Filipe Fernandes: “We want to have a turbine on every roof, so our bar is high”

Our first product is turbines, and when we talk about them, we refer to the general aspect of the system. The turbine is what makes it move. It is the moving part of the system that, inherently having Nelson on the team, we already have full knowledge of the process. The turbine and the blades were developed during Nelson’s doctoral thesis, and when we invited him to the company, it was with the aim of him also bringing this significant capital, this intellectual property, and working on this. We have already submitted a provisional patent application, an area where we are evolving, and it works by transforming wind energy into electrical energy, that is, kinetic energy into electrical energy, and it does this with a magnetic induction process. Inside the generator, there are permanent magnets; in this case, they are powerful neodymium magnets, which, when passing through the copper windings, make an oscillation that allows the production of energy.

Nelson’s arrival led to a significant change in our company. The idea came up with me, with António, and the first steps we took as a product were with Marvim. Our initial idea, which has not been forgotten, was to use engines from electric mobility vehicles, whether from scooters, bicycles, or motorbikes, in which the engine can be reused in a second life; as a generator, the technology is reversible, and the goal was to start there. During our research, when I was designing and making the first prototypes, the first thing to do was investigate what exists, so it was pretty exciting work. Looking at patents, works, submissions, and articles, I found a researcher who alone filled two pages of research case, and there was a name in common in all of them: Nelson Batista. Firstly, it was essential to have a point of relationship. I think this story is also interesting because when we looked for Nelson in some research, we tried to find him, who this person is, and I realized that he worked in the same company as Mafalda, my wife. So she introduced us, I presented the project, our objectives, and where we wanted to get to, we invited him to join, and he accepted.

Undoubtedly. Nelson is one of our founders. He actually had this idea and started developing this technology much earlier than us because, in this aspect, Nelson is a complete visionary. If we see the work he has developed, he is very much on the crest of the wave, from IoT, blockchain and semi-autonomous systems, so it was great to meet Nelson because I know he knows what I want to do. This first component of the turbine is the first piece of the puzzle that we want to build in an integrated system with more capabilities than those we are used to and expect from a turbine, but all of it benefits the end consumer.

It was founded by four elements. Me as CEO, Nelson Batista as CTO, António Santos as COO, and Marvim as CPO. From the moment we form the team, this is the core. We have other people who are helping us, initially part-time, but as we receive investment, as we have sales, the objective is also to grow the team to respond to our needs.

So Marvim, our CPO, I met him when I had a few days… Marvim is my father (laughs), so our relationship has been going on for a long time. He was the one who introduced me to a taste for many of the things that are bearing fruit today. My father is a mechanical engineer, and my mother is a mathematics teacher, so I always had a lot of good incentives to discover, research and ask; it’s essential to ask, and that introduced me to the taste of playing with Legos and other mechanical models. I think this exercise, from a very young age, gives us the ability to think about more complex systems and interact, integrating with more complicated things.

Our COO, António Santos, was also a military man. He was my soldier for the last year and a half, although I’ve known him since I joined the Intervention Unit. He is a broadcast soldier in the Transmission Section, headed by the Command and Services Company. I commanded a public order platoon from 2013 to 2018 when I joined the Unit. In 2018, I left due to my promotion to captain and returned to the Academy to teach. I returned to the GNR, spent six months at the Information Center, and then I was forced, so to speak, to spend my time. I chose the Unit, and António continued there in his role. Being a company commander, I started to interact with him much more regularly; with very similar tastes and ways of thinking, I think we complement each other quite well. I’m more reserved, calm and analytical, and he’s hugely affable, so I know I have someone to break the ice and who helps me greatly because that’s one of my shortcomings. He also liked the project, and we started in the barracks, creating the first drawings. Still, as the idea matured, we found a space, our space, in Damaia, very close to Cova da Moura, where António is from. I think that, at this stage, these four pieces are very complementary. We are still very focused on the product itself. We already have exciting advances with potential customers, but we still don’t have the infrastructure, per se, to scale. At this stage, our primary focus is to put the product on the street, and as the need arises, we begin to increase the company’s size.

