Ian Uriarte from Spindletop AI

Ian Uriarte from Spindletop AI

Author: collide. July 22, 2025 Duration: 56:07

What happens when old-school oilfields meet new-school tech? You get something like Spindletop AI, think machine learning and edge computing tailored for mid-sized operators trying to squeeze more out of every drop. Ian’s built a platform that helps producers ditch the spreadsheets and start making smarter, faster decisions right in the field. We talk about managing marginal wells, building hardware on a budget, and how he’s helping folks bump production by double digits. There’s also a great origin story behind the name Spindletop, plus some real talk on what it takes to launch a startup in the energy world without losing your mind (or your budget).


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Click here to view the episode transcript.

00:00 - Energy Tech Nexus
00:16 - Intro to Ian Uriarte
05:40 - Lifecycle of an Oil Well
12:19 - TimberGrove vs Spindletop
17:29 - Spindletop's Innovations
19:14 - Spindletop Network Functionality
25:42 - Spindletop's Current Journey
34:00 - Insights from the Pilot Program
34:42 - Achieving 17% Improvement
40:18 - Fundraising Journey Overview
47:15 - Motivations Behind Spindletop
50:48 - Current Opportunities for Spindletop
51:39 - Audience Support for Spindletop
53:34 - Learning More About Spindletop

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They say everything's bigger in Texas, including the challenges and opportunities presented by climate change. That's precisely why Houston has become a surprising epicenter for the global energy transition. In H-Town, the fourth largest city in the United States, a new wave of entrepreneurs is converging, partnering with established industry titans to forge the technologies that will slash emissions and power a low-carbon future. This is the landscape explored in Energytech Startups, a podcast from collide. that goes straight to the source. Hosts Nada Ahmed and Jason Ethier sit down with the very people driving this change-the founders, investors, and innovators who are building companies at the intersection of energy and technology. Each conversation digs into the real work: the engineering breakthroughs, the complex business models, and the hard-won lessons from the front lines of a sector undergoing massive transformation. It’s a direct line to the strategies and stories shaping the future of energy, making this podcast an essential listen for anyone curious about the business and investment dynamics behind building a sustainable world. You’ll hear frank discussions about funding, scaling, and the practical realities of bringing a transformative idea to market, all set against the backdrop of a city historically known for oil and gas now betting big on its own reinvention.
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