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 10:45pm

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a complex network of interconnected circuits, sensors, and data visualizations in shades of neon blue, purple, and green, representing the advanced technology and data-driven solutions being developed to address climate risk.The ClimateTech Connect conference showcased the latest innovations in climate risk management, highlighting the critical role of technology in building resilience against the growing threat of extreme weather events.Washington Today

The ClimateTech Connect conference, now in its second year, brought together over 500 attendees from every angle of climate, risk, resilience, and technology, with one key takeaway: climate and extreme weather risk is business risk. The conference featured keynotes, panels, a product expo, and a pitch competition, with Tenax ai emerging as the winner.

Why it matters

The ClimateTech Connect conference is a critical platform for driving urgent action around climate risk and its impact on businesses across various sectors, including insurance, finance, real estate, and technology. By convening industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators, the conference aims to provide the tools, strategies, and connections needed to better predict, prepare for, prevent, and recover from the growing threat of extreme climate and weather events.

The details

The two-day conference featured keynotes from industry experts such as Patrick "Rick" Keegan, Enterprise Chief Underwriting Officer at Travelers, and Dr. Sarah Kapnick, Global Head of Climate Advisory at J.P. Morgan. 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 conference concluded with a pitch competition, where Tenax ai, a computer-vision powered risk intelligence platform, emerged as the winner.

  • The ClimateTech Connect conference was held on April 9-10, 2026 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
  • Tenax ai was announced as the winner of the ClimateTech Connect 2026 Pitch Competition.

The players

Megan Kuczynski

Founder and CEO of ClimateTech Connect, the organizer of the conference.

Patrick "Rick" Keegan

Enterprise Chief Underwriting Officer at Travelers, and a keynote speaker at the conference.

Dr. Sarah Kapnick

Global Head of Climate Advisory at J.P. Morgan, and a keynote speaker at the conference.

Stephane Hallegatte

Chief Economist for Climate at The World Bank Group, and a closing keynote speaker at the conference.

Matthew Eby

Founder and CEO of First Street, and a closing keynote speaker 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 organizers of ClimateTech Connect are already planning for the 2027 conference, which is expected to continue to grow in size and impact as the urgency around climate risk as business risk becomes more widely recognized.

The takeaway

The ClimateTech Connect conference has emerged as a critical platform for driving urgent action around climate risk and its impact on businesses across various sectors. By convening industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators, the conference aims to provide the tools, strategies, and connections needed to better predict, prepare for, prevent, and recover from the growing threat of extreme climate and weather events.