ClimateTech Connect Announces Global Pitch Competition Finalists

Six Climate Risk Innovation Startups to Compete at Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 7:12pm

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a complex climate data dashboard, with neon lights and interconnected hardware, conceptually representing the innovative technology powering the future of climate adaptation.ClimateTech innovators compete to showcase the next generation of solutions for a $1 trillion climate resilience market.Washington Today

ClimateTech Connect, the premier cross-sector conference for the climate adaptation and resilience market, has announced the six finalists selected to compete in its 2nd Annual Global Pitch Competition. The winner will be announced at the conclusion of the two-day event on April 9th, which brings together leaders from insurance, finance, government, and climate science.

Why it matters

The ClimateTech Connect Global Pitch Competition spotlights early-stage companies building the next generation of climate resilience solutions, a sector projected to grow from $500 billion to $1 trillion by 2030. Providing a platform for this innovative thinking is crucial as the industry works to advance climate adaptation and resilience strategies at scale.

The details

The six finalists competing in the pitch competition are: Paige Roepers, CEO of Ocean Ledger; Elizabeth Foughty, Co-Founder of Orbital Sentry; Elyse Myrans, Co-Founder and CEO of Tenax ai; Moustafa Naiem, Founder and CEO of Resiliocs Intelligence; Bastian van den Bout, CEO of Fast Hazard; and Roberta Leao, Co-Founder and CEO of Layer 1 Agriculture. The competition is sponsored by Celent, Miami Insurtech Advocates Hub, and Switch Pitch, with Celent's Global Head Juan Mazzini presiding over the event.

  • The ClimateTech Connect conference takes place on April 8-9, 2026.
  • The Global Pitch Competition will be held on the Main Stage on April 8th.
  • The winner of the pitch competition will be announced on April 9th.

The players

Megan Kuczynski

Founder and CEO of ClimateTech Connect.

Juan Mazzini

Global Head of Celent, who will preside over the pitch competition.

Patrick "Rick" Keegan

Enterprise Chief Underwriting Officer at Travelers, who will participate in a keynote fireside chat.

Dr. Sarah Kapnick

Global Head of Climate Advisory at J.P. Morgan, who will participate in a keynote fireside chat.

Stephane Hallegatte

Chief Economist for Climate at The World Bank Group, who will deliver a closing keynote.

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What they’re saying

“The finalists in this year's pitch competition represent exactly the kind of bold, solutions-driven thinking this industry needs.”

— Megan Kuczynski, Founder and CEO of ClimateTech Connect

What’s next

The winner of the ClimateTech Connect Global Pitch Competition will be announced at the conclusion of the conference on April 9th.

The takeaway

The ClimateTech Connect conference is positioning itself as a crucial platform for showcasing the innovative solutions needed to address the growing climate adaptation and resilience market, which is projected to reach $1 trillion by 2030.