From geologist to CEO: Meet EnergyFunders' top exec Laura Pommer

Over a relatively short time, Laura Pommer went from working as a geologist to launching her own oil and gas exploration and production company to most recently taking the helm of financial technology company EnergyFunders. Her career trajectory is all the more impressive considering she's working in the traditionally male-dominated oil and natural gas sectors.

EnergyFunders purchases oil and gas throughout the world, offering a digital platform that enables accredited investors to access diversified funds containing oil, gas and — since Pommer's arrival — Bitcoin mining.

"The long-term goal is to ... be disruptive to the energy sector, which has been fraught with high fees, a lot of overhead," Pommer said.

After graduating with a master's of science degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 2012, Pommer worked as a geologist for several energy companies in Houston.

About six years later her career took off in a whole new direction when in 2018 she founded Century Natural Resources, an oil and gas exploration and production company.

She raised $75 million in private equity capital from Juniper Capital in Houston to launch the company, presenting a plan for the organization that involved the development and management of 150,000 acres in the Powder River Basin. Having initially expected to be chief geologist, she was instead encouraged to take the CEO role. After about three years in that position, during which time she managed about 10 full-time employees and five to 10 other contract workers, she was recruited by EnergyFunders.

"I would say that the thing that really drove me to EnergyFunders ... is (that) we're trying to disrupt this model that's existed for more than 50 years," Pommer said, adding that the company democratizes the process so anyone can have access to investments traditionally accessible only to the wealthy.

Pommer said she brings a unique perspective to the table as a woman: "The fact that I'm even present in these meetings is a big deal. My life experiences are different from every guy in that room's experience."

The oil and natural gas industries are fraught with risk — and at times sexism, she said. "Oil and gas go through steep downturns and it's serious," Pommer noted. "Downturns are not a small deal, so a lot of times when women get laid off, they don't come back."

Pommer said she loves to laugh and joke around and, as a woman, is sometimes perceived as less intelligent because of it.

"I think it's important to realize that authenticity can lead to (people) underestimating you," she said. "Why would you live life in a really buttoned-up and boring way when you could live life in a fun, happy way?"

Though many of its employees are based out of Houston, EnergyFunders recently relocated its headquarters to San Antonio. Pommer travels between the two cities frequently.

Since her arrival, the company — which has approximately 10 full-time employees and about five contract workers — has updated its branding and marketing materials to tame them more modern and professional. She's also cleaned up the design and fixed a number of bugs in the proprietary platform that's a one-stop digital shop for investors.

EnergyFunders' user base has gone from under 3,500 to roughly 6,000, and the company's targets for internal rates of return for investors are around 20% for already-producing wells, 40% for development wells and more than 100% for Bitcoin mining.

Pommer also helmed EnergyFunders' launch of a $25 million yield fund, an investment fund that includes two types of oil and gas projects. These include proven development projects, where EnergyFunders received a share of the well's net income in exchange for paying part of well drilling completion costs. There are also proven developed projects, a lower-risk investment since the wells involved are already completed and producing.

The company on Jan. 1 is rolling out a new Bitcoin-mining-only fund and a Wildcat Fund where investors can invest in higher-risk wells with a chance for higher reward.

"It's interesting because there's a lot of people out there mining Bitcoin but there are no other companies that are offering fractional interest in these off-grid Bitcoin mines for consumers," Pommer said.

She also anticipates expanding into the alternative energy realm.

"We've got big plans," Pommer said. "Longer term, we hope to be able to have multiple offerings at once, anything from exploration to alternative fuel, alternative energy sources."

Paul Black, a San Antonian whose family trust is an equity owner in EnergyFunders' parent company, Paleo Resources Inc., has known and worked alongside Pommer for years. He said Pommer's greatest accomplishment was personally building her team and revamping the company's work flow and processes to be more efficient. He added that her technical skill is what sets her apart as a CEO, including her background in geology.

"She leads by example and immensely cares about her team," he said.

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