma, long known as the oil capital of the world, is a center of energy innovation, with the Rose Rock Bridge at the forefront.
Rose Rock Bridge, a Tulsa-based nonprofit, is a pilot implementation study that connects early-stage energy startups with corporate energy partners, non-dilutive financing, and pilot opportunities that accelerate commercialization. Now accepting applications For its Spring 2026 cohort through April 6, it is seeking early and growth-stage startups developing practical, scalable solutions to today’s most pressing energy challenges.
Rose Rock Bridge provides startups with access to real-world commercial workflows and pilot opportunities through energy partners with more than $150 billion in market capitalization, including Devon Energy, H&P, ONEOK and Williams. Backed by one of the strongest coalitions of strategic partners and investors of any energy-focused accelerator, incubator or venture studio, the program enables startups to quickly move from development to real-world testing and deployment.
This is how it works:
Discover energy innovation opportunities
Rose Rock Bridge begins by working directly with corporate innovation teams to identify high-priority technology solutions for their businesses, pinpointing which solutions will have the greatest impact. Focus areas are formed around these findings.
“We don’t just look for the latest technology and hope to find a use for it. Our process starts at the asset level — “Identifying the specific operational bottlenecks and unmet requirements that our partners actually face,” says Nishant Agarwal, Innovation Manager. “Leveraging our CVC and engineering expertise, we conduct technical deep dives alongside partners’ subject matter experts to define the requirement first. We then source technologies in direct response to those needs. This ensures that we are not just presenting ‘interesting research’ but also providing solutions with a validated implementation path and a clear line of sight to a business case.”
Leveraging its network of more than 40 universities, more than 10 energy incubators and Fortune 500 companies, Rose Rock Bridge determines emerging opportunities in the energy ecosystem. Instead of simply selecting companies or ideas that can generate capital, the study chooses startups that have real potential to come to market quickly in order to solve the industry’s most pressing challenges.
This year’s focus areas include:
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Operational agility and integration
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Improvement of deposits and production
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fluid systems
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Robotics
"We are evaluating the probability of implementation from day one." says Andrada Pantelimon, innovation associate at Rose Rock Bridge, who manages sourcing strategy and startup operations. "Can this technology generate a measurable final impact? Can it be realistic to test it within 12 months? Is your team equipped to market? Show us that you have quantified your value proposition in carrier terms and understand which business unit within a corporation might own this solution. If you can articulate those pieces clearly, you are the type of startup we want to support."
Derisk technologies for energy companies and early-stage startups
The benefit is tangible for leading energy corporations seeking proven solutions to complex operational challenges. Rose Rock Bridge provides its corporate partners with validated and field-tested technologies, while significantly reducing implementation risk. Upon completion of the program, partners gain direct access to emerging innovations that have already undergone technical validation and operational feasibility assessment, with procurement pathways identified and pilot plans designed for commercial implementation.
In each cohort cycle, up to 15 startups are selected to enter a six-week virtual accelerator focused on pilot implementation. Founders participate in investment sessions with oil and gas partners, one-on-one clinics with industry and equity mentors, and hands-on go-to-market workshops. Founders have the unique opportunity to refine their solutions, evaluate pilot viability, and build relationships with the industry. This approach bypasses adoption and investments through iterative customer feedback, field testing, and pilots, enabling innovative technologies to reach commercial viability quickly and effectively.
"Our curriculum is singularly focused on preparing startups for the realities of corporate partnerships." says Devon Fanfair, manager of Rose Rock Bridge and former CEO of Techstars who is expanding the RRB program. "Founders are not only learning, they are actively testing their assumptions with the exact customers who might implement their technology. That rapid feedback loop is what transforms promising technologies into ready-to-deploy solutions with clear commercial pathways."
At the culmination of the accelerator, teams participate in the Rose Rock Bridge exhibition with the unique opportunity to present their startup to the corporate energy partners they have worked with over the past six weeks. Four startups are selected to receive up to $100,000 in non-dilutive funding and business support services opportunities, joining a one-year cohort designed to prepare technologies for market adoption.
“Rose Rock Bridge is a cornerstone of Tulsa Innovation Labs’ strategy to showcase our region as a national hub for energy innovation,” added Jennifer Hankins, CEO of Tulsa Innovation Labs. “By linking emerging technologies with some of the nation’s largest energy leaders, we help move innovation from concept to market faster, attracting new businesses to the region, enhancing our existing businesses and strengthening Tulsa’s role in the global energy economy.”
Implement viable energy solutions
Once selected to become members of Rose Rock Bridge, startups test their technology with relevant energy partners and grow their business in Tulsa. Support includes pilot design, marketing execution and strategy, connections to pursue investment opportunities, subsidized access to services including legal, marketing, public relations, and support in establishing a presence in Tulsa for partner access.
Rose Rock Bridge’s success is measured not only by pilot deployments, but also by long-standing business relationships. Multiple portfolio companies have progressed from initial field trials to multi-year contracts with Fortune 500 operators. By de-risking the path from proof of concept to acquisition, RRB has helped establish acquisition pathways that could otherwise take years to develop, if at all.
Launched in 2022 with support from Tulsa Innovation Labs, the study has helped companies advance new technologies, obtain patents, launch products and attract capital. It has de-risked 33 startups, supported 16 active or developing pilots, and invested over $2 million in early-stage companies, generating a combined portfolio valuation of over $55 million.
Examples of the study’s success include security radaran AI-powered risk management platform, which landed its first contract with a Rose Rock Bridge partner, expanded to additional energy and aerospace clients, raised more than $2 million, and established an office in Tulsa. Kinetic automationa Canadian company, conducted a successful pilot with a partner, resulting in multi-site deployments, effectively using RRB as their gateway to the US market.
Backed by corporate partners with more than $150 billion in combined market capitalization, Rose Rock Bridge reflects both the scale of the opportunity and Tulsa’s growing influence in energy innovation.
Devon Fanfair is manager of Rose Rock Bridge.
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