Aramco Ventures takes part in Texas startup accelerator investment forum
Lovely Sharma (far right) joined energy and innovation leaders, including Derek Rieman of Repsol Renewables North America and Juliana Garaizar of Energy Tech Nexus, to discuss the future of energy and the emerging role of AI.
More than 100 entrepreneurs and founders gathered in Sugar Land, Texas, signaling the rise of a new innovation hub outside traditional U.S. hotspots like Silicon Valley. Among them was Lovely Sharma, an investment associate at Aramco Ventures, who was on hand to spotlight how energy and technology are converging, and why Aramco Ventures is paying attention.
In late October, Sharma participated in a panel discussion titled “What will Power Us in 2050?” moderated by Mark LaCour, Oil and Gas Global Energy Network editor-in-chief. Hosted by Plug and Play, ranked among the world’s most active startup accelerators, the event was part of its mission to turn Texas into a nexus for energy and tech innovation.
As part of Aramco Ventures’ mandate to identify breakthrough technologies supporting the company’s long-term energy strategy, Sharma’s engagement reflects its growing footprint in North America’s startup ecosystem. Texas is home to more Fortune 500 companies than any other state in the U.S., and its business-friendly policies with ties to energy make it an attractive place for startups.
“The energy requirements of the future are humongous. There is a clear recognition that hydrocarbons will be part of the energy mix for decades to come,” said Sharma. When pressed as to what energy sources will dominate in the future, she told the audience there must be multiple sources with technology solutions based on performance, compatibility, and scalability.
Other panelists commented on the emergence of battery storage and long-duration storage with the integration of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal.
Attendees were treated to a minipitch session with 10 founders giving what were often first, fresh looks at their ideas. These pitches are a great way to evaluate interest in their product or service, solicit feedback on their business strategy, and find the support needed to succeed.
For Sharma, it is a chance to have her pulse on what entrepreneurs are developing and how it might align with Aramco’s business strategy. Several pitched AI platforms and solutions.
It is an exciting time with all the innovation taking place, observed Sharma. “We are at a juncture. The two worlds of tech and energy are converging. I am optimistic AI will be a game changer for the world of energy.”
Aramco Ventures has already invested in several AI-enabled companies globally, from predictive maintenance platforms to autonomous robotics, underscoring the company’s commitment to embedding digital intelligence across energy value chains.
The petroleum engineer turned investor sees the application of AI bringing efficiencies in all sectors of energy, upstream, midstream, and downstream. As AI technology evolves, so will the quality of data, she said, and with that discerning the root problems with insightful data and analysis.
Sharma is part of a team of investment associates in North America supporting Aramco’s multiple venture capital programs.
