From Twilio to Fusion: How Lawson Is Pivoting to Deep Tech Energy

Jeff Lawson's track record speaks for itself: he co-founded Twilio, which grew to serve 300,000 customers and generate more than $4 billion in annual revenue before going public. His latest venture marks a dramatic departure from the software world. As co-founder and CEO of Inertia, Lawson is now pursuing grid-scale fusion power—a shift that raises fundamental questions about entrepreneurship itself. When a proven software builder moves into a field requiring lasers, manufacturing expertise, and major engineering breakthroughs, how much of their playbook actually applies?

Lawson will explore this transition at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, taking the stage for a fireside chat titled "How Twilio's Founder Is Tackling the Power Problem." The conversation will be part of the Smart Systems Stage, which features programming on climate and energy infrastructure. The event runs October 13–15 at Moscone West in San Francisco, drawing more than 10,000 founders, investors, and technology leaders. Attendees can register now and save up to $200 before prices increase on September 25 at 11:59 p.m. PT; group registrations of four or more receive up to 30% off.

A $450 million raise is only the beginning

Inertia's ambitions are backed by serious capital. In February, the company closed a $450 million Series A round led by Bessemer Venture Partners, with support from GV and other investors. The funding is directed toward developing advanced laser systems and scaling the manufacturing of fusion fuel targets—both essential components of Inertia's path from laboratory research to commercial energy production.

The company is already translating that capital into physical infrastructure. This July, Inertia opened a 50,000-square-foot headquarters in Livermore, California, equipped with facilities for fuel-target manufacturing development and laser technology work. The organization has also recruited senior talent from major technology and manufacturing companies, including Apple, Corning, and Waymo, to strengthen its manufacturing and supply-chain operations.

What you'll leave with when you lean in on this session at Disrupt

Lawson's career spans multiple successful technology ventures. Beyond co-founding Twilio, he held early product leadership roles at Amazon Web Services and served as founding CTO of StubHub. That experience across different markets and business models shapes how he approaches Inertia's challenges around talent acquisition, timelines, capital raising, and technical engineering decisions. The core question at Disrupt: which lessons from software actually transfer to fusion energy, and which require entirely new thinking?

Several leadership challenges sit at the heart of this transition. Building the right team when required expertise extends far beyond any single founder's knowledge. Setting credible milestones while maintaining momentum on an ambitious mission. For founders in the audience, these questions offer a window into how experienced operators approach unfamiliar territory. For investors, they illuminate the relationship between technical progress, capital deployment, and commercial viability.

Looking beyond the breakthrough headline at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

This session goes deeper than simply watching a recognizable founder explain an unexpected career move. It examines the operational and strategic work required to build a company where scientific breakthroughs and business execution must advance in lockstep. For anyone building in climate technology, developing hardware products, or navigating unfamiliar business domains, Lawson's journey offers valuable perspective on what scaling actually means outside the software world.

The event brings together founders, investors, and operators across multiple stages, an exhibition floor, the Startup Battlefield, and numerous networking opportunities. Lawson's session is one of more than 200 sessions led by 250+ technology leaders. Register before September 25 at 11:59 p.m. PT to lock in savings of up to $200, or save up to 30% with a group registration of four or more.