Vicki Knott from Crux OCM

Vicki Knott, CEO and Co-Founder of Crux OCM, shares her inspiring journey from growing up in rural Newfoundland to becoming a tech leader in the oil and gas industry. Vicki talks about her unique upbringing on a remote island, her transition from engineering student to CEO, and how she uses AI to innovate in industrial markets. She discusses the challenges she faced, including her unconventional approach to automating pipeline operations, and offers insights into the future of tech startups in the energy sector. Vicki’s story highlights her path from a subsistence lifestyle to becoming a driving force in the tech transformation of oil and gas, and how her company is setting new standards in pipeline efficiency and safety. The episode also provides valuable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities within energy, investing, and technology. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy. Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward. Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro 00:38 - What is Crux OCM 02:00 - Growing up in Newfoundland 03:53 - How Did You Get Into Engineering? 06:02 - Lessons from the Paper Mill 09:31 - Transition: From Paper Mills to Pipelines 14:32 - Operating the Keystone Pipeline Insights 18:56 - How Crux Started: The Founding Story 21:48 - Starting Crux: Initial Challenges 24:17 - Getting Started is a Gong Show 25:57 - Importance of Support for Early Entrepreneurs 27:30 - Techstars Energy: Accelerator Experience 30:15 - Pickled Herring: A Fun Anecdote 31:44 - Angel Investing: Raising Venture Capital 35:45 - Moving to the Bay Area: A New Chapter 37:14 - What Does Crux OCM Do? Services Overview 40:59 - Being Near Your Customers: Importance of Proximity 42:18 - What Do You Do for Fun? Personal Interests 43:32 - Favorite Restaurants in San Francisco 47:40 - Advice for the Younger Generation 49:40 - Where to Find Vicki & Final Thoughts https://twitter.com/collide_io https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters