John Tough

Fortune 500 material suppliers and contractors trust Handle software on a daily basis to provide their credit and finance departments with an end-to-end solution. Purpose-built for material suppliers and equipment dealers to manage the entire process of online payments and lien management.

PVcase is a next generation PV software company. Driven by engineering know-how and cutting edge development team, we change the rules when it comes to solar design operations worldwide. Our customer base extends from Europe to North and South Americas, Asia and Australia, rapidly adding new customers with every software iteration. PVcases approach to utility scale solar layout design strives to become the new industry standard as the PV industry is forced to evolve in an environment with significantly reduced subsidies. Our focus on automation and accuracy from the very earliest stages of planning, incorporating 3D topographical data points to simulate the actual location of the solar plant, allows our customers to be able to compete for and win more projects by delivering greater yields. PVcase’s automation plug-in for AutoCAD has already been used to design over 3 GW of projects by some of the world’s largest players in solar renewable energy. With our extensive experience in the solar design industry we see other opportunities to optimize and create efficiencies in other aspects of the evaluation and planning of commercial and utility scale PV projects and have several other products in the development process.

At Smartcar, we empower developers to build the future of mobility. Our API allows web and mobile apps to verify mileage, manage EV charging, issue digital car keys, track fleets, and much more. The Smartcar platform is compatible with 40 car brands across the US and beyond and works without aftermarket hardware like OBD dongles. Smartcar powers leading apps for repair and maintenance, DERMS/VPPs, car insurance, peer-to-peer car sharing, smart EV charging, fleet management, and more.

Matroid makes computer vision simple by providing an easy-to-use, intuitive Studio for creating and deploying Detectors (computer vision models) to search video for actions, objects, and events with no additional programming required. Matroid can monitor any live stream or search recorded video, providing real-time notifications when events of interest have been detected. Matroid reduces operating costs associated with manually searching through video footage for an object or a specific person, and increases efficiency, safety, and regulatory compliance. Join us for an exciting career at the forefront of artificial intelligence, apply at matroid.com/careers. Send us an email at solutions@matroid.com or call (224) MATROID to learn more.

Aurora’s cloud-based software transforms solar design, sales, and delivery. With just an address and electric bill, Aurora empowers you to generate a full, accurate, and customizable design for every customer — and close the deal on the spot. We help power thousands of solar projects every week towards our goal of making solar accessible for everyone.

Optimus Ride Inc. has gone out of business.

Sitetracker empowers owners, operators, contractors, and other stakeholders to streamline and optimize the complete asset lifecycle of critical infrastructure. As the leading global complete Asset Lifecycle Management platform, Sitetracker helps innovative companies like Vodafone, Ericsson, ENGIE, Telefonica, Cypress Creek Renewables, Cox, Iberdrola, EVgo, Vantage Towers, Southern Company, Zayo, Tilson, Nextera, EDOTCO, E.On, Axione, and TEP efficiently plan, build, operate, and maintain millions of projects, sites, and assets. Sitetracker delivers operational excellence and creates full transparency across industries such as digital infrastructure, renewables, EV charging, utilities, and real estate by driving safe, efficient teams, ensuring healthy projects, and enabling organizations to manage scale, growth, and complexity. Trusted by hundreds of industry leaders, Sitetracker advances a more connected and sustainable future across the world. Manage What’s Critical, with Sitetracker.

Jupiter is the trusted leader in climate risk analytics for organizations looking to strengthen their climate resilience. With forward-focused, rigorous methodologies and analytics delivered by some of the best scientists in the industry, Jupiter turns sophisticated climate science into actionable data. By managing, mitigating, and disclosing your climate risk, you can confront the challenges of tomorrow, today.

ZEDEDA unlocks the value of AI where it matters most, enabling enterprises to create, secure and operate edge AI at scale. ZEDEDA’s Edge Intelligence products and solutions are used by global distributed enterprises to rapidly realize and deploy autonomous intelligence wherever they operate, turning real-time data into real and tangible business outcomes and decisions. Trusted by the world’s largest organizations, ZEDEDA is backed by world-class investors, with teams in the United States, Germany, India, and the United Arab Emirates. For more information, visit www.ZEDEDA.ai.

Chicago:Blend is a 501c3 nonprofit organization working to advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in Chicago’s venture capital and startup community. We measure the VC diversity gap, help underrepresented professionals secure VC jobs and are building a growing community of investors who share our commitment to improving the industry. 🏆 AWARDS 🏆 • DEI Impact Award - National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) • Social Innovator Award - Chicago Innovation • Fourth Revolution Award for Community Empowerment - mHUB

Build with certainty, operate with confidence. That’s why thousands of construction, oil and gas and renewable energy companies use DroneDeploy on a daily basis. We help them automate reality capture using drones, robots and 360 cameras – combining this data in one platform for AI-powered analysis. From aerial and ground views of construction progress to automated gauge readings and methane leak detection, DroneDeploy is shaping the future of reality capture.

