Former Enron Corp. CEO Jeffrey Skilling has been holding meetings with former Enron executives and others, hoping to win backing for a new energy venture, the Wall Street Journal reported on March 22, citing people familiar with the matter.

Former colleague Lou Pai, who once led Enron's energy services unit, has pledged to invest in the venture and indicated to others he is involved with Skilling, the report said.

People familiar with the matter told the Journal the venture is a digital platform connecting investors to oil and gas projects and is at an early stage.

Skilling resigned as CEO of Enron in August 2001, just months before it filed for bankruptcy amid revelations of widespread accounting fraud and corruption.

He was arrested in 2004 and two years later convicted of 19 counts of conspiracy, securities fraud, insider trading and lying to auditors.

Skilling was released from federal custody last month.