PG&E Announces Finalists for 2025 Pitch Fest: 57 Energy- and Climate-Tech Innovators Selected from 400+ Applicants

Rhea-AI Summary

Pacific Gas and Electric (NYSE:PCG) has selected 57 organizations from over 400 applicants to present at its 2025 Pitch Fest, scheduled for September 23-25 at PG&E's Oakland headquarters. The event focuses on innovations in climate tech, grid modernization, and wildfire resilience.

PG&E has allocated up to $25 million in funding through its Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) for new projects by year-end. The company plans to collaborate with selected vendors to integrate solutions into its systems. The event will feature a headline panel of successful startup co-founders who have previously partnered with PG&E, including leaders from BurnBot, Treeswift, and WeaveGrid.

The selected finalists will present solutions across various categories including Wildfire & Forest Management, EV & DER Management, Customer Electrification, Customer Resiliency, Large Load Management, Undergrounding, and Operational Cost Savings.

Positive

• Up to $25 million in funding available for new projects
• Strong interest with over 400 applicants demonstrating robust innovation pipeline
• Diverse range of solutions across critical utility sectors
• Direct path to implementation through PG&E's systems

Negative

• None.

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Event to include a headline panel of leading startup co-founders

OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) today announced the 57 organizations invited to present at its 2025 Pitch Fest, taking place September 23–25 at PG&E's Oakland headquarters.

Selected from a pool of more than 400 applicants, these companies represent the next wave of innovation in climate tech, grid modernization, and wildfire resilience.

Building on the momentum of PG&E's past Innovation Summits and Pitch Fest events, this year's gathering reinforces the company's leadership in surfacing and scaling breakthrough solutions to California's most urgent energy and climate challenges.

"Pitch Fest is one of the most impactful ways we connect with the energy and climate tech ecosystem," said Mike Delaney, Vice President, Utility Partnerships and Innovation, PG&E. "We're excited to accelerate solutions that can make our grid safer, more sustainable, and more affordable — and we're energized by the creativity and commitment of this year's presenters."

With up to $25 million in funding available to be allocated to new projects by the end of the year, PG&E plans to work closely with selected vendors emerging from the Innovation Pitch Fest to define projects and co-develop and integrate solutions directly into its systems, ensuring a fast, reliable path from concept to scaled impact.

The funding is available through PG&E's electric R&D budget under the public purpose program Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC).

EPIC enables California investor-owned utilities to demonstrate new technologies and evaluate how they support safety, reliability, and affordability, environmental sustainability and equity objectives for the benefit of all California electric customers. Additional funding sources may also be available, depending on project scope and alignment through other PG&E innovation initiatives outside of EPIC.

2025 Pitch Fest will also feature a day-one headline panel of leading energy and climate-tech co-founders who have recently partnered with PG&E through its innovation programs: Anukool Lakhina (CEO, BurnBot), Steven Chen (CEO, Treeswift) and John Taggart (President, WeaveGrid). These three co-founders will be in conversation with Quinn Nakayama, Senior Director of Grid Research Innovation and Development, PG&E, offering insights to entrepreneurs on how to successfully begin, develop, and sustain partnerships with PG&E and other utilities.

Pitch Fest Themes & Finalists

During Pitch Fest, each organization will have 15 minutes to present their respective solution to PG&E decision makers. The organizations participating in 2025 Pitch Fest include:

Wildfire & Forest Management

• Climformatics
• Firescape
• GridIntel
• Growvera
• ISL Analytics
• Loamist
• Opal AI
• Pinepeak
• Pyrologix & Vibrant Planet
• Technosylva
• EcoPhi
• GridVisibility
• IFD Technologies
• ORKID
• Pratexo
• University of California, San Diego (UCSD)

EV & DER Management

• Alderbuck Energy
• BluWave-ai
• Critical Loop
• DG Matrix
• Maiven Energy
• OPF Energy
• Plexigrid
• SwitchDin
• Switched Source
• T.rex AI
• The Mobility House & WeaveGrid
• The Mobility House & Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL)

Customer Electrification

• Maiven Energy
• Recurve
• WattCarbon
• Wherobots

Customer Resiliency

• Base Power
• CraftStrom Solar
• Critical Loop
• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)
• Pila Energy

Large Load Management

• Atlas Power Technologies
• Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
• Leaptran
• Piq Energy
• Quanta Technology & Reactive Technologies
• Smart Power Networks
• VoltageAI

Undergrounding

• Advanced Spade Company
• Case Western Reserve University
• Infleqtion
• Path Power
• Phoenix Boring
• We Think Global

Operational Cost Savings

• Camus Energy
• Emerald AI
• Neara
• Rayfield Systems
• Splight
• TerrAssist AI

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than sixteen million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com, pge.com/news and pge.com/innovation.

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SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company

FAQ

What is PG&E's 2025 Pitch Fest and when will it take place?

PG&E's 2025 Pitch Fest is an innovation event where 57 selected organizations will present climate tech and grid modernization solutions. It will take place September 23-25, 2025 at PG&E's Oakland headquarters.

How much funding is PG&E (NYSE:PCG) offering through the 2025 Pitch Fest?

PG&E is offering up to $25 million in funding through its Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) for new projects to be allocated by the end of 2025.

How many companies applied to PG&E's 2025 Pitch Fest?

Over 400 companies applied to PG&E's 2025 Pitch Fest, from which 57 organizations were selected as finalists.

What types of solutions will be presented at PG&E's 2025 Pitch Fest?

Solutions will be presented across categories including Wildfire & Forest Management, EV & DER Management, Customer Electrification, Customer Resiliency, Large Load Management, Undergrounding, and Operational Cost Savings.

Who are the headline panel speakers at PG&E's 2025 Pitch Fest?

The headline panel features successful startup co-founders including Anukool Lakhina (BurnBot CEO), Steven Chen (Treeswift CEO), and John Taggart (WeaveGrid President), in conversation with Quinn Nakayama from PG&E.