ClimateTech Connect 2026 Concludes, Driving Urgency Around Climate Risk as Business Risk

Second Annual Conference Draws 500+ Leaders Across Insurance, Finance, Policy, and Technology; Tenax ai Wins Pitch Competition

Apr. 9, 2026 at 9:55pm

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a futuristic climate monitoring and risk analysis dashboard, with neon cyan and magenta lights illuminating the various data visualizations and AI-powered predictive models, conceptually representing the advanced technological solutions being developed to help organizations better understand and manage climate-related risks.The ClimateTech Connect conference showcased the latest innovations in climate risk management, highlighting the critical role of technology in helping organizations prepare for and respond to the growing threat of extreme weather events.Washington Today

The ClimateTech Connect conference, now in its second year, brought together over 500 attendees from the climate, risk, resilience, and technology sectors to discuss the growing threat of extreme climate and weather events. The conference featured keynotes, panels, a product expo, and a pitch competition, with the winner being Tenax ai, a computer-vision powered risk intelligence platform. The key takeaway from the conference was that climate and extreme weather risk is now a critical business risk that organizations must address.

Why it matters

As the impacts of climate change continue to intensify, the ClimateTech Connect conference highlights the urgent need for cross-sector collaboration to develop innovative solutions and strategies to predict, prepare for, prevent, and recover from these extreme events. The conference brings together leaders from insurance, finance, policy, and technology to drive progress in climate adaptation and resilience, which is crucial for protecting people, communities, and the built environment.

The details

The ClimateTech Connect conference featured a variety of sessions and events, including keynotes, masterclasses, fireside chats, a product expo, and a pitch competition. The conference kicked off with keynotes from Patrick "Rick" Keegan, Enterprise Chief Underwriting Officer at Travelers, and Dr. Sarah Kapnick, Global Head of Climate Advisory at J.P. Morgan. The conference concluded with a closing keynote from Stephane Hallegatte, Chief Economist for Climate at The World Bank Group, and Matthew Eby, Founder and CEO of First Street. The lineup also included former FEMA administrators, Fortune 500 C-suite executives, leading climate scientists, and technology innovators addressing the intersection of climate risk and technological solutions.

  • The ClimateTech Connect conference took place on April 9-10, 2026.
  • The conference has been held annually since 2025.

The players

Megan Kuczynski

Founder and CEO of ClimateTech Connect, the organization that hosts the annual conference.

Tenax ai

The winner of the ClimateTech Connect 2026 pitch competition, a computer-vision powered risk intelligence platform co-founded by Elyse Myrans and Arun Kishore Ramakrishnan, Ph.D.

Patrick "Rick" Keegan

Enterprise Chief Underwriting Officer at Travelers, who delivered a keynote address at the conference.

Dr. Sarah Kapnick

Global Head of Climate Advisory at J.P. Morgan, who delivered a keynote address at the conference.

Stephane Hallegatte

Chief Economist for Climate at The World Bank Group, who delivered the closing keynote address at the conference.

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What they’re saying

“The conference delegates took a deep dive with industry experts and public sector leaders to gain the tools and strategies to better predict, prepare for, prevent and recover faster from these extreme events.”

— Megan Kuczynski, Founder and CEO of ClimateTech Connect

“Having this platform has provided Tenax ai with such tremendous access to a phenomenally credible network that already understands the value of what we are building. People here see through the lens of climate risk - the intersection of climate and insurance - so coming into a space where the focus is on prevention over payout truly sets ClimateTech Connect apart. It's less about platitudes, and more about what we can actually do about the risks we are facing as businesses, and how we work together.”

— Elyse Myrans, Co-Founder and CEO of Tenax ai

“The soul of ClimateTech Connect is the innovation the early stage companies bring. We are committed to creating a platform at the conference with investment channels, new customer acquisition opportunities, and marketing support to amplify our early stage companies and help them to scale.”

— Megan Kuczynski, Founder and CEO of ClimateTech Connect

What’s next

The ClimateTech Connect conference is expected to continue to grow and evolve in the coming years, as the need for innovative solutions to address climate risk becomes increasingly urgent. The organizers have expressed a commitment to supporting early-stage companies and providing them with the resources and connections they need to scale their solutions.

The takeaway

The ClimateTech Connect conference has emerged as a critical platform for driving progress in climate adaptation and resilience strategies. By bringing together leaders from diverse sectors, the conference is fostering cross-industry collaboration and accelerating the development of innovative solutions to mitigate the growing threat of extreme climate and weather events, which are now recognized as a fundamental business risk that organizations must address.