Meet the Founder: Chris Kluesener, Co-Founder and CEO of Matcha Electric
At Matcha Electric, co-founder and CEO Chris Kluesener is tackling one of the most overlooked challenges in the clean transportation revolution: electric vehicle (EV) access for renters. With one-third of Americans living in rental properties, most lack the infrastructure to support EV ownership. Matcha Electric is changing that.
The Massive Challenge
“At Matcha, we’re solving the massive challenge of helping people who rent to get an electric vehicle if they want one,” says Chris. Traditional EV charging solutions can cost landlords upwards of $40,000 and offer limited flexibility. Matcha Electric partners with landlords to offer a completely free, outsourced charging service. Their team installs, operates, and maintains the stations, making clean transportation accessible where it was once out of reach.
Why It Matters
Chris knows the struggle firsthand. As a former renter and clean tech enthusiast, he felt left behind in the EV movement. “You get left behind. You don’t get the cool EV, the heat pumps, the solar panels,” he explains. That experience fueled his mission to build a scalable solution designed for multifamily properties.
A Unique Business Model
Matcha Electric isn’t a hardware company. Instead, it has developed proprietary software compatible with leading EV chargers. Their system goes beyond billing, it manages power flow, renter demand, and utility requirements. This innovative, software-driven approach enables shared charger usage, reduces costs, and improves uptime in multifamily settings.
Tech-Driven and Customer-Focused
Chris and his co-founder come from consulting backgrounds and used that experience to design a business model aligned with customer needs. “Our goal is not just novelty for novelty’s sake. We aim to solve a real problem better, faster, and more affordably,” says Chris.
One of Matcha’s standout strategies is its use of channel partnerships with electricians. This overlooked sales force has helped the company expand into six states, generating $1 million in revenue with only three employees.
The MassChallenge Impact
A 2023 MassChallenge alum, Matcha Electric credits the program with helping them scale. From securing grants to pitching new investors, the accelerator provided strategic value beyond the typical incubator. Now headquartered in the MassChallenge Boston office, Matcha continues to benefit from the connections, mentorship, and visibility the community offers.
“MassChallenge has been a catalyst. I don’t think we’d still be going without it,” Chris shares. “The mentorship, introductions, and sense of community have been invaluable.”
Looking Ahead
With plans to expand into three more states and a mission to democratize EV access, Matcha Electric is proving that inclusive climate tech isn’t just possible, it’s profitable. They’re not building limousines for EV charging. They’re building for the millions of renters left behind.