Startups in Houston: Top 20 Funded Companies (2026)
Houston is leading in energy and aerospace with Axiom Space and Cart.com. Discover the top startups that raised capital over the last 12 months.
Published July 23, 2026 by Jacob Klionsky
- 01Energy • Manufacturing•Texas$3BEquity
US liquefied-gas developer NextDecade secured up to $3B in equity commitments from TotalEnergies and Global Infrastructure Partners to finance the fourth Rio Grande LNG liquefaction train.
- 02Energy • Hardware•Texas$3BFunding Round
Rowan, a US data center firm, secured nearly $3 billion in debt financing under its Green Finance Framework.
- 03Artificial Intelligence (AI) • Data and Analytics•Texas$1.8BEquity
Joulent, a technology-driven energy company developing multi-gigawatt power infrastructure, secured a $1.75B strategic minority investment from National Grid Ventures.
- 04Energy • Messaging and Telecommunications•Texas$775MEquity
VoltaGrid, a US-based power generation company, secured $1.0B in strategic equity comprising a $775M primary raise and a $225M secondary purchase from funds managed by Blackstone Tactical Opportunities and Halliburton Company.
- 05Energy • Natural Resources•Texas$502MEquity
Renewa, a clean-energy land-financing provider, secured a US$502 million financing round from a consortium of institutional investors.
- 06Energy • Science and Engineering•Texas$462MSeries E
Geothermal developer Fervo Energy raised a $462 million Series E round led by B Capital with participation from AllianceBernstein, Google, Breakthrough Energy Ventures and other new and returning investors.
- 07Hardware • Manufacturing•Texas$350MEquity
Commercial space company Axiom Space raised a $350 million equity-and-debt financing co-led by Type One Ventures and Qatar Investment Authority, with participation from 1789 Capital, 4iG, LuminArx Capital Management, and others.
- 08Data and Analytics • Information Technology•Texas$180MEquity
Commerce-enablement platform Cart.com raised a $180 million growth equity round led by Springcoast Partners with participation from PayPal Ventures, Arsenal Growth Equity, Mercury Fund, and Oak HC/FT.
- 09Data and Analytics • Design•Texas$134MSeries B
Quaise Energy, a developer of utility-scale superhot geothermal energy, raised $134 million in an initial close of its Series B led by Prelude Ventures with participation from JERA Co., Inc., Idemitsu Kosan, and existing investors including Safar Partners.
- 10Energy • Sustainability•Texas$100MSeries D
Utility Global, an industrial hydrogen and decarbonization platform, secured a $100 million first close of its Series D round led by Ara Partners and APG Asset Management.
- 11Energy • Natural Resources•Texas$97MSeries B
Pressure-geothermal startup Sage Geosystems raised an over $97 M Series B co-led by Ormat Technologies and Carbon Direct Capital, with participation from SiteGround Capital, UC Berkeley’s Climate Solutions Fund and existing backers.
- 12Data and Analytics • Design•Texas$91MSeries B
Venus Aerospace, a propulsion startup, raised $91M in a Series B led by Mercury Fund with participation from Lockheed Martin Ventures, MESH, PEAK6, Draper Associates, Starboard Star Venture Capital, Green Sands Equity and other strategic and institutional investors.
- 13Biotechnology • Health Care•Texas$30MSeries A
Oorja Bio, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, raised $30M in a Series A led by Westlake BioPartners.
- 14Health Care•Texas$30MSeries A
TYBR Health, a medical technology company, raised $30 million in a Series A financing led by Vensana Capital and Mutual Capital Partners with participation from Neovate Capital Partners and existing investors
- 15Hardware • Health Care•Texas$30MSeries C
XCath, a medical device company pioneering neuro-endovascular surgical robotics, raised $30 million in a Series C co-led by Crescent Enterprises and Dr. Fred Moll.
- 16Energy • Manufacturing•Texas$29.4MSeries A
NanoTech Materials, an advanced materials company, raised $29.4 million in a Series A led by HPI Real Estate & Investments with participation from Goose Capital and Milliken & Company.
- 17Natural Resources•Texas$27.5MSeed
Atana Elements, a critical minerals exploration company, raised $27.5 million in a Seed round led by Lowercarbon Capital with participation from Borusan Ventures, Earthshot Ventures, Overture Ventures, Redwoods Climate Capital, Sunna Ventures, Verve Ventures, Volta Energy Technologies, WovenEarth, and others.
- 18Advertising • Sales and Marketing•Texas$25MSeries A
Advertising and marketing technology platform Direct Digital Holdings raised $25M in Series A Preferred Equity.
- 19Commerce and Shopping • Design•Texas$25MSeries A
Ayr Energy, a power equipment company focused on modular transformers, raised $25M in a Series A led by Energy Impact Partners with participation from General Catalyst.
- 20Energy • Natural Resources•Texas$17.8MSeries A
Hephae Energy Technology, a Houston-based ultra-high temperature geothermal robotics developer, raised $17.8M in a Series A led by Susquehanna Sustainable Investments and Underground Ventures, with participation from alfa8, Baruch Future Ventures, Centaurus Capital, Elemental Impact, Exa Ventures, Future Ventures, Grantham Foundation for The Protection of the Environment, New System Ventures, True North Institute and Nabors Industries
