Co-funded by the
European Union
From EIT InnoEnergy Master’s Student to Forbes 30 Under 30
Martim Perestrelo, an EIT InnoEnergy Master School alumnus, has been honored in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, marking the institution’s eighth recognition of this kind. His academic journey at KTH Royal Institute of Technology and UPC: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya led to the inception of Tether, a startup aimed at transforming the energy sector. Tether’s innovative AI-driven solution utilizes parked Electric Vehicles as a decentralized battery network to stabilize the power grid and reduce fossil fuel dependence. Martim’s story is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit fostered by the EIT InnoEnergy Master’s Programme and its impact on the energy transition
Academic Journey
Martim embarked on his journey through his double degree in the Renewable Energy Master’s Programme where he specialised in electricity markets. His journey to success began during his thesis work at a startup named Starke Energy. It was during this time that the seeds of his entrepreneurial spirit were sown. Living in Barcelona with his co-founder Luis, they often discussed ideas sparked by their coursework at ESADE. The concept of Tether, their brainchild, emerged from these conversations and soon became their focal point after winning the EIT Jumpstarter competition in 2022.
Reflecting on his experience with InnoEnergy Master School, Martim shares: ‘My InnoEnergy journey was great. The best thing about it is the opportunity to live in two different countries and meet so many people from such different cultures while at the same time having excellent courses. I think the highlight was the courses at ESADE and their final project of developing a startup from scratch. This was the first time that the ideas for Tether started emerging.’
Empowering the Energy Transition: The Vision of Tether
The early days of Tether were marked by relentless dedication. Martim and Luis juggled multiple responsibilities, from coding to client meetings, in their quest to bring their vision to life. However, their perseverance paid off when they secured their first Letter of Intent (LOI) from a Swedish charge point operator, followed by a successful round of funding. Their journey gained further momentum with acceptance into Techstars and MobilityXlab in Sweden, where they continued to validate their concept through Proof of Concepts (POCs).
Tether, is on a mission to revolutionize the energy sector by harnessing the untapped potential of parked Electric Vehicles (EVs). Their innovative approach involves leveraging advanced AI to predict EV charging patterns and optimize their power usage. By effectively turning parked EVs into a decentralized battery network, Tether aims to bolster the stability of the power grid and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Curious to hear Tether’s story straight from the source? Check out our podcast, InnoStation, where Martim is interviewed by InnoEnergy students. Listen now on Spotify.
