Thomas Chepucavage from Zenthos Energy

Thomas Chepucavage from Zenthos Energy

Author: collide. September 30, 2025 Duration: 46:44

Zenthos Energy is tackling two big challenges at once: energy storage and carbon capture. Their aluminum batteries aren’t just safer and cheaper than the usual lithium or cobalt options, they also last longer and actually create value by capturing CO2 and producing graphite along the way. Born in Albuquerque and now teaming up with Sandia National Labs and New Mexico State, the team is scaling solutions big enough for utilities, data centers, and microgrids, while also finding uses in military and remote applications. It’s a story of tech, partnerships, and ambition, with a clear mission to push gigawatt-scale solutions into the mainstream of sustainable energy.

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Click here to view the episode transcript.

00:00 - EnergyTech Nexus
00:16 - Introducing Dev Motiram
00:52 - Interview with Tom Chappell, CEO of Zenthos Energy
09:45 - Tom's Journey into the Energy Industry
11:36 - CO2 Capture Potential
12:18 - Revenue Streams in Energy Tech
13:56 - Energy Initiatives in Albuquerque
15:38 - Non-Dilutive Funding Strategies
17:30 - Fundraising Journey in Energy Startups
21:06 - Addressing the Missing Middle
24:01 - EnergyTech Nexus
24:15 - Strategic Partnerships for Growth
25:45 - Assessing Risk in Energy Ventures
27:46 - Innovations in Aluminum Ion Batteries
28:44 - Scaling Energy Solutions
29:45 - Criteria for Investability
31:05 - Current Goals in Energy Development
32:10 - Insights from Houston's Energy Scene
33:05 - Key Takeaways from the Week
36:20 - Investor Discussions and Focus Areas
37:40 - Manufacturing Considerations in Energy Tech
40:50 - Defining Product Market Fit
41:35 - How to Support Zenthos Energy
43:28 - Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

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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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