Vanessa MartiN (Toolson)
Co-Founder of Tether RE
Speaker, Safety Advocate, Veteran Leader
Vanessa Martin is the co-founder of Tether RE, a groundbreaking personal safety platform designed specifically for real estate professionals. With an invested passion for protecting those who serve the real estate industry, Vanessa brings unmatched energy and real-world insight to every stage, panel, and podcast she joins.
About Vanessa
As an Army combat veteran, accomplished entrepreneur, and proud mother, Vanessa's career spans tech innovation, military leadership, and mission-driven ventures. Her unique blend of operational expertise, strategic vision, and lived experience makes her a standout speaker in the worlds of real estate, safety, and veteran entrepreneurship. tech innovation, leadership, and mission-driven ventures. Her unique blend of operational expertise, strategic vision, and lived experience makes her a standout speaker in the worlds of real estate, safety, and veteran entrepreneurship.
✔ Speaker
✔ Safety Advocate
✔ Veteran Leader
Vanessa prides herself on using the discipline she gained in the Army, the innovation she’s honed as an entrepreneur, and the compassion she’s developed as a mother to inspire trust, empower others, and lead meaningful change in every community she serves.
Ready to hear Vanessa share her expertise and vision for a safer real estate industry?
My training philosophy is simple: make it fun, make it stick, and make it matter.
I believe serious topics don't require a serious, somber delivery. I use humor and energy intentionally to engage learners and open minds. When people are laughing, they're listening. My approach focuses on empowerment over fear, building confidence and awareness so that agents walk away feeling equipped, not anxious. When I have their laughter, I have their trust, and that's when real learning happens.
Credentials & Experience
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Vanessa helped build Tether RE from the ground up, leading the company's strategic partnerships, outreach, and community growth efforts. The platform won the 2024 NAR iOi Summit Pitch Battle and back-to-back wins at the T3 Sixty Technology Summit, showcasing Vanessa's ability to lead, pitch, and execute at the highest level.
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Vanessa served as a Combat Medic and Medical Specialist in the U.S. Army and was deployed to Kirkuk, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III following 9/11. As a young enlisted soldier, she was entrusted with the role of Unit Movement Officer, leading the coordination and logistics of her unit's deployment from stateside to Iraq. She also served as an Ambulance Team Leader, demonstrating her ability to lead under pressure and in critical environments. Her military service continues to shape her purpose-driven approach to innovation and safety.
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Prior to co-founding Tether RE, Vanessa led several successful ventures and continues to support emerging founders, especially in veteran and women-led startups.
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Vanessa holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and has earned multiple certificates in human movement and nutrition.
Media & Appearances
Vanessa is a sought-after guest for real estate safety panels, veteran entrepreneur spotlights, and tech startup podcasts. She has appeared in:
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– Speaker
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– Speaker
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– Speaker
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– Winner.
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– Semi-Final Winner and Overall Champion.
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– Featured guest discussing the mission and impact of Tether RE.
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– Panelist
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– Guest and entrepreneur spotlight
She brings humor, authenticity, and powerful storytelling to every appearance—whether she's discussing agent safety technology, the challenges of military transition, or the highs and lows of startup life.
From Vulnerable to Vigilant
2026 REALTOR® Safety Month
During REALTOR® Safety Month, Vanessa Martin will present “From Vulnerable to Vigilant: Practical Safety Strategies for Real Estate Professionals” at the organizations below. Learn more through your association, or contact us to bring this webinar for your organization.
Saint Paul Area Association of REALTORS®: September 2, 4 PM MT
Rhode Island Association of REALTORS®: September 9, 2 PM ET
Greater Philadelphia Association of REALTORS®: September 15, 9:30 AM ET
Texas REALTORS®: September 16th, 9 AM CT
Anne Arundel County Association of REALTORS®: September 22, 1 PM ET
Modernizing Real Estate Agent Safety
Proptech Pulse Podcast
In this episode of Lone Wolf’s Proptech Pulse Podcast, Vanessa Martin, co-founder of Tether RE and NAR Reach graduate, joins Kyle Hunter to solve the growing vulnerability agents face during solo showings and open houses. This episode explores how to integrate professional protection into your daily workflow without the friction of app fatigue. You will gain a practical framework for adopting life-saving proptech that works even when you can’t reach your phone. Vanessa explains why safety must move from an outdated "red folder" protocol to an automated background benefit. You will discover how to leverage sensors and 24/7 monitoring to stay protected throughout your entire professional day.