Volta is now JOLT. We’ve combined the best of both worlds to create the world’s most powerful data-led DOOH and EV charging network. The U.S. footprint spans 4,500+ premium digital out-of-home screens integrated with electric vehicle charging stations, strategically located where people live, move, and spend time. We help forward-thinking brands connect with high-value urban audiences through impactful creative, precise targeting, and measurable outcomes — with programmatic and direct buying options available.

We protect the world’s critical infrastructure from cyber threats. Our platform uniquely combines network and endpoint visibility, threat detection, and AI-powered analysis for faster, more effective incident response. Customers rely on us to minimize risk and complexity while maximizing operational resilience. www.nozominetworks.com

Avathon, a leader in Industrial AI, extends the life of critical infrastructure while advancing the journey toward full autonomy. Avathon’s Industrial AI platform empowers commercial and government customers with scalable, secure, and value-driven solutions that enhance efficiency and resilience across heavy industry.

Fortune 500 material suppliers and contractors trust Handle software on a daily basis to provide their credit and finance departments with an end-to-end solution. Purpose-built for material suppliers and equipment dealers to manage the entire process of online payments and lien management.

5 was formed with a single mission – to help people. Today we set the standard for energy advisory firms in North America. We provide advice to clients on procurement and risk management, demand-side management, sustainability, and resiliency throughout the US and Mexico. Clients include Fortune 100 companies, government entities, commercial real estate, cold storage, higher education, manufacturers, industrials, hospitals, religious organizations, restaurants, nonprofits, and more. 5’s team is comprised of energy market innovators, engineers, commodity traders, technologists and business development professionals joined by a common purpose - To deliver unparalleled energy procurement services and advice that result in cutting-edge energy solutions for our clients. No company is better situated than 5 to help clients manage their exposure to volatile energy prices in an ever-changing market. 5 is a fast-growing company with an award-winning culture that includes the following accolades for innovation, leadership, growth, and incredible company culture: • Best Workplaces in America, Inc. Magazine • Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company List, Inc. Magazine • Best Companies to Work for in Texas, Texas Monthly • Entrepreneur 360, Most Entrepreneurial Companies in America, Entrepreneur • Aggie 100 Fastest Growing Aggie-Owned Companies • Best Small Workplaces in America, Fortune • Best Workplaces in Texas, Fortune • Dallas 100 Fastest-Growing Small Business • Fastest Growing Companies in the Americas, Financial Times • Dallas Business Journal Middle Market 50 • Tech Titans, Fast Tech Honoree

PVcase is a next generation PV software company. Driven by engineering know-how and cutting edge development team, we change the rules when it comes to solar design operations worldwide. Our customer base extends from Europe to North and South Americas, Asia and Australia, rapidly adding new customers with every software iteration. PVcases approach to utility scale solar layout design strives to become the new industry standard as the PV industry is forced to evolve in an environment with significantly reduced subsidies. Our focus on automation and accuracy from the very earliest stages of planning, incorporating 3D topographical data points to simulate the actual location of the solar plant, allows our customers to be able to compete for and win more projects by delivering greater yields. PVcase’s automation plug-in for AutoCAD has already been used to design over 3 GW of projects by some of the world’s largest players in solar renewable energy. With our extensive experience in the solar design industry we see other opportunities to optimize and create efficiencies in other aspects of the evaluation and planning of commercial and utility scale PV projects and have several other products in the development process.

At Smartcar, we empower developers to build the future of mobility. Our API allows web and mobile apps to verify mileage, manage EV charging, issue digital car keys, track fleets, and much more. The Smartcar platform is compatible with 40 car brands across the US and beyond and works without aftermarket hardware like OBD dongles. Smartcar powers leading apps for repair and maintenance, DERMS/VPPs, car insurance, peer-to-peer car sharing, smart EV charging, fleet management, and more.

Matroid makes computer vision simple by providing an easy-to-use, intuitive Studio for creating and deploying Detectors (computer vision models) to search video for actions, objects, and events with no additional programming required. Matroid can monitor any live stream or search recorded video, providing real-time notifications when events of interest have been detected. Matroid reduces operating costs associated with manually searching through video footage for an object or a specific person, and increases efficiency, safety, and regulatory compliance. Join us for an exciting career at the forefront of artificial intelligence, apply at matroid.com/careers. Send us an email at solutions@matroid.com or call (224) MATROID to learn more.