WRITER/SOURCE: Kathy Foster, 575-646-1815, kmfoster@nmsu.edu
Argyle Earth, a California-based startup that has developed an innovative waste heat-to-power technology, has won second place and a $20,000 cash prize from the United State Department of Energy’s Energy Program for Innovation Clusters, or EPIC, showcase.
Argyle Earth was nominated for the prize by New Mexico State University’s Arrowhead Center New Mexico Clean Energy Resilience and Growth, or NM CERG, cluster. NM CERG supports clean energy technology companies by guiding participants through growth and development steps and offering ongoing support.
The EPIC showcase is a virtual pitch competition hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Technologies Transitions, and this year featured 24 startup companies from promising energy entrepreneurs presenting hard-tech solutions to tackle the climate crisis.
Arrowhead Center, as a Core Incubator Prize semifinalist for work related to energy testbed access for innovators and start-ups, nominated Argyle Earth for the EPIC Showcase. The first-place position went to OMC Hydrogen which was nominated by REACH Energy Accelerator.
Argyle Earth has developed a solution that converts waste heat from manufacturing facilities into electricity that can be used on-site. Kristina McMillan, CEO and co-founder of Argyle Earth, emphasized the impact of their technology on rural communities.
“Our waste heat-to-power solution helps manufacturing facilities reduce their load on the grid, thereby improving grid resilience in the community,” McMillan said. “Our ‘as-a-service’ business model reduces upfront costs and barriers to adoption for clean energy solutions while supporting local workforce development around these technologies.”
McMillan praised NM CERG's role and the support of Arrowhead Center in preparing Argyle Earth for the pitch competition.
“The team at Arrowhead was fundamental in helping us effectively prepare. In just a few short weeks, we met with several Arrowhead staff members and three industry advisers to practice and refine our pitch,” McMillan said. “The competition was an incredible platform for our startup. In addition to securing prize funds, it drove several stakeholders to engage with us. As a small company, this exposure to key potential partners was invaluable.”
NM CERG provides access to business development activities, technology development and assessment with federal lab partners, and continued pipeline support to help entrepreneurs and startup companies navigate paths to the commercial market.
The EPIC Showcase underscores the strength of regional energy innovation ecosystems like NM CERG and Arrowhead Center, demonstrating the DOE’s commitment to fostering clean energy solutions.
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PHOTO CAPTION: Argyle Earth, a California-based startup that has developed an innovative waste heat-to-power technology, has won second place and a $20,000 cash prize from the United State Department of Energy’s Energy Program for Innovation Clusters showcase. The New Mexico Clean Energy Resilience and Growth, or NM CERG, Cluster, which is housed at New Mexico State University’s Arrowhead Center. Pictured is Argyle Earth CEO and co-founder Kristina McMillan. (Courtesy photo)
Head and shoulders of a woman.