Presented by Tulsa Innovation Labs
As the global energy system evolves, companies are racing to adopt technologies that can provide real solutions, especially in challenging industries. Long known as the oil capital of the world, Oklahoma is a center of energy innovation with the Rose Rock Bridge at the forefront.
Rose Rock Bridge, a Tulsa-based nonprofit, is a pilot placement studio that connects early-stage energy startups with corporate energy partners, non-clean funding and pilot opportunities that accelerate commercialization. Now receiving applications Through April 6, the Spring 2026 cohort is seeking early-stage and early-stage startups developing practical, scalable solutions to today’s most pressing energy challenges.
Rose Rock Bridge gives startups access to real-world commercial workflows and pilot opportunities through energy partners with market capitalizations exceeding $150 billion, 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 rapidly move from development to real-world testing and deployment.
How it works:
Discover opportunities for energy innovation
Rose Rock Bridge begins 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 go after the latest technology and hope we find a use for it. Our process starts at the asset level. — to identify specific operational bottlenecks and unmet requirements that our partners really face,” says Nishant Agarwal, Innovation Manager. Then we source technologies in direct response to those needs. This ensures that we not only deliver ‘interesting research’, but also deliver solutions with a proven deployment path and a clear line of sight to the business case.”
Leveraging its network of more than 40 universities, more than 10 energy incubators and Fortune 500 companies, Rose Rock Bridge identifies emerging opportunities in the energy ecosystem. Instead of selecting companies or ideas that can bring in capital, the studio selects startups with real potential to be rapidly commercialized to solve the industry’s most pressing problems.
This year’s focus areas include:
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Operational Flexibility and Integration
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Reservoir and Production Enhancement
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Fluid Systems
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Robotics
"We assess placement probability from day one," Andrada Pantelimon, Innovation Officer at Rose Rock Bridge, who manages sourcing strategy and startup operations. "Can this technology affect a measurable outcome? Can it realistically test in 12 months? Is your team equipped to commercialize? Show us how you’ve quantified your value proposition from an operator perspective and understand which business unit within your enterprise may have this solution. If you can clearly articulate these pieces, you are the startup we want to support."
Derisk technologies for early stage startups and energy companies
For leading energy corporations seeking proven solutions to complex operational challenges, the benefit is tangible. Rose Rock Bridge provides its corporate partners with proven, field-tested technologies, significantly reducing deployment risk. At the end of the program, partners gain direct access to emerging innovations that have already undergone technical validation and operational feasibility assessment, with established procurement pathways and pilot plans for commercial deployment.
Each cohort period, up to 15 startups are selected to enter a six-week virtual accelerator focused on pilot placement. Founders attend reverse pitch sessions with oil and gas partners, one-on-one clinics with industry and capital mentors, and hands-on commercialization workshops. Founders have a unique opportunity to refine their solutions, evaluate pilot feasibility, and build industry relationships. This approach involves adoption and investment through iterative customer feedback, field trials and pilots, enabling breakthrough technologies to reach commercial viability quickly and efficiently.
"Our curriculum is specifically focused on preparing startups for the realities of corporate partnerships." says Devon Fanfair, Rose Rock Bridge Manager and former Managing Director of Techstars, which expanded the RRB program. "Founders don’t just learn, they actively test their hypotheses with the exact customers who might apply their technology. This rapid feedback loop transforms promising technologies into ready-to-use solutions with clear commercial pathways."
At the culmination of the accelerator, teams participate in the Rose Rock Bridge showcase with a unique opportunity to present their startups to the energy corporate partners they have worked with over the past six weeks. Four startups are selected to receive opportunities for up to $100,000 in seed funding and business support services, and join 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 Tulsa Innovation Labs Managing Director Jennifer Hankins. “By connecting emerging technologies with some of the nation’s biggest energy leaders, we help move innovation from concept to market faster, attract new businesses to the region, enhance our existing businesses and strengthen Tulsa’s role in the global energy economy.”
Apply live energy solutions
After being selected for Rose Rock Bridge membership, startups test their technology with their respective energy partners and expand their business in Tulsa. Support includes support for pilot design, implementation and go-to-market strategy, relationships with subsequent investment opportunities, subsidized access to services including legal, marketing, PR, and establishing a presence in Tulsa for partner outreach.
The success of the Rose Rock Bridge is measured not only in pilot deployments, but also in ongoing commercial relationships. Many portfolio companies have progressed from initial field trials to multi-year contracts with Fortune 500 operators. By teasing out the path from proof of concept to procurement, RRB helped create acquisition pathways that could take years to develop, if they materialized at all.
Launched in 2022 with support from Tulsa Innovation Labs, the studio has helped companies develop new technologies, secure patents, bring products to market and raise capital. It has teased 33 startups, backed 16 active or development-stage pilots, and invested more than $2 million in early-stage companies, generating a portfolio valuation of more than $55 million.
Examples of studio successes include Security radarRose Rock Bridge, an AI-powered risk management platform that secured its first deal with a partner, expanded into additional energy and aerospace clients, raised more than $2 million in funding and established a Tulsa office. Automation of kineticsThe Canadian company successfully piloted it with a partner, resulting in multiple site deployments and effectively using RRB as a gateway to the US market.
Backed by corporate partners with a combined market capitalization of more than $150 billion, Rose Rock Bridge reflects both the scale of opportunity and Tulsa’s growing influence in energy innovation.
Devon Fanfair is the manager of Rose Rock Bridge.
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