Energy Innovators You Need To Know About: Ecophi, Noble C…

Electricity demand is skyrocketing. Prices are increasing. The grid is becoming increasingly complex, and artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t coming to control rooms- it’s already there.

Innovation has never been so essential to balancing our energy equation. Fortunately, a new generation of grid-saving superheroes is suiting up to the day.

This month, those not-so-caped crusaders assembled in San Diego, California, for the Initiate startup spotlight at DTECH, an annual sneak peek at all things up-and-coming in electricity transmission and distribution. About three dozen young companies set up shop to show off what they’re working on, focusing on everything from drones and utility hardware to AI-aided software and energy storage applications. Their pitches proved the future of our industry is as bright as ever.

DTECH’s esteemed panel of volunteer judges tackled the inenviable task of deciding which startups offered the best of the best, ultimately honoring EcoPhi, an AI-powered substation automation company; Noble Carbon, which makes smart circuit breakers; and industrial digital twin tech pioneer Syncrowin.

The competition was fierce, but friendly. Throughout the week, representatives from several startups were spotted mingling- sharing ideas and soaking in the experience.

“It’s been awesome meeting some of the other startups. Very inspirational, seeing them and their journey,” d Jared Lebos, chief executive officer and co-founder of Noble Carbon.

1st Place – EcoPhi

EcoPhi claimed the top spot in the 2026 Initiate competition, turning heads with its all-in-one substation automation technology. The German company offers advanced power system solutions designed for real-time monitoring, protection, and control, seamlessly integrating with IEC 61850 to enhance grid stability, efficiency, and reliability.

“Today, there are a lot of one-off hardware collecting their own data. We’re doing an all-in-one solution. We digitize the whole substation monitoring infrastructure, minimizing the hardware in the substation to get faster installs of the system and streamlining the whole process,” EcoPhi’s chief commercial officer Jesse Koskela explained to Factor This.

EcoPhi wants to digitalize the power grid by enhancing reliability, boosting efficiency, and enabling smarter decisions through real-time data and AI-driven insights. The startup is rethinking how energy systems are monitored and maintained, giving operators the tools they need to act before issues become outages. By combining advanced hardware with intuitive software, EcoPhi aims to help utilities optimize performance, reduce costs, and move toward a more sustainable and intelligent energy future.

many of their Initiate counterparts, the EcoPhi team reported significant interest and positive feedback at DTECH.

“This is the technology that they’re really after, especially now that affordability and digitization are big topics in the industry,” observed Koskela.

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2nd Place – Noble Carbon

Noble Carbon, a startup innovating century-old circuit-breaker technology, finished runner-up in DTECH’s Initiate program. The company’s goal is to make breakers smarter, faster, and controllable. Its offerings are the same size as the ones currently in most main electrical panels, and installation is a snap. Upgrading to smart breakers could avoid main panel upgrades through dynamic load balancing and circumvent a critical load panel by using a battery.

CEO and co-founder Jared Lebos is from South Africa, where rolling blackouts impact large swaths of the country every single day. He was pleased to see DTECH exhibitors and attendees recognize the value in Noble Carbon’s pursuits an ocean away.

“It’s always humbling and super appreciated, but we’re confident we brought something really cool, and we were glad to see everyone sees the vision,” gushed Lebos in an interview with Factor This.

Noble Carbon wants to help energy while providing detailed analytics to grid operators and homeowners. The company’s first product, the Neon, utilizes the same form factor as existing technology
and is reverse compatible with U.S. homes. Lebos wants to spend this year producing as many as possible and getting them out into the world.

“I’m hoping to see us in the market, so hopefully next year we look back at 2026 and see that we built on our supply chains, we’re now in the market, selling out product, and we’ve got great customer feedback,” he laid out. “That would be a great DTECH 2027 experience.”

3rd Place – Syncrowin

Australian industrial intelligence startup Syncrowin rounded out the podium at DTECH, finishing only a few points off the pace set by Noble Carbon and EcoPhi. Syncrowin is setting out to redefine how industries operate in the digital age by blending cutting-edge technology with deep insights to unlock potential. Its mission is to empower manufacturers with tools that turn complexity into clarity, enabling smarter decisions and operational excellence.

“It’s been such a fruitful trip for us,” d Aishwarya Kansakar, chief executive officer and co-founder, noting interest from utility-scale energy companies.

Syncrowin’s industrial AI autopilot for heavy industries such as manufacturing, energy, and mining optimizes processes by leveraging data to build intelligent systems that enable things to run smarter, faster, and greener.

“The modern grid is full of complexities, and we allow you to operate in the easiest way possible,” Kansakar detailed.

Syncrowin’s single-platform design offers a leaner solution for utilities and energy companies that use multiple software systems to optimize day-to-day and long-term decisions.

“We are really excited about how utility-scale companies adopt artificial intelligence, and we’re going to be the forerunners for that,” predicted Kansakar. “End-to-end industrial AI is where the future is at, and that’s what we’re building at Syncrowin.”

Other startups participating in DTECH’s 2026 Initiate program included: Adaptive Insurance, Aion Grid, AsseTrac, Deepmatrix, Elastic Energy, Eli Technologies, Expand Power, Firescape, FlyFreely, Gridient, Gridseer, Homeboost, Joulea, Matter Intelligence, Ecosuite, Kasco, Kootanla, Lee Thermal Energy Storage, Linebird, LōD, Magment Americas, Magnefy, Megajoule Plus Systems, Nucore AI, Paysitters, Piq Energy, Pravah, Resilient Link, Skyllful, Solitude Labs, Teragen Energy, and WindBorne.

To learn more about participation in the DTECH Initiate program, head here. To read about last year’s finalists, Treeswift, Senpilot, and DG Matrix, check out our coverage.