Cypher Pilotathon and Startup Showcase 2026

The Cypher Pilotathon and Startup Showcase brings together energy technology startups and established industry leaders in the energy transition space for a day of collaboration and innovation in Houston, Texas. Startups will pitch real-world pilot projects to expert judges and a live audience consisting of corporate operators, partners, and investors. Showcases will feature technologies across critical minerals, grid infrastructure, industrial decarbonization, and intelligent operations. The event is designed as a "hackathon," compressing the timeline it takes for startups to validate their technology for future commercialization opportunities.

RTI at Pilotathon 2026

RTI is the Diamond Sponsor of Pilotathon 2026. Our team of engineers, chemists, and business development experts are excited to take your technology to the next level. RTI's Pilot Xcelerator specializes in bridging the gap between early-stage energy ideas and commercialization. With one of the only privately-owned energy pilot facilities in the nation, we provide full plug-and-play pilot-scale and laboratory facilities with commercialization support to streamline your pathway from strategy to market deployment.

Panel

Title: From Lab to Plant: Closing the Scale-Up Gap in Industrial Decarbonization 
Time: 10AM - 12PM
Description: The technology to decarbonize heavy industry exists but the challenge is in scaling. This panel examines what it actually takes to move a decarbonization technology from promising prototype to commercial deployment, the capital, the infrastructure, the risk tolerance, and the partnerships that make the difference between a pilot that stalls and one that reaches market.

Explore RTI's Industrial and Energy Technology Scaling

• 5 Questions To Ask Before Scaling Your Technology
• Rising to Meet Today's Challenges in Deep Tech Commercialization
• Developing Novel Carbon Capture Technology
• Demonstrating Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production
• Insider RTI's Pilot Xcelerator Expansion
• Converting Carbon and Methane Into Fuel