UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                  SCHEDULE 13G


                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                                (Amendment No. )*


                           Southwall Technologies Inc.
                                (Name of Issuer)

                          COMMON STOCK, $.001 par value
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    844909101
                                 (CUSIP Number)


                                February 28, 2003
             (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:

                                            [x] Rule 13d-1(b)
                                            [ ] Rule 13d-1(c)
                                            [ ] Rule 13d-1(d)

    *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would
alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

    The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of
the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see
the Notes).








CUSIP NO. 844909101                     13G                    Page 2 of 7 pages

1  NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
   S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

   Needham Investment Management L.L.C.
   22-3408336

2  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

                                                (a) [ ]

                                                (b) [x]
3  SEC USE ONLY

4  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

   Delaware

                    5  SOLE VOTING POWER
   NUMBER OF
     SHARES            None
  BENEFICIALLY
    OWNED BY        6  SHARED VOTING POWER
      EACH
    REPORTING          725,000 shares
     PERSON
      WITH
                    7  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

                       None

                    8  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                       725,000 shares

9   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

    725,000  shares of common stock of the Issuer  ("Shares")  which consists of
    725,000  Shares held by various  series of The  Needham  Funds,  Inc.  which
    Needham  Investment  Management  L.L.C. may be deemed to beneficially own by
    virtue of its position as investment adviser to these series.

10  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES    CERTAIN SHARES

                                                 [ ]

11  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

    5.8%

12  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

    IA






CUSIP NO. 844909101                     13G                    Page 3 of 7 pages

1  NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
   S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

   The Needham Funds, Inc.

2  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

                                                (a) [ ]
                                                (b) [x]
3  SEC USE ONLY

4  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

   Delaware

                    5  SOLE VOTING POWER
   NUMBER OF
     SHARES            None
  BENEFICIALLY
    OWNED BY        6  SHARED VOTING POWER
      EACH
    REPORTING          725,000 shares
     PERSON
      WITH
                    7  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

                       None

                    8  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                       725,000 shares

9   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

         725,000 shares (includes 690,000 shares beneficially owned by Needham
         Growth Fund, a series of The Needham Funds, Inc. and 35,000 shares
         beneficially owned by Needham Small Cap Growth Fund, a series of The
         Needham Funds, Inc.)

10   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES    CERTAIN SHARES
                                                 [ ]

11  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
    5.8%

12  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
    IV





                                                               Page 4 of 7 pages

Item 1(a)         NAME OF ISSUER:

         Southwall Technologies Inc.

Item 1(b)         ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES:

         1029 Corporation Way
         Palo Alto, CA  94303

Item 2(a)         NAME OF PERSON FILING:

         (i) Needham Investment Management L.L.C.

         (ii) The Needham Funds, Inc.

Item 2(b) Address of Principal Business Office, or if none, residence:

         (i)      445 Park Avenue
                  New York, New York  10022

         (ii)     445 Park Avenue
                  New York, New York  10022

Item 2(c)         CITIZENSHIP:

         See Item 4 of the cover pages attached hereto

Item 2(d)         TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES:

         Common Stock, $.001 par value

Item 2(e)         CUSIP NUMBER:

         844909101

Item 3            (i) Needham Investment Management L.L.C. is a registered
                      investment adviser under Section 203 of the
                      Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.

                  (ii) The Needham Funds, Inc. is an investment company
                       registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act
                       of 1940, as amended.






                                                               Page 5 of 7 pages

Item 4            OWNERSHIP:

         (a)      Amount beneficially owned and (b) Percent of Class:
                  See Items 5 through 11 of the cover pages attached hereto. The
                  aggregate amount held by all Reporting Persons is 5.8%
                  (725,000 shares).

                  This Schedule 13G shall not be construed as an admission that
                  the Reporting Person, either for purposes of Section 13(d) or
                  13(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
                  "Act") or for other purposes, is the beneficial owner of any
                  securities covered by this statement.

         (c)      See Items 5 through 8  of the cover pages attached hereto

Item 5            OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS:

                  Not applicable

Item 6            OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER
                  PERSON:

                  Not applicable

Item 7            IDENTIFICATION  AND  CLASSIFICATION  OF THE  SUBSIDIARY  WHICH
                  ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING
                  COMPANY:

                  Not Applicable

Item 8            IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP:

                  Not Applicable

Item 9            NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP:

                  Not Applicable

Item 10           CERTIFICATION:

                  By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge
                  and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and
                  are held in the ordinary course of business and were not
                  acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the
                  effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of
                  the securities and were not acquired and are not held in
                  connection with or as a participant in any transaction having
                  that purpose or effect.







                                                               Page 6 of 7 pages

                                   SIGNATURES

         After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.

March 7, 2003

                                  NEEDHAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT L.L.C.

                                  By: /s/ John C. Michaelson
                                  Name: John C. Michaelson
                                  Title:President and Chief Executive Officer


                                  THE NEEDHAM FUNDS, INC.

                                  By: /s/ Glen W. Albanese
                                  Name: Glen W. Albanese
                                  Title: Chief Financial Officer









                                                              Page 7 of 7 pages

                                                                      Exhibit A

                                    AGREEMENT

         The undersigned,  Needham  Investment  Management  L.L.C. and The
Needham Funds,  Inc., agree that the statement to which this exhibit is appended
is filed on behalf of each of them.


March 7, 2003


                                  NEEDHAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT L.L.C.

                                  By: /s/ John C. Michaelson
                                  Name: John C. Michaelson
                                  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer


                                  THE NEEDHAM FUNDS, INC.


                                  By: /s/ Glen W. Albanese
                                  Name: Glen W. Albanese
                                  Title: Chief Financial Officer