Munich Startup: What does Futurail do? What problem are you solving?
Alex Haag, CEO Futurail: Futurail is developing an autonomous system for driverless trains that makes public local transport more frequent, reliable, and efficient. Our goal is to accelerate the shift from road to rail and thus improve mobility for everyone, while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions and promoting a more sustainable transport network.
Munich Startup: But that already exists, doesn’t it?
Alex Haag, CEO Futurail: Not really. There are already autonomous subways, but only in closed environments on limited routes. We’re taking it a step further and enabling fully driverless trains on all routes.
From Tesla to the railway: the founding of Futurail
Munich Startup: What’s your founding story?
Alex Haag, CEO Futurail: My journey has always taken place at the intersection of robotics, automation, and mobility – from building my first robotics company through leading Tesla’s Autopilot team in Silicon Valley to scaling Audi’s autonomous driving subsidiary (AID/Argo AI) as CTO and managing director from 0 to 300 employees.
But while autonomous technology in cars was advancing rapidly, I realized that rail transport, although four times more CO2-efficient than cars, had been overlooked. The industry is suffering from staff shortages and operational inefficiencies, yet it’s the key to a more sustainable future.
And so Futurail was born. With the goal of advancing train autonomy and accelerating the shift from road to rail. Fortunately, Max and Patrick shared this vision and together with me built a world-class and ambitious team to make it happen.
Munich Startup: What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Alex Haag