Last year, we had the opportunity to participate in the Road To Web Summit. It was an excellent opportunity which allowed us access to the Web Summit fair, and it was thanks to preparation and homework done in advance to make the most of this opportunity. It was three very intense days, so when we had the stall, on the last day, it was from eight in the morning to seven in the afternoon, something like that, without stopping for lunch (laughs). It went very well; many people were interested in our technology, they liked us, and we also received the award for best performance at the Web Summit. Anyone who has the chance to participate should do so because it is an outstanding school; what we learned there is transversal to other events, and we want to return this year. Things are heading towards that.

It was a result of our initial strategy. Not having the product or having a relatively limited capacity to execute the product, which is quite demanding in terms of capital, we advanced in what we could do, not only the customer search part but also the investors. We are looking for customers to validate our idea and validate interest in the company and the product, and then investors to make initial prototypes viable so that, from there, we could leverage the product with customers. I looked for opportunities in the ecosystem, and we applied for several initiatives. The main criteria were to be linked to sustainability, potential partnerships with clients connected to our activity, and the component of advice, mentoring and investment.

I highlight the TechStars programme because it has an investment component that enabled the full-time work of the founders and initial prototypes. It also gave us access to a very varied, different and complementary network of mentors, which really has people of value and still accompanies us today. The remaining programs were all exciting. It took us a lot of time, and the time has to come from somewhere. Still, in the end, we reaped the rewards, and as we have the product, we will materialize or close all the businesses that started and are in progress.

In terms of closed investment, we have Techstars, which is financing our activities, and we have two more financings in line; we are finalizing the details, so to speak. In total, there is €300,000 of convertible debt, and the expectation is, at the beginning of next year, the second tranche of this amount from our pre-seed. The objective is to reach half a million euros in investment. Along this journey, we believe that the product will evolve, guaranteed. We want to have a turbine on every roof so our bar is high, but we have to start somewhere.

TechStars’ investment. It is also a crucial factor in the company’s development; therefore, it made it possible to have full-time partners, and it is only from there that things really accelerate. The initial investment allowed us to not only move this prototype forward but also have a forecast of when it will be operational and then networking. We have weekly conversations with potential investors, which is very satisfying, knowing that there is interest and this access to investors allows for better risk management.

The least favourable moment was when I was accumulating, doing both jobs. I had my job as captain of the GNR, and then I had my job at Windcredible. There are two full-time jobs. At that time, I was under more pressure and was quite overwhelmed. TechStars’ investment made it possible to put a brake on one of the projects, and that makes a big difference, even on a personal level. Life can’t be all about work, and we have a family to care for, so we also have to take good stock of that.

The best thing is to have a vision and, step by step, make it happen. Building things is natural for humans; building things gives pleasure in seeing work done. That’s what makes it most worthwhile, seeing our idea go to the computer, leave the computer, and go into the real world; that’s fantastic. The worst part is the responsibility. In terms of people management, it was never a problem for me. I was always in charge of a team, and the viability of salaries was never my concern, as I knew, from the outset, that the salary was guaranteed. With this leap, things changed a little paradigm, and what I now do has direct implications for me, the founders and their families, and the collaborators that may come. My main concern is this: ensuring that this is viable, that it has a future, and that the sustainability of the company and the people who work there is guaranteed.

Soon, the concern will be the product and, therefore, the installation of our first prototypes. We aim for ten prototypes, ten pilots with companies in Portugal, some Portuguese, others international. Still, at least we have ten products to produce to measure the efficiency, vibrations, and noise they may produce and start collecting data. The first step is to install this equipment, study its operation for six months to a year, continue product development at the turbine level, start the development of other components, and during the next year, we will already have some internal production capacity of the models, we will probably start with the smallest, start producing ourselves, we will also learn the production method, while we continue, and will continue, to use a supplier. In the long term, reaching the market with a finished product by 2025 and then having production capacity closer to industrial, that is, with a production of a considerable number of turbines per year, which the objective is to have by the end of 2025, one megawatt of installed capacity. It is ambitious on our scale if we compare it with the scale of the auctions that are taking place, which go up to 3.1 gigawatts, so it is a different order of magnitude.

