Munich Startup: What does Twaice do? What problem do you solve?
Stephan Rohr, founder and co-CEO of Twaice: Twaice offers companiesWe offer predictive analytics software to battery manufacturers to reduce health, safety, and warranty risks and unlock opportunities throughout the lifecycle. This enables our customers to save time and money while improving battery performance and service life. We combine battery knowledge with artificial intelligence to generate actionable insights throughout the entire battery lifecycle. Ultimately, we aim to increase battery service life, efficiency, safety, and sustainability.
Twaice makes the life cycle of a battery transparent
Munich Startup: What is your founding story?
Stephan Rohr: Michael and I both received our doctorates from the Department of Automotive Engineering at the Technical University of Munich in the field of "Second Life." We looked at where and when Second Life makes sense, but also what the technical problems are. And that's where the topic of our current business area came up: that batteries enable the energy transition and emission-free mobility, but at the same time they are the Achilles heel. There was no transparency about battery aging or safety-relevant parameters. Our goal was to generate these and make them available to customers in a process-oriented manner. We then went a step further and worked out how to build a business model and a company with them.
Munich Startup: How has your solution evolved since its founding?
Stephan Rohr: We now offer a ready-made software solution based on industry standards. In addition to our analytics software for energy and e-mobility customers, we also provide simulation models for batteries. This covers the entire battery life cycle – from battery development and battery use to the battery's second life.
Munich Startup: Were programs like ESA BIC or funding such as from the European Innovation Council relevant for your development?
Stephan Rohr: Of course, such programs are always valuable—both in terms of financial resources, contacts with potential customers, and as sparring partners for the business model and go-to-market activities. They play a very important role, especially at the beginning. You can learn a lot there.
Munich Startup: How are things going now?
Stephan Rohr: We are now a global company with offices in Munich, Paris, and Chicago. We have also grown significantly in terms of our workforce. We now employ over 130 motivated and smart people. This is naturally reflected in our client projects. New orders are constantly being added, both in Europe and North America.
A market that barely existed…
Munich Startup: What has been your biggest challenge so far?
Stephan Rohr: The biggest challenge for us at the beginning was that we were operating in a market that was still very young, or rather barely existed. Five years ago, when Twaice was still in its infancy, energy storage and electric cars weren't such a big topic. So every pitch started with us having to explain the added value and innovative power of batteries. In the second step, we had to point out that batteries also represent a problem for which we have a solution. That's a difficult communicative balancing act. Nowadays, nobody really questions that batteries are a fundamental component, and almost everyone is aware of the challenges. This means we can speak much more directly with our customers.
“Don’t be too impatient”
Munich Startup: What learnings have you as a founding team learned so far?
Stephan Rohr: One big lesson is definitely not to be too impatient. We've already achieved a lot with Twaice. But you must never forget that it's a long journey to build a large company. Of course, once we've achieved one goal, we always have our sights set on the next and want to implement them as quickly as possible. But sometimes it just takes time. That's why we also plan time for recovery to always have enough energy for the marathon.
Furthermore, you shouldn't stand in your own way or set up hurdles that are too high. The most important quality as a founder is perseverance. My advice is to avoid thinking about things like "What happens if it doesn't work out?" or "How would failure affect my resume?" Instead, simply throw yourself into the topic, learn, and then stay motivated. Then, after a few years, you'll realize what you've achieved.
Munich Startup: What milestones are you working towards next?
Stephan Rohr: Our goal remains successful internationalization. We're making excellent progress in this area, with several large contracts in the USA. Now it's all about further expanding and consolidating our presence in North America. At the same time, the competition isn't sleeping. That's why we're constantly developing our products in close collaboration with our customers.
