On August 26, BRITE Energy Innovators hosted BRITEnite Cleveland, bringing together innovators, entrepreneurs, and community leaders to showcase breakthrough technologies and bold visions for the advanced energy future. The evening featured cutting-edge startup pitches alongside a deep-dive conversation with PowerUp Local, a project of the Fund for Economic Future, that is rethinking how communities can take ownership of their energy futures.
Here’s a recap of BRITEnite Cleveland:
⚡ Startup Pitches: Innovation on Display
The evening also showcased five dynamic companies advancing clean energy and technology solutions:
Nikola Innovations
Smarter cycling through patented elliptical pedals with AI-powered insights, improving efficiency, boosting performance, and predicting injuries—validated by clinical studies and poised to scale in the booming cycling and e-bike markets.
Nautica Wind Power
Developer of SEALIFT technology, which enables offshore wind farms to be built in existing ports—cutting energy costs by 40% and saving developers $54M per project, unlocking a $110B market.
LEUCITE
AI-powered manufacturing platform for crystals and semiconductors, predicting failures with 92% accuracy, boosting yields, and strengthening supply chains critical to clean energy and advanced tech industries.
SPECMAT
NASA spinout revolutionizing solar manufacturing with a patented chemical process that’s 40% faster, 20% cheaper, and backed by European government grants to advance energy independence.
Petra Power
Incubated in our very own BRITE Lab, Petra Power is building the world’s first fuel-flexible, ultra-efficient power system for trucks and shipping containers—cutting fuel costs by 90% today while being ready for tomorrow’s hydrogen economy.
🌱 PowerUp Local: From Renters to Owners in the Energy Economy
Daniel Gray kicked off our Ecosystem Connect Dinner with a conversation on PowerUp Local’s mission: helping communities transition from paying high utility bills to owning local clean energy assets.
- Big Wins in Funding: The initiative has already helped secure $285 million in federal grants, supporting 63 MW of solar and 20 MW of storage projects across Northeast Ohio.
- Responding to Market Pressures: With power bills rising 15–20% and data centers driving up demand, communities are urgently looking for cost control.
- Blended Technology Strategy: Rather than relying on a single solution, PowerUp Local is pursuing integrated systems—solar, batteries, geothermal, and microgrids—to maximize savings and resilience.
- Regulatory Barriers & Opportunities: The group emphasized the need for simplified interconnection rules, pointing to Texas as a model for technology-neutral, streamlined grid integration.
In short, PowerUp Local highlighted how local ownership, innovative financing, and blended technology approaches can make clean energy more affordable and accessible for Ohio communities.
🚀 About BRITEnites
BRITEnites underscore our mission to accelerate the advanced energy economy by connecting bold ideas, breakthrough technologies, and forward-looking communities. From community-owned solar projects to next-generation advanced energy tech startups, BRITEnites highlight how Ohio can lead in building a competitive, smarter, and more resilient energy future.
✨ Stay tuned for more BRITEnite events as we continue to spotlight innovators shaping the future of advanced energy.
