Although Regulate was only founded in May 2026, it has already raised 1.4 million euros in seed capital. Now, the Munich-based startup is expanding its offering to include breathwork training sessions from professional athlete Sebastian Steudtner, strengthening its positioning at the intersection of mental performance, sports, and the working world.
For Sebastian Steudtner, the ability to stay calm under extreme pressure determines both success and safety. The big-wave surfer, who has set world records riding towering waves off the coast of Nazaré, Portugal, relies on targeted breathwork training. This experience now also connects him commercially with Munich startup Regulate: Steudtner has invested in the company and is making his personal breathing routines available via its app.
In a LinkedIn post, the athlete confirmed his investment. The decisive factor, he noted, was primarily the sports-science-oriented training approach. He did not disclose the amount of his stake or the startup’s valuation.
From big-wave surfing to the Regulate app: Steudtner’s breathwork for everyday life
The collaboration goes beyond a traditional brand ambassador model. Steudtner trains directly with Regulate founder and breathwork coach Peter van Woerkum. The breathing techniques used in these sessions are now available in the new “Trusted by Athletes” app category. Steudtner is the first athlete whose personal routines are featured there.
The exercises are intended to help users actively influence their physical and mental state. According to Steudtner, he uses breathing techniques not only to prepare for extreme athletic demands, but also to focus before meetings, transition between different tasks, and recover after training.
“What I like best is the athletic approach,”
explains Steudtner in his LinkedIn post. He said the approach convinced him so much that he decided to invest.
Regulate: 1.4 Million Euros for Breathwork and Mental Performance
Founded in 2024, Munich-based startup Regulate is developing a digital breathing training platform specifically tailored to the demands of everyday work life. The company is backed by Peter van Woerkum and Paul Laechelin.
The app features more than 70 guided breathing exercises, including short sessions for stress management, focus, activation, and recovery. Many sessions last just three to five minutes and can easily be completed between meetings or before demanding tasks.
By connecting wearables, users can also track changes in their heart rate during the exercises. The company aims to establish breathwork as an easily accessible tool for self-regulation in everyday work life.
In May 2026, Regulate secured a seed funding round of 1.4 million euros. The round was led by impact investor 4impact.vc. Participating business angels include Personio co-founder Hanno Renner, Forto co-founder Mike Wax, Felix Haas, and Marlena Hien, co-founder of Bears with Benefits. The capital is slated for product development and European expansion, among other areas.
Why Sebastian Steudtner is relevant for the Munich healthtech startup
With Steudtner, Regulate brings on board an investor who knows the application of the technology from an extraordinary high-performance environment. In big-wave surfing, breath control, stress management, and the ability to remain functional even under extreme physical strain are critical.
For the startup, the collaboration offers an opportunity to complement its previous focus on mental performance in professional life with insights from elite sports.
The integration of his personal breathing routines is also a concrete step in this direction. While Regulate has primarily targeted professionals and executives to date, the new “Trusted by Athletes” category opens up additional touchpoints for active users.
According to the company, the Regulate app is already used by more than 7,000 working professionals. It remains to be seen whether and to what extent the collaboration with Steudtner will impact user growth.
