Resilience Tech Trends at SXSW: A Conversation with David J. Neff and Zac Padgett
In a recent interview at South by Southwest (SXSW), industry expert David J. Neff shared insights with Zac Padgett on emerging trends in resilience tech, climate tech, and energy innovation. As a veteran of ten SXSW conferences, I offered some hopefully valuable perspectives on what we might see in the climate technology space over the next few years.
Here’s a highlight of the interview below.
Full video here: https://www.orrick.com/en/Insights/2025/03/How-AI-and-Hardware-Innovations-Are-Disrupting-Climate-Tech
AI Integration in Climate Solutions
Unsurprisingly, artificial intelligence dominated many conversations at this year’s SXSW. But rather than focusing on AI replacing jobs, the emphasis was on how AI is being integrated into existing software and systems. Neff highlighted AI’s potential to significantly impact climate change solutions, noting that many exhibitors were showcasing AI-powered improvements to renewable energy technologies, including smarter solar inverters.
Wave Power Innovation
Wave energy technology was another hot topic at the conference. Neff discussed how innovators are working to overcome the challenges of predicting wave patterns and wind directions to harness ocean energy more effectively. Despite the technical hurdles, he expressed optimism about the opportunities in this space.
Geothermal Energy’s Moment
One of the most exciting developments this year was the increased attention on geothermal energy. For the first time ever, SXSW featured a dedicated “geothermal house” among its venue takeovers on Austin’s Rainy Street. Neff mentioned Thunderstone, an innovative startup creating “underground lightning” to simulate fracking techniques for accessing deep hot rocks.
While enthusiastic about geothermal’s potential, Neff cautioned against the technology falling into the same “hype cycle” that has repeatedly trapped hydrogen energy. He emphasized the importance of practical implementation: “I hope it’s like, no, this makes sense. We’re going to build one. We’re going to try it. We’re going to go for it.”
Texas as a Resilience Tech Hub
Both Padgett and Neff agreed that Texas is positioning itself as an ideal location for resilience tech experimentation and investment. Building on its success with wind and solar implementation, cities like Houston, Austin, and increasingly Dallas are home to funds that are actively investing in climate solutions, not just talking about them.
Beyond Hardware: Materials Science and Software
Neff pointed out that while hardware innovations receive significant attention, materials science companies are making remarkable strides in climate solutions. He also highlighted the growing climate software sector, suggesting that Austin’s talent pool makes it “a fantastic place” for developing next-generation climate software.
The Next Generation of Climate Entrepreneurs
Perhaps most inspiring was Neff’s excitement about young climate entrepreneurs emerging from universities like UT Austin. Having judged climate startup competitions, he expressed amazement at the innovative thinking of undergraduate students tackling climate challenges.
“A climate entrepreneur could be the next trillion-dollar business 20 years from now,” Neff remarked, emphasizing that tomorrow’s climate solution leaders might currently be university students — or might not even be in academia at all.
Looking Forward
SXSW has earned a reputation as a preview of what’s coming “two years from now, three years from now,” as Neff described it. The climate technologies showcased this year — from wave energy to improved solar materials to AI-enhanced systems — may not be ready for funding immediately, but represent crucial innovations to watch.
For those tracking the future of clean technology and climate solutions, the conversations and demonstrations at SXSW provide a valuable glimpse into what’s on the horizon for one of our generation’s most pressing challenges.
This blog post summarizes an interview between Zac Padgett and David J. Neff at South by Southwest.
