I’ve never really sat down to tell the story of Wind Fisher and why we do what we do. So here’s the story…
I’m Garrett Smith, and I founded Wind Fisher with a simple but powerful idea: to harness the untapped potential of higher-altitude wind and create a massively available, affordable, and sustainable source of energy, first at local levels, then building up to global levels.
Over the past two decades, my career has taken me from aircraft design to renewable energy, and I’d like to share the story behind Wind Fisher—our mission, and the bigger vision that fuels our work.
How Wind Fisher came about: There had to be a better way
I spent 23 years in aerospace, working with some of the industry’s biggest names—Boeing and Airbus.
Designing aircraft is all about precision, efficiency, and, above all, finding innovative ways to make things fly.
During my time at Airbus, I had the opportunity to work on projects like the A380, customizing interiors for airlines such as Virgin Atlantic and Lufthansa.
It was incredibly rewarding work, but as time went on, I found myself drawn to a new challenge. I’ve always seen myself as a pioneer, and it’s one of the reasons that I started Wind Fisher. When I first got into the field of airborne wind energy, I fell in love with it.
I wanted to use my aerospace engineering know-how to make a meaningful difference in the world, not just to make airplanes. Renewable energy was the field that kept calling to me.
The inspiration for Wind Fisher came from a realization: while the wind energy industry had made incredible strides, it still relied heavily on industrial-scale turbines.
These systems, although effective, come with significant downsides—they’re costly, require significant logistics and installation work, and can only be deployed in certain locations.
I knew there had to be a better way, and with my background in aerospace, the idea of high-altitude wind caught my attention.
This was all the way back in 2008. At the time, I was studying for a Masters of Science at the International Space University.
It was then that I came across SkyWind Power, and digging deeper, I discovered that higher altitude winds had huge potential. In other words, this project has been a very long time in the making!
There are powerful, persistent winds blowing hundreds of meters above us, yet they remain largely untapped. It was clear that capturing these winds could be a game-changer, and I became determined to find a solution.
That’s when I teamed up with Armand, my co-founder, and attended my first airborne wind energy conference. That was in Berlin in 2013, and again in Delft in 2015.
I realized that companies were putting in more complexity to solve control issues. So we got to thinking…
…and over the course of the next decade, we began laying the foundations of what would become Wind Fisher. We wanted a system that was not only effective but also simple and inherently safe.
Our system uses helium-filled, twin cylindrical wings that naturally rise to capture higher-altitude winds.
This solution is lightweight, efficient, and significantly simpler than anything else on the market.
Affordable, accessible, sustainable: Our mission for wind energy
At Wind Fisher, our mission is straightforward: we aim to make wind energy affordable, accessible, and sustainable.
The wind energy industry today is dominated by large turbines that require significant infrastructure and are often limited to specific locations.
While they are capable of producing high amounts of energy, they require significant capital for the initial investment.
This restricts their potential. And while turbines are high-output, the tradeoff is the visual pollution in the landscapes where they are installed.
Our airborne wind energy systems can be reeled in when not in use. Meaning when they are not producing energy, they don’t pollute the landscape.
In addition to the aesthetics, our technology offers other key advantages.
First, it’s lighter and requires less material—our systems use less than one-tenth the materials of traditional wind turbines per kilowatt of power. This means lower production costs and less environmental impact.
Our cylindrical kites capture higher-altitude winds, which blow consistently at 300 to 500 meters above ground, allowing us to generate electricity around 60% of the time.
Because these systems operate far above ground level, they don’t create the same visual or noise pollution that often accompanies traditional wind farms.
What we’re building isn’t just a new kind of wind turbine; it’s a way to unlock renewable energy for communities and businesses that previously couldn’t access it.
By capturing higher-altitude winds, we can provide a reliable, low-cost source of electricity that reduces carbon emissions and aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 7 for Affordable and Clean Energy, and SDG 9 for Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.
Our mission is to enable communities to produce their own renewable energy, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and helping to make a cleaner, greener world.
Giving (wind) power back to the people
While our mission drives our day-to-day work, I have a much bigger vision for Wind Fisher. I see a world where higher-altitude wind energy is as accessible and ubiquitous as solar power.
Imagine a future where wind systems are deployed in rural communities, island nations, and remote areas, bringing clean energy to places that lack it.
I want Wind Fisher to be a catalyst for change, enabling more people and organizations to tap into renewable energy without needing massive investments or infrastructure.
For me, this work is about more than just building a successful company—it’s about creating a sustainable future. Higher-altitude wind is an abundant, underutilized resource, and if we can harness it effectively, we can make a real difference in the global energy landscape.
There’s enough wind at higher altitudes to meet all of humanity’s energy needs many times over. By making this energy source accessible, I believe we can help solve one of the most pressing challenges of our time: eliminating our reliance on fossil fuels and curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
What keeps me going is the idea that Wind Fisher isn’t just about energy—it’s about empowerment.
By reducing costs and simplifying deployment, we’re making it possible for more people to take control of their energy needs. We’re giving (wind) power back to the people.
In the future, I want to see communities have the tools to generate their own electricity, where small businesses can access affordable, sustainable energy, and where our technology helps to reduce the environmental footprint of energy production.
Solving big, complex problems has always been my thing. I’ve always been passionate about tackling challenges head-on, and Wind Fisher is the culmination of that passion.
We’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in renewable energy and proving that we don’t have to settle for the status quo.
There’s a smarter, more sustainable way to harness wind power, and I’m excited to be part of the team that’s making it happen.
To sum it all up
Looking back on the journey so far, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved at Wind Fisher. From our first prototypes to our current efforts to scale, every step has brought us closer to our goal of making wind energy more accessible and affordable.
There’s still a long road ahead, but I’m confident that we’re on the right path. With the support of programs like Techstars, we’re ready to tackle the next phase of our journey and bring our vision to life.
At Wind Fisher, we’re committed to building a future where clean, sustainable energy is within reach for everyone.
I believe that by harnessing higher-altitude wind, we can play a key role in the global energy transition. It’s an ambitious goal, but it’s one worth pursuing.
I’m excited to see where this journey takes us, and I hope you are too.
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