Jeff Lawson is the co-founder and CEO of Inertia, a fusion energy company working to commercialize inertial confinement fusion using advanced lasers and mass-manufactured fusion fuel targets. Lawson previously co-founded and led Twilio, scaling the company from an idea into a public company, and is now applying his product and company-building experience to one of energy’s most technically challenging problems.
In this live episode of Inevitable from Climate Week NYC, Lawson explains why he believes the breakthrough at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory demonstrated that the fundamental physics of fusion can work, while the remaining challenge is largely one of commercialization, manufacturing, and scale.
The conversation explores how Inertia is approaching the laser and fusion-target supply chains, why Lawson believes factory economics can transform the cost of fusion, and how lessons from software, semiconductors, SpaceX, and consumer technology are influencing the company’s approach to experimentation and manufacturing.
Special thanks to J.P. Morgan for hosting the live taping of this episode in their new space on Park Ave.
Episode recorded on September 22, 2026 (Published on October 14, 2026).
In this episode, we cover:
(0:00) An overview of Inertia
(2:28) Applying product thinking to fusion energy
(4:41) Building a culture of experimentation and learning
(7:05) Why “blow it up already” became an Inertia value
(9:11) How Jeff Lawson got into fusion
(11:20) What Inertia is building
(12:36) The basics of inertial confinement fusion
(14:14) Why the Lawrence Livermore laser isn't economical for commercial power
(14:47) Modernizing fusion lasers with semiconductor technology
(17:10) Scaling the laser diode supply chain
(19:41) The challenge of manufacturing fusion targets
(20:58) Applying mass manufacturing to fusion targets
(23:33) Designing a fusion power plant for utility buyers
(25:24) Fusion, AI data centers, and the timeline to new power
(26:47) Fusion as an energy source for industry and global markets
(28:09) What fusion could look like in 2050
(29:32) Why factory economics could shape the future of energy
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