Tetra originated in 2018 as a student endeavour by four undergraduate students from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). Stemming from a student initiative, this project based on a low-cost solar-powered water desalination filter won the Hult Prize at BUET, became a finalist in the Hult Prize Kuala Lumpur Regional Summit and became champion at the UNDP Safe Water Challenge, getting an initial grant to implementing the project. In 2019, with the initial funding, a primary prototype was made, and 15 devices were set up in low-income households in the coastal regions of Satkhira.

This small experiment provided insight into what kind of product could be the right market fit and what skill and connection the co-founders need to turn the idea into an impactful start-up. Drawing upon the insights gleaned from the project, the co-founders embarked on a journey to cultivate external connections and expertise. Two of the co-founders pursued and successfully attained their MBA degrees, while the remaining two secured their master’s degrees in engineering, studying in Canada and Germany respectively. Simultaneously, they harnessed professional experience across a diverse spectrum of industries, spanning academia, research, financial institutions, strategy consultancy firms, developmental organizations, and the realm of social innovation.