A technology with great potential, self-determined work, targeted support — there are good reasons to start a business, even for the Munich startup tacterionWe visit Daniel Strohmayr, one of the founders, in the offices of MunichRE. Here, the young company had the opportunity to participate in the LMU Entrepreneurship Center Lab found shelter for several months.
New possibilities for human-machine interaction
The spin-off of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) aims to bring to market a unique, flexible, tactile sensor technology that allows objects to feel like a human. Called "SensorSkin," this technology will make products more intelligent and open up entirely new possibilities for human-machine interaction.The technology is based on a polymer-based film, the skin, which can be flexibly applied to objects and then detects and directs the strength of the pressure on specific areas of the material.
And what happens when you hit the sensor with a hammer? See for yourself...
The drive — self-determined
Founded in October 2015, the three initiators of the company are Dr. Michael Strohmayr, Managing Director and developer of the technology, his brother Daniel Strohmayr, a declared bridge builder in marketing and sales, and Denis Schneider, responsible for the development of electronics.
For Michael, who DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics doctorate, it was clear very early on: from this robotics research one must create a pro
product! For Daniel, who is studying Business Administration at LMU and Technology Management at CDTM studied, the topic of self-determination was also a focus when founding the company. At the same time, he is concerned with “to expand my comfort zone and keep pushing myself forward.” Following the example of other very successful CDTM plants such as Stylight or eGym.
The financing — public funding made the start possible
Currently, tacterion is still supported by funding from the Helmholtz Association, which supports spin-offs from affiliated research institutions such as the German Aerospace Center (DLR). This allows Daniel to continue developing the startup—no longer just on the side. While the €285,000 grant for further development of the technology is going to the Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics, the Institute is funding the founders, allowing them to fully concentrate on their startup.
Daniel says: "Especially with such a capital-intensive research topic, a start-up is only possible with public funding. The public sector is therefore interested in ensuring that the technology becomes a real product." Seven years of research at the DLR have gone into the development, and the unique sensor technology is now patented. The startup pays a license fee for its use, and the DLR will share in future revenues. Public funding will soon expire—then tacterion will have to stand on its own two feet.
And how is further support going?
Things are looking good: Since its spin-off, the startup hasn't had to pay any rent. Initially, through the accelerator Techfounders supported, the funding in the LMU EC Lab The coaching and networking opportunities are also very valuable, for example through the Cashwalk the LMU or at MUST.
"There are many opportunities, and we take advantage of them. In Munich, no one is just looking out for themselves – a lot is being done. We are very grateful," says Daniel. And compared to other cities? "It may be a little quieter than Berlin, but with more substance behind it. For us as a hardware startup, we find Munich to be the ideal environment."
The Status Quo — Driving Technology Readiness
A long development period and an even longer lead time to acquire the first industrial customer. After a pilot project with Festo, an industrial partner from Control and automation technology, which came through Techfounders, the founders now have to show that they can deliver large quantities in consistently high quality.
“We already have a good standing: We are noticed, and the companies’ tech scouts approach us.” That's one side. “But it’s something else entirely to actually win customers and find companies that say: yes, we trust you to deliver 100,000 sensors next year,” adds Daniel. The founders are currently working on this — the sensors withstand concrete tests, even under harsh conditions.
For a well-known industrial company (which cannot be named yet, editor's note) The startup has already demonstrated that it can make its devices touch-sensitive using tacterion's sensors. And once this contract is signed, Daniel is certain that winning the second or third customer will be easier.
The future — in stores in 2018
And where should we go? "We go where the market is moving. We plan selectively and assess: what makes sense from a startup perspective? When we think about production, that means: what other customers or segments can we serve with this one production facility," explains Daniel.
tacterion is currently targeting three selected industries for B2B and B2B2C business, including wearables, virtual reality, and handheld equipment. For example, thanks to the fully bendable sensor, it's possible to integrate control elements into clothing without causing it to stiffen; or to be able to physically touch objects in the virtual world.
The vision: Nobody has to read an instruction manual anymore. In the future, it will simply be a matter of touching the device—and thanks to the sensitive tactile sensors, the object will already know what the user wants. The technology adapts to the user, not the other way around.
Specifically, this means that series products with integrated SensorSkin are expected to be available in stores in 2018. A practical advantage is that the size of the sensors is scalable upwards, and the production facility can be adapted to meet the diverse requirements of very different customers. This allows for excellent economies of scale.
And does tacterion have any advice for other founders?
In high-tech startups, many things take longer — product development, testing, customer acquisition in the B2B sector. “It’s a rollercoaster of emotions. My tip: Keep calm and look at the long-term perspective, even if things don't work out in the short term! It's important to tell yourself: not for long, then we'll be in a completely different place again„, recommends Daniel.
Where the journey is going and where tacterion will be in a few months, whether the startup will pay rent, when the first customer will sign a contract –– We are excited and will report back.
