Ngem

Company description

Ngem is developing a small, affordable emergency backup device aimed at homes with solar panel systems that don't have battery storage — meant to provide power during outages without the cost of a full battery retrofit. The idea was directly inspired by a Texas winter freeze that knocked out power across the Rio Grande Valley, leaving many solar-equipped homes without backup power since their systems weren't paired with batteries. The company presented at BCIC's September 11, 2025 Startup Texas pitch night for the SBIR/STTR Innovation Competition, a program run by the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC) in partnership with UTRGV's Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center (ECC) and Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), alongside Rayo Solar, Space Ocean Corp, and Urban Plants (the latter two also profiled in this set).

Founder Jose Exiga has a background working in residential, commercial, and solar electrical fields, and founded ngem in September 2022 as a solo creator. As of the May 2025 application, he was still working toward a first prototype, with fabrication support identified as the main near-term need.

Founder: Jose Exiga

Program: 2025 Startup Texas SBIR/STTR Innovation Competition