# Jaime Martinez

> Jaime Jorge Martinez Soto is the Mexican clean-energy entrepreneur, chemical engineer, and CEO behind Terra, a Miami-based residential solar company built around short-term subscriptions rather than equipment sales or decades-long commitments. His route ran from an oil-and-gas trading floor in Houston to a distributed-energy business launched in Mexico and expanded into the United States, with Terra reporting 10,000 customers in April 2026 and raising $105 million at the start of that year.

- **Role:** Founder and CEO at Terra
- **Organizations:** Terra, Proyecto Terra, Pemex, Emerson
- **Nationality:** Mexican
- **Education:** Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, specializing in renewable energy, Cornell University, MBA focused on finance, Cornell University
- **Known for:** Recognized as an Innovators Under 35 Latin America honoree in 2017 for Project Terra's solar financing, ownership, and management system., Named to Renewable Energy World's inaugural Solar 40 Under 40 in 2018., Built Terra from a Mexico-based solar model into a U.S. residential subscription provider operating in Florida and Texas.

## Career timeline

- **circa 2006** — After undergraduate studies, worked on an oil-and-gas trading floor in Houston, where he formed the idea for a decentralized utility.
- **before 2016** — Worked in the energy industry, including roles at Pemex and Emerson.
- **2016** — Terra lists its founding year as 2016, following the earlier Proyecto Terra concept developed in Mexico with Luis Roberto Perez Aguirre.
- **2017** — Named an Innovators Under 35 Latin America honoree for Project Terra's solar financing, ownership, and management system; also appeared with Perez Aguirre among Forbes Mexico's business promises.
- **2018** — Named to Renewable Energy World's inaugural Solar 40 Under 40.
- **2023** — Terra began operating in the United States, starting in Florida.
- **2026** — Terra announced $105 million in debt and equity financing, expanded in Texas, and prepared a California pilot.

## Achievements

- Recognized as an Innovators Under 35 Latin America honoree in 2017 for Project Terra's solar financing, ownership, and management system.
- Named to Renewable Energy World's inaugural Solar 40 Under 40 in 2018.
- Built Terra from a Mexico-based solar model into a U.S. residential subscription provider operating in Florida and Texas.
- Led Terra through $105 million in combined debt and equity financing announced in January 2026.
- Reached 10,000 reported customers by April 2026.

## Latest updates

- **2026-06** — Terra launched in Texas with rooftop solar, a 40 kWh whole-home battery, and retail electricity on one bill; Martinez said the company was adding about 1,000 customers per month and planned California and Southern expansion.
- **2026-04** — Martinez told pv magazine USA that Terra had 10,000 customers, reported 98% post-term retention in Mexico and 100% among eligible Florida customers, and was preparing a Southern California pilot.
- **2026-01** — Terra announced $105 million in combined financing, including a $35 million green loan from Breakwall Capital plus equity and bank credit facilities.

## Links

- Website: https://terraenergy.io
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimemartinezsoto
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terraenergy.us
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerraEnergy.USA/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/jaime-martinez
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-26