Vulnerable to Vigilant: Practical Safety Strategies for Real Estate Professionals
ON-DEMAND NAR WEBINAR
This on-demand webinar walks through real-world situations where real estate professionals may feel most vulnerable, including isolated showings, open houses, first meetings with new clients, and moments when an accident or emergency makes it difficult to call for help. Click to learn more.
2025 NAR NXT, The REALTOR® Experience
VANESSA MARTIN took THE STAGE TWICE AT NAR NXT 2025
Vanessa Martin, Co-Founder of Tether RE, took the stage twice at NAR NXT 2025: The REALTOR® Experience. In her sessions “Field Safety Solved: The Protection You’ve Been Missing” and “REACH Demo Day: An Exclusive Look at the Fastest-Growing Tech Solutions for Real Estate”, she shared how Tether RE is transforming real estate safety through innovation and technology, helping agents stay connected, protected, and confident wherever their work takes them.
Welcome to the top!
In this episode of Welcome to the Top, we’re joined by Vanessa Martin, Co-Founder of Tether RE—an award-winning safety and productivity platform built solely to protect real estate professionals from the moment they meet a client until the deal closes. Acknowledged with top honors at both the 2024 NAR iOi Summit and the T³ Technology Summit Pitch Battles, Tether RE is making waves. Vanessa walks us through how Tether RE elevates agent safety, simplifies showing logistics, and keeps professionals protected—and connected—even when they’re on their own.
Vanessa Martin, Co-Founder of Tether RE, was invited to present during the West Virginia Association of REALTORS®’ September Empower Hour, held in recognition of REALTOR® Safety Month. Her session, “Introducing: Tether RE,”highlighted innovative tools and strategies that help real estate professionals enhance personal safety and client trust. This exclusive event was open to West Virginia REALTORS® and underscored the state’s commitment to becoming TetherSAFE.
NVISION SUMMIT by Nevada REALTORS®
Vanessa Martin, has been invited to take the stage at the NVISION SUMMIT
Vanessa will be diving into Emerging Tech in the Real Estate Industry — exploring how innovation and safety-focused tools are transforming the way REALTORS® serve clients and succeed in a rapidly evolving market.
The NVISION SUMMIT is where bold ideas meet real-world solutions. This premier event gathers top innovators, industry experts, and forward-thinking professionals for a day of fresh perspectives, powerful conversations, and strategies designed to prepare REALTORS® for the future.
The NVision event by Nevada REALTORS® set the bar high
From start to finish, the level of professionalism was unmatched, and the caliber of speakers, representing voices from across the real estate industry, made every segment valuable. Tether RE was proud to contribute to the dialogue on Emerging Tech and how it’s shaping the future of real estate and REALTOR® safety.
Thank you to the Nevada REALTORS® staff and organizers for creating an event that truly reflects the strength, talent, and leadership within this community.
Vanessa Martin at
Gen Blue 2025
Our Co-Founder, Vanessa Martin, spoke on Empowering Agents through Tech and AI and we loved connecting with so many Coldwell Banker agents. The questions, the energy, and the focus on safety showed us just how much Coldwell Banker Agents are focused on safety and having peace of mind in the field.
Anytime we get to share a stage with our REACH family, is a great one. Big thanks to Coldwell Banker for having us all! 💙
Vulnerable to Vigilant
Practical Safety for Agents in the Field
Presented during REALTOR® Safety Month, September 2025
Vanessa Martin, Co-Founder of Tether RE, was invited by the National Association of REALTORS® to lead a nationwide safety webinar focused on empowering agents with modern tools and practical strategies for personal protection. In her session, From Vulnerable to Vigilant: Practical Safety for Agents in the Field, she covered real-world safety practices, technology integration, and self-protection methods that agents can apply immediately in their day-to-day business. The presentation concluded with a live Q&A, allowing REALTORS® to engage directly and share best practices with peers.
A replay of the session will be available for those unable to attend live.