PGW AND Temple University’s SBDC Select Latest Energy Start-Up Hydropore to Join Its Energy Innovation Lab
Posted on: Aug 07, 2023PHILADELPHIA (August 7, 2023) – Working together to advance creative breakthroughs in clean energy, Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) and Temple University’s Small Business Development Center (TU SBDC) have announced that Hydropore has been chosen to join the 2023 Energy Innovation Lab cohort. The lab is a small business incubator designed to empower energy entrepreneurs whose product or service ideas have the potential to reimagine the future of the energy industry. PGW and TU SBDC created the incubator in 2021 to foster environmentally friendly concepts that meet the evolving energy needs of Philadelphia residents, underserved communities, and businesses.
At the pitch competition held August 3, 2023, Hydropore presented its winning energy concept of developing hydrogen batteries that produce clean fuel to a panel of volunteer judges from leading Philadelphia energy, innovation, and start-up development organizations. Two additional companies – Haylon Technologies and LiTrans USA – also presented their energy solutions. Proposals were evaluated and ranked based on viability and alignment with PGW’s mission of enhancing the quality of life for all by delivering safe, reliable, and affordable energy in an environmentally responsible way.
Hydropore’s clean hydrogen production system is designed to “drop-in” to any customer site, to provide reliable fuel supply for the next generation of trucks, buses, planes, trains, and ships. Hydropore’s hydrogen-producing battery is unique in that it has a small footprint, runs on any type of water, and only consumes electricity when it is clean and most economical. By joining The Energy Innovation Lab, the year-old company, based in Philadelphia and founded by Mike Argosh and University of Pennsylvania Professor Dr. Eric Detsi, will receive hands-on training, mentoring, real-time feedback from PGW energy industry experts and TU SBDC business development consultants, as well as up to $30,000 in seed funding.
“We’re tremendously excited about the potential of Hydropore’s technology to impact the production and delivery of clean energy,” said Elliott Gold, Vice President of Corporate Planning at PGW. “When we launched The Energy Innovation Lab two years ago, we suspected that there was untapped talent in our great City for developing our future clean energy solutions. This fusion of Hydropore’s entrepreneurial creativity built upon strong Philadelphia-based university research, PGW’s energy industry expertise, and the SBDC’s business development support is the perfect example of the collaborative innovation we had in mind.”
The Energy Innovation Lab is an extension of PGW’s proactive commitments to expanding energy access and affordability, generating inclusive regional economic growth and leading Philadelphia’s clean energy future.
“We’re super excited to be able to collaborate with a partner like PGW,” said Mike Argosh, CEO of Hydropore. “Hopefully we can build together and team up on a zero emissions clean energy future.”
“The Temple University SBDC is dedicated to unleashing and encouraging the development and success of those locally based small businesses with big ideas that could make Philadelphia a cleaner, greener city,” said Howard Brown, Director of TU SBDC. “We have a wealth of entrepreneurial talent in the Philadelphia area. We are proud to offer opportunities to start-ups like Hydropore that will allow them to flourish.”
To learn more about the Energy Innovation Lab visit incubator.pgworks.com.
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