The Academy went quite well for me; in the first year, in terms of qualifications, I was second best, and I finished the five-year course in fourth place. I apply myself a lot to the things I really like, and the things I don’t like usually don’t go well (laughs). My luck is that I liked practically everything in the course I was on, so I was pretty motivated, and I also feel that now. Lots of challenges, lots of learning. The qualifications that we pass on and develop in military life are transferred, with some ease, to the civilian and business world. Team management, public speaking, quick and accurate decisions, and stress management are things that, naturally, were developed.

Since I was little (laughs). I’ve always liked inventing, drawing, having a notebook, and playing games. The Legos and kits we had really stimulated these areas. It is fascinating to do psycho-technical tests. They’re not always right, but they gave me some ideas of what I was most capable of, which I’m trying to explore. One was the ability to manage Virtual Space, 3D, three-dimensionality, and logic. Starting when I was small helped a lot, and now I’ve reached a level of maturity, of experience, of knowing what I’m worth and can do, which made me change my path. Military life has many challenges; it is very demanding and gratifying. The spirit of camaraderie that is experienced and developed is very significant, but the innovation component, at times, fell a little short. It caused me a lot of confusion when I asked why something was a certain way, and someone said, “It’s always been done that way”, and that messed with me. I tried to change, and there was some resistance, and things ended up falling into place, but there was a natural resistance to change. A startup company is diametrically the opposite and is also very healthy. The objective is also to grow personally and gain new experiences. Everything points to going well, but then, there is always that risk of going wrong. But at this point in maturity, a person thinks, “I don’t have children yet, things are going well. Well, I think I have the fingers to play this guitar, let’s do it.”

Since I was little, I really liked the military component, the weapons, and the uniform. I was very happy playing airsoft, so I always had that connection; despite not having military personnel in my family, I always saw a military career as a possibility, and I’m glad I chose it. In the past, the military was mandatory, but it is no longer required, and some of the things that I felt in myself and that I saw in other people developing are perhaps greatly missed in society. If the ideal is for everyone to have a military background, I believe that is not the case. If it is the best system, I also think that it is not; mechanisms should be found so that what was transmitted does not stop being shared because these tools are needed by everyone.

Since 2008, 15 years.

It’s true; I divorced GNR and married Mafalda, all in two days (laughs). It’s a significant step and a lot of thought, but I believe I found the right person. It has already given me a lot of proof, and I think that, without her, I would not be where I am today. It’s also one of the ways to recognize this, and what motivated me was precisely that. We complement each other, and I didn’t want to lose that. There were several factors; she always supported me in all decisions and is one of the main motivating factors for change.

I’ve always had the habit of training. I like running and going to the gym, I did it every day at GNR. I am considerably less so now, but I hope to maintain some healthier habits and routines. At this stage, I’m not able to reconcile everything. I mainly like learning. In my free time, I like to learn, read, and continue my training. After the Academy, I earned a master’s degree in Information Security and Law in Cyberspace, and a Postgraduate degree in Digital Product Management, so learning is guaranteed to be a hobby. About two years ago, I discovered my taste for 3D printing. It’s a hobby that arrived a little later, but I think it’s a tool that is changing the world and will change even more. Incredibly, we think about an object, draw an object, and create its structure, all in three dimensions, and after an hour, six hours, or a day, that object will appear in front of you. You can make highly complex drawings; it doesn’t matter, the model comes out. And I think it was also an excellent unblocker for Windcredible. The disc at the top and bottom is printed, but the blades are also printed and then covered in carbon fibre. Discovering this hobby was also a step towards being where I am. There are such incredible things that you can do, from reproducing an object, scanning it, and then printing it, miniatures, so it’s really cool to work with a 3D printer.

It was with a friend, so I’ve always heard a lot about 3D printers. The limitation is your imagination, ability to draw, the materials, and the printer, but it unlocks a lot.

