Alterno Dispute: A Documented Timeline
A chronological record of documented events based on verified corporate filings, court documents, and official communications. Will Alterno show up for Court on 2nd April 2026 or will there be surprises then?
2022
What Happened
Kent Nguyen initiated the foundational development of the Sand Battery concept, documenting and sharing the initial concept publicly for the first time.
Observed Pattern
This establishes the original authorship and creation timeline of the core technology well before the formal incorporation of any corporate entities.
What Happened
Between October 28 and November 4, 2022, Kent independently built the first working prototype of the Sand Battery in his apartment, successfully reaching a documented temperature breakthrough.
Observed Pattern
The core functional prototype was developed independently by a single founder prior to the involvement of the eventual technical co-founder or formal startup programs.
What Happened
Kent brought the Sand Battery concept into the Antler venture builder program. At this stage, Nam Nguyen officially joined the project in the capacity of Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
Observed Pattern
The technical co-founder, Nguyen Quoc Nam, joined the project after the core technology concept and initial working prototype had already been established.
2023
What Happened
Alterno Singapore was formally incorporated on February 1, followed by Alterno Vietnam on February 8. The co-founders signed their respective vesting agreements on February 7.
Observed Pattern
Formal corporate entities and founder equity structures were legally established months after the initial technology development began.
What Happened
Kent physically set up the first dedicated Alterno Sand Battery Lab to conduct hands-on R&D. While the other two co-founders operated entirely remotely, Kent managed the site, purchased equipment, hired engineers, and hosted investors and partners to build credibility.
Observed Pattern
One founder bore the unilateral responsibility for securing physical infrastructure, handling day-to-day operations, and leading core physical R&D execution on the ground.
What Happened
Co-founders Hai Ho and Nam Nguyen took extended time off to care for their newborns. During this multi-month period, Kent absorbed their operational workloads to maintain project momentum and deliberately kept their prolonged absences hidden from external investors.
Observed Pattern
One founder carried the operational burden for the company while protecting the professional optics of the other two co-founders during their personal life events.
What Happened
With an industrial-scale prototype successfully developed, the team formally filed the patent application for the Sand Battery technology. For administrative efficiency, the application was filed under the Alterno Vietnam corporate entity.
Observed Pattern
The intellectual property, originating from the initial 2022 prototypes, was officially assigned to the corporate entity by the inventor for the benefit of the company.
What Happened
Following months of intense hands-on work in the lab, the engineering team successfully completed and tested the first working industrial-scale Sand Battery prototype with a 2-ton capacity.
Observed Pattern
The core milestone was achieved under the direct physical supervision of the inventor, reinforcing his indispensability to the company's technical product development.
What Happened
To support scaled production and further R&D of the commercial prototypes, Kent orchestrated the relocation to a significantly larger laboratory space in District 9. He led the extensive lab renovations and the establishment of the new operational hub.
Observed Pattern
Continuous, heavy operational scaling and infrastructure management were consistently executed by one founder on the ground.
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