The Munich-based startup accu:rate understands how people and space interact dynamically—and how crowd flows behave. Oktoberfest is already leveraging the IT startup's expertise. 7 questions, 7 answers.
1. Who are you and what do you do?
We are accu:rate – a Munich-based software startup, we focus on the interaction between people and space. Whenever large numbers of people gather in a space, dynamics develop that, in an emergency, can even lead to disasters. To prevent this, we use computer-based simulations – in our case, our crowd:it software – that check in advance whether a building or event can be safely evacuated. And not only that: we can also simulate processes at train stations or airports, for example.
Initial spark Love Parade
In 2014, we were founded as a spin-off from the Technical University of Munich based on the research work of founder Dr. Angelika Kneidl. The initial spark was the 2010 Love Parade disaster in Duisburg. This prompted Dr. Kneidl to take the topic from research into practice. She quickly won over Florian Sesser, who was convinced by the idea from the start and contributed his skills as a software architect to the development of the crowd:it software.
Since 2014, they have been working together on client projects and on the development of crowd:it, which was officially launched in February 2017. Thus, accu:rate offers its customers the simulation of crowd flows as a service, but also as a software product.
Simulate movement patterns, visitor flows and process cycles
2. But that's been around for a long time!
Of course, it already exists – albeit rarely. However, most other programs for crowd flow simulation focus exclusively on evacuations. This is also one of our most important application areas. However, we see much more potential in this technology: With our model, we can also simulate movement patterns, visitor flows, and process cycles.
The fact that our simulator can reliably replicate such processes is primarily due to the underlying model. In crowd:it, we use the Optimal Steps Model, which was developed at the Munich University of Applied Sciences (HM) and is one of the most modern on the market. Through our close collaboration with HM and TUM, we have the great advantage of being able to integrate the latest research findings directly into our simulator, allowing us to continually improve it.
3. What has been your biggest challenge so far?
Leaving the safe haven of startup funding and staying afloat was probably one of the biggest challenges at the beginning; but new ones keep coming. You often have to step out of your comfort zone to move forward, and you grow from it every day. On the one hand, that's a huge challenge, but on the other, it's incredibly motivating to look back and see how far you've come—including our team!
Award-winning: Awards, funding programs, accelerators
4. Let’s get down to business: How is business going?
We worked hard in the first few years to develop our software and establish a name for ourselves in the industry – and this effort has paid off and is now slowly bearing fruit. We've been able to win major clients like Deutsche Bahn and the Munich Oktoberfest and have expanded our team to 13 members.
We also have a few awards and funding programs such as the Startup Pitch of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure and were accepted into the Accelerator Program of Wayra Since we are self-financed and have no investors on board, our revenue curve may not look like the famous hockey stick, but we are doubling our revenue annually.
5. What does Munich mean to you?
For us, Munich means good food, first and foremost, since we're located right next to the Viktualienmarkt ;-). Joking aside, we greatly value the high quality of Munich as a business location, and many of our project clients are from Munich. Furthermore, the wide variety of universities allows us, as a small company, to attract great young talent.
Munich is simply a great city with a superb infrastructure, a balanced startup scene and many opportunities for young companies.
A unicorn for small and medium-sized businesses
6. How will your startup become the next unicorn? Or will we see you soon at Epic Fail Night?
Definitely not at Epic Fail Night, but it'll probably be a little bit of a unicorn, since we offer a niche product. Our goal is to establish accu:rate among medium-sized businesses and carefully expand internationally, but you never know...
7. Helles or Prosecco?
Definitely a light beer! Augustiner is best.
