Gabe Cuadra from Powerhouse Ventures

Flat load growth is dead, and AI just flipped the whole power sector on its head. Gabe Cuadra of Powerhouse Ventures gets into what that means for founders chasing capital in climate and energy, why algorithms alone never make a real moat, and how to actually pitch an early stage VC without wasting the room. Plus the messy truth about selling into utilities, spotting founder market fit, and why Houston is quietly turning into a place worth building.Click here to watch a video of this episode.Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.ioClick here to view the episode transcript. 00:00  Intro00:45  What keeps a climate investor up at night01:55  How Powerhouse Ventures invests05:20  AI, load growth, and a changing grid08:30  What traction looks like at early stage10:25  Finding founder market fit12:00  Houston vs the coasts18:13  How to pitch early stage VCs19:18  Why algorithms are never the moat25:04  The reality of selling into utilities28:17  Gabe's winding road into energy VC34:40  Inside the investment process37:02  Founder red flags42:21  Standing out when you pitch43:30  What has him excited next46:27  The case for Houston48:50  How to reach outhttps://twitter.com/collide_aihttps://www.tiktok.com/@collide.iohttps://www.facebook.com/collide.iohttps://www.instagram.com/collide.iohttps://www.youtube.com/@collide_iohttps://bsky.app/profile/collide-ai.bsky.socialhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/collideai