Sandy Guitar from TEX-E

Energy Tech Startups

Houston’s got big plans for the energy transition, and Sandy Guitar is right in the middle of it. As Executive Director of TEX-E, she’s helping connect Texas universities (and even MIT) with industry to make sure the next wave of talent has the tools, and the confidence, to take on climate and energy challenges. We swapped stories about how Houston’s legacy as the energy capital is shaping its role as the energy transition capital, the value of disciplined entrepreneurship, and why collaboration across students, startups, and industry leaders is the secret sauce. If you’re curious about how the next generation of innovators is being built right here in Texas, Sandy’s perspective is a masterclass in turning vision into action.

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Click here to view the episode transcript.
00:00 - Intro
00:58 - What is TEXI
08:12 - Favorite Book Recommendations
16:16 - Disciplined Entrepreneurship Insights
18:20 - Career Journey to Venture Capital
20:14 - Entering Venture Capital
24:30 - Skills for Success in VC
28:15 - Pivotal Career Moments
33:20 - EnergyTech Nexus Growth Platform
37:57 - Luck vs Skill in Venture Capital
41:10 - Evolving Team Dynamics
46:10 - Economic Downturn Impact on Tech
49:18 - Understanding Capital Flows
53:24 - How Listeners Can Help
57:20 - Conclusion

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