Last month, Cleveland Water Alliance (CWA) traveled to Austin, Texas, for South by Southwest (SXSW) to engage with global tech leaders, investors, and sustainability innovators. From pitch competitions to collaborative industry showcases, CWA participated in conversations regarding the future of the Blue Economy and the pivotal role the Great Lakes play in global water technology.

Judging the SXSW Pitch

A major highlight of the trip was seeing our President and CEO, Bryan Stubbs, take the stage as a judge for the Sustainability, AgTech & Food category at the 2026 SXSW Pitch. Bryan joined a panel of industry experts to evaluate five standout startups developing technologies that enhance agricultural efficiency and drive meaningful impact across the food and water sectors.

The winner of the pitch competition was PLNTmatter, who is redefining how plant-based materials are made by transforming diverse biomass into high-performance, low-impact solutions for pulp and fiber through engineered biomimicry. The various technologies presented were impressive, and we also enjoyed learning about a solution from Green Steel Environmental. Their team presented a method for mitigating nutrients in wastewater by upcycling byproducts from steel mills. Overall, this was a great opportunity to engage with the next generation of innovators who are rethinking how we manage our natural resources.

A Unified Voice for the Great Lakes

CWA joined regional partners at Midwest House for a featured discussion on the Great Lakes Blue Economy. Moderated by Ella McCann of The Executives’ Club of Chicago, the panel featured key CWA partners Alaina Harkness (Current / Great Lakes RENEW) and Samantha Schwartz (gener8tor). 

The session underscored a recurring theme: the Great Lakes region is a global powerhouse for innovation. Through collaboration with our partners, CWA is proud to help lead this robust ecosystem, accelerating the development and deployment of solutions that protect our freshwater resources while driving regional economic growth.

Connecting with Global Innovators

Throughout the week, our team engaged with innovators and entrepreneurs from around the world. These conversations provided a platform to share the impact of Cleveland Water Alliance’s work in testing, trialing, and commercializing urgently-needed water technology. CWA fills a critical gap in the market by providing these real-world deployment opportunities, helping companies move their innovations from the lab into the field.

Scaling AI with OH.io

While in Austin, the team also attended the launch of OH.io at the Innovation Clubhouse. This initiative is focused on attracting AI companies to Ohio and providing the resources necessary for them to scale. 

Driving Progress Together

Our time at SXSW reinforced that the challenges facing our water resources require global collaboration and cutting-edge technology. By bridging the gap between international innovation and regional application, CWA ensures that our region remains a global innovation hub working to solve some of the most critical water issues.