Tezlab CEO Ben Schippers at TC Sessions: Mobility 2021

The Expanding Tesla Ecosystem and Startup Opportunities

The increasing popularity of Tesla vehicles has generated significant interest, fueling both investment and innovation within the automotive sector and the broader startup landscape.

TezLab, a complimentary application functioning as a vehicle monitoring system for Teslas – similar to a fitness tracker – exemplifies the surge in startups that have emerged alongside the growing adoption of electric vehicles.

With established manufacturers like Ford, GM, Volvo, and Hyundai, alongside new entrants such as Rivian and Fisker, introducing electric models, a further increase in startup activity is anticipated.

TezLab's Origins and the Power of the Tesla API

Ben Schippers, co-founder and CEO of TezLab, will be a featured speaker at TC Sessions: Mobility 2021, sharing insights into his startup and the opportunities presented by the evolving EV market.

The TezLab team, comprised of six individuals, originated from HappyFunCorp (HFC), a software engineering firm specializing in applications for mobile, web, wearable, and Internet of Things devices, with a client list including Amazon, Facebook, and Twitter.

HFC’s engineers, including Schippers, were drawn to Tesla due to its technology-focused approach and, crucially, the accessibility of the Tesla API.

While technically private, the Tesla API allows communication between the Tesla app and the vehicle, enabling functions like battery status checks and remote door locking.

Through reverse engineering, third-party applications can directly interface with this API.

TC Sessions: Mobility 2021 – A Gathering of Industry Leaders

Schippers’ expertise extends beyond TezLab, encompassing consulting and work with companies concentrating on technology and human interaction, with a specific focus on the electric vehicle industry.

The speaker lineup for the 2021 event is continually expanding and includes prominent figures such as Karl Iagnemma, President and CEO of Motional, and Chris Urmson, co-founder and CEO of Aurora, who will discuss the evolution of autonomous vehicles.

Mate Rimac, founder of Rimac Automobili, will also be present, detailing the growth of his company from a single-person operation to a team exceeding 1,000 employees and securing contracts with major automotive manufacturers.

Focus on China and Investment in the Future

A dedicated panel discussion will focus on China’s robotaxi industry, featuring Jewel Li, COO of AutoX; Huan Sun, General Manager of Momenta Europe at Momenta; and Jennifer Li, VP of Finance at WeRide – all female leaders in Chinese AV startups.

Additional speakers include Pam Fletcher, VP of Global Innovation at GM; Alexandr Wang, CEO of Scale AI; JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby Aviation; Reid Hoffman, founder of LinkedIn and investor; Clara Brenner of Urban Innovation Fund; Quin Garcia of Autotech Ventures; Rachel Holt of Construct Capital; and Jesse Levinson, co-founder and CTO of Zoox.

Attendees may also witness a special reveal of a new, previously unannounced TechCrunch startup.

Early ticket purchases for TC Sessions: Mobility are recommended, as prices will increase closer to the event date.