Professionally, models and parts of prototypes. Not only the blades but also the connections; studying the best way to fit them is often used for prototyping. In my free time, I do things for home, for friends, functional things, more decorative things. I printed, for example, the souvenirs for our wedding, so it’s whatever we want.

It has crossed my mind, and I still sell some things. Still, it was never from that perspective, mainly because what I am producing is a hobby, not on a professional level. If you want to sell something, you must also have quality, and I know I’m not there yet. And then because I also lack some tools, for example, the painting part, it’s essential if I wanted to sell something. I didn’t have the time or patience to learn, so I like learning, but learning everything is impossible (laughs). You have to choose some things… But I accept orders, if you want to order something, I think it can be done (laughs).

I usually have these more meditative moments while running; it’s an excellent way to get my ideas back and forth. I have a defect, which is that I switch off very little. A person closes their eyes, but the problems are there; the brain is working and scheming and thinking about things, which also has wear and tear and implications. When I was working both jobs, it was double that, so it was even more complicated. Running, swimming, and at the gym is the ideal time to think about things but not stress; it is a different response to the process.

It will be a very positive point, but it will not change much. We’ve been together for several years; we had the entire COVID period together, each year of COVID-19 means about ten years of traditional marriage, so we’re almost at our silver wedding anniversary (laughs). I don’t think much will change.

I think my parents. They put a lot of effort into educating me and my brother. I think they achieved this, they transmitted many values ​​that currently make a difference, and I recognize that what they gave me at the time, 30 years ago, is still up to date. I feel like I had a lot of support when I was younger, which had implications for my future. They were the people who always supported me. Going to the Academy surprised them, and now, this choice in favour of entrepreneurship was more difficult for them to understand. I understand that they only have my best interests at heart, but they had some doubts, it’s normal. They gave a lot of advice to consider, to slow down, that concern remains, but they were, without a doubt, the people who impacted me the most.

The most important thing is to be happy and feel good about ourselves. One of the things I like most is having time. Having time to do nothing is one of the things we have less and less of, but it’s one of the things that feels best.

In terms of virtue, I think it is the ability to see far away. At the military level, there is a very cool tool: reverse planning, in which we decide on an objective and then plan how to achieve it. This allows us to visualize a path and what we must do to reach that goal, and this ability to unite the two points is my main attraction. Understand trends, carefully analyze the basic principles of a problem, and then arrive at a possible solution. Regarding the main defects, I think it is wanting to think about too many things simultaneously, and clearly, afterwards, some things are left behind. I’m a bit of a monotasker. You may have played Sims; it’s one task at a time because otherwise, things fall apart, and some things get lost (laughs).

Maybe saudade (nostalgia), I think that’s the preferred word. It’s a Portuguese word, which sometimes has difficulty being translated internationally; therefore, it’s something a little unique, and it’s a feeling that we still have that feeling at a national level. If we emigrate, we wait our whole lives to return home. If we miss our family, it is a beautiful thing. Longing is more beautiful when it ends, when we stop missing the person, and when we find them, as a rule, these are always good moments.

My marriage, defending my two theses, and entering the Academy were significant changes in my life.

I really liked flying. One day, when jetpacks were actually working in earnest, I’d like to try it. I’ve jumped out of planes, I’ve done parachuting, both military and civilian, but it’s not the same thing as having the freedom to feel like a bird. And the same for the sea, entering the sea is a very different experience. I would like to have a greater ability to dive and explore the ocean. The third thing was to create my own company. When I was a kid, I liked to say that I wanted to have a factory. My grandfather had a big impact on us. The stories we heard from my grandfather, from everyone in Póvoa, were incredible. Even today, they congratulate my mother for being José Reina’s daughter, and I learned from him the potential of being the boss, of having your own business. He had four children, and three of them had a higher education degree; we are talking about 50 years ago, so it is clear that whoever can do business can give to his family more than he achieved. I think it’s an excellent social elevator lever, and I got a little out of it, in my own way. At the time, clothes were only washed by hand and having a laundry room turned out to be something innovative. A factory for turbines is a little different, but the principle is there. My grandfather was an excellent reference.