TULSA, Okla., Dec. 26, 2025 — The University of Tulsa has announced an investment in Tobe Energy, a pioneering electrolysis startup co-founded by UTulsa graduates Colby DeWeese and Caleb Lareau. This funding will speed up the company’s mission to make clean hydrogen production more affordable, efficient and widely available to hasten the shift to a low-carbon economy.

“We’re proud to see our UTulsa alumni at the forefront of the clean energy transition. Hurricane Ventures was created to catalyze precisely this kind of entrepreneurial success. Tobe Energy and its founders, Colby and Caleb, embody the bold entrepreneurial spirit UTulsa nurtures, and we’re thrilled to support them as they tackle the global energy challenge,” said Chris Wright, director of UTulsa’s .

Launched in April 2023, Hurricane Ventures invests in early-stage companies with strategic ties to the university. The fund uses the university’s knowledge network and resources to boost success across its portfolio. Through the and Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Hurricane Ventures strengthens UTulsa’s innovation ecosystem and drives economic growth in the region.

is creating a new class of electrolyzer—a device that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen without emissions—making clean hydrogen generation far more cost-effective. The company’s innovative, membrane-free system streamlines the production process, cutting costs by up to 75% and reducing waste heat. This scalable technology is designed for large-scale use in industries like energy, manufacturing and transportation.

DeWeese, a UTulsa chemical engineering graduate who serves as CEO, has led over $75 million in energy infrastructure projects. Lareau, who majored in mathematics and biochemistry at UTulsa and earned his doctorate from Harvard, is co-founder of Cartography Biosciences, a precision therapeutics company that has raised more than $50 million in funding.

“Oklahoma is ideal for launching large renewable projects, and it’s amazing to have backing from both local VCs and my alma mater. Our mission is simple yet ambitious: make hydrogen production so efficient and affordable that it propels the transition to a low-carbon economy. With Hurricane Ventures on our side, we’re one step closer to turning breakthrough technology into real-world impact,” DeWeese said.

Tobe Energy is the newest company to receive support from Hurricane Ventures, bringing the fund’s total investments to 11.

SOURCE The University of Tulsa