SCOTT GALE MEMORIAL AWARD

 
 
 
 
 

Honoring Rising Leaders in
Future Industries, Innovation,
& Community

In honor of Scott Gale’s legacy, The Idea Village and Halliburton Labs are launching the Scott Gale Memorial Award to recognize rising leaders who embody his vision, character, and commitment to innovation. This award will be presented to an individual driving transformative change in the energy sector or other future-oriented industries, championing groundbreaking innovation, and fostering a thriving startup community across the Gulf Coast.

Following the initial launch of the award at NOEW 2025, the official nomination process will be open and the inaugural award will be presented at New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) in March 2026 in front of top innovators, investors, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders. As this initiative grows, it has the potential to become an annual recognition of the individuals shaping the future of the Gulf Coast’s innovation ecosystem.

 
 

Watch to hear more about what mattered to Scott Gale in his own words:

 

About Scott Gale

Scott Gale was a prominent figure in Houston's energy and innovation sectors, known for his leadership and creativity. He began his career at Dow Chemical before joining Halliburton, where he played a pivotal role in the development of the SmartFleet portfolio.

In 2020, Scott became the inaugural executive director of Halliburton Labs, which supports early-stage energy technology companies. He played a key role in shaping Houston's energy transition ecosystem. Scott held a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University and earned an MBA from Rice University in 2019. He continued his involvement with Rice University, serving on the Rice Business Alumni Association Board and the Energy Advisory Board.

Beyond his professional achievements, Scott was also a voice actor and podcast host, which allowed him to showcase his impressive voice and channel his interest in humanity. As the invited guest host of the Big Easy Ideas podcast - Season 3, Scott introduced insightful discussions that had been recorded live on stage at previous NOEW’s; these sessions featured a lineup of entrepreneurs and industry leaders that Scott had curated from his personal and professional networks — sharing valuable regional and national perspectives on energy, technology, and startup growth. His passion and enthusiasm for ecosystem-building made a lasting impact on the cross-pollination and growth of numerous innovation communities.

Scott passed away on September 24, 2024 at the age of 40, after a hard fought and courageous battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Nicole, their four children, his parents, and seven siblings. His legacy of innovation and leadership continues to inspire those who knew him.

Learn more about Scott’s life and accomplishments through the digital obituary, guestbook, and photo album here.

 
 

  • The Scott Gale Memorial Award celebrates Scott’s lasting impact by recognizing leaders who share his spirit, vision, and ability to bring people together. This award honors individuals who embody his values, ethos, and commitment to driving meaningful change in future-oriented industries. The recipient of the Scott Gale Memorial Award will exemplify the following qualities:

    » Forward-Thinking & Action-Oriented

    Scott was committed to optimism and a future-focused mindset. He believed in actively shaping a better world, always looking ahead to the next frontier, and helping others bring innovative solutions to life. No matter the challenge, Scott’s response was always the same: “Onwards!”

    » Protector of the Entrepreneurial Spirit

    While not an entrepreneur himself, Scott dedicated much of his career to supporting founders building venture-scale companies tackling complex challenges in clean energy and beyond. As the driving force behind Halliburton Labs, he championed innovation, respected the journey of entrepreneurs, and embodied servant leadership—always focused on helping others succeed.

    » Champion of Industry’s Future

    Scott was a visionary leader committed to advancing the energy sector. He supported startups developing groundbreaking solutions in renewable energy, energy storage, carbon capture, and other transformative technologies. Aligned with Halliburton Labs’ mission, he worked tirelessly to support companies solving the world’s most pressing energy challenges, pushing the industry toward a cleaner, more efficient, and accessible future.

    » Community-Driven & A Master Connector

    Scott understood the power of networks and was intentional about growing and strengthening the innovation community. He invested in diverse perspectives to create a more robust ecosystem, building connections that spanned Houston, the Gulf Coast, and beyond. At New Orleans Entrepreneur Week and other convenings, Scott brought together key stakeholders to drive critical conversations about the future of energy—expanding networks and opportunities with authenticity and purpose.

    Additional information about Scott’s work and life can be found in his bio above.

  • The Scott Gale Memorial Award nomination process is designed to identify and celebrate visionary leaders who embody Scott’s legacy.

    Nomination Process

    An open call for nominations will be announced through key industry channels, including The Idea Village, 3rd Coast Venture Summit (3CVS), NOEW, and Halliburton Labs platforms, as well as a national press release. Industry partners and media outlets will also promote the opportunity to ensure a diverse pool of candidates. A core group of industry influencers will be engaged to help amplify the nomination process.

    Application Submission

    Nominations will be collected through a centralized application portal on The Idea Village website (see button below).

    Selection Process

    A selection committee comprised of representatives from The Idea Village and Halliburton Labs will evaluate nominations based on the outlined award criteria. If additional information is required, the nominator or nominee may be contacted for further details. The selected winner will be invited to attend New Orleans Entrepreneur Week in person to receive the award live on stage and participate in 3rd Coast Venture Summit.

    • Award Announced: March 28, 2025 — live on stage at NOEW 2025

    • Nominations Open: March 28, 2025

    • Nominations Deadline: October 1, 2025

    • Review Period: October 1 – November 15, 2025

    • Winner Notified: December 1, 2025

    • NOEW/3CVS Session Development with Winner: Early to mid-January 2026

    • Press Announcement: February 1, 2026

    • Award Presented & Nominations Open for Next Year: March 2026 (at NOEW 2026,;exact dates TBD)

    • Award Presentation: The Scott Gale Memorial Award will be awarded at NOEW 2026. An announcement will also go out across all NOEW, 3CVS, and Halliburton Labs channels, accompanied by a national press release spotlighting the winner post-event.

    • 3CVS Participation: The winner will also be given a complimentary ticket and invited to attend that year’s 3rd Coast Venture Summit, gaining exposure to venture capitalists, industry leaders, regional startup founders, and other potential key innovation partners.

    • Visibility & Other Benefits: The winner will be presented with a “trophy” type award live on stage, and have the opportunity to make brief remarks about their work or be interviewed panel-style live on stage (to be determined closer to event date in partnership with award winner). The winner will be featured in a dedicated media spotlight, targeting national and further industry visibility post-event. 

 

Please submit nominations for the Scott Gale Memorial Award
using the form below.