At a talk for students from across the country hosted at the Buenos Aires Institute of Technology (ITBA), Abigail Rozenblit, Energy Transition Technology Expert, explained how Tecpetrol identifies and evaluates innovative projects related to the energy transition.

The TechEnergy Ventures team handles a clear set of criteria when it comes to assessing the dozens of projects that land on its desk each year. Tecpetrol's corporate venture capital fund invests in startups developing technologies for the energy transition, but, as Abigail explained during the ITBA Entrepreneurs BootCamp, the initiatives it supports do not necessarily involve inventing something entirely new.

Instead, the focus is on companies with the potential to solve a real problem. These businesses are often still in the early stages of development and have yet to become profitable, but they show clear promise. “A great idea isn't enough. The first thing we look for is whether the entrepreneur has a clear understanding of the problem they're trying to solve,” she explained.

The next step is understanding the root cause of the problem. “What's getting in the way? Is it cost, regulation or market conditions? Once you understand what's standing in the way of a solution, it's much easier to find one that works,” Abigail explained.

Technology alone isn't enough, she added. Whether an innovation succeeds also depends on factors affecting commercial viability, such as cost, scalability, manufacturability and ease of implementation. “The best technology in the world isn't much use if nobody can make it, deploy it or afford it.”

The final factor is the team behind the idea. “Experience shows that what matters most is having people who can adapt, learn and keep moving forward, even when things don't go according to plan.”

More broadly, Abigail encouraged students to develop a problem-solving mindset: identify real problems, understand their root causes and challenge conventional assumptions before setting out to build solutions.

A space for dialogue

The session concluded with an open discussion on the challenges facing the energy sector today and the role innovation can play in addressing them.

Rozenblit noted that the energy transition is a complex undertaking. While the shift towards cleaner energy sources is essential, it must also ensure that energy remains available, reliable and affordable as global demand continues to grow.

Against this backdrop, she emphasized that every obstacle also creates an opportunity for those who can identify specific needs and develop practical solutions.

The discussion continued well beyond the scheduled finish, with students actively engaging through questions and debate—a clear reflection of their interest in the future of energy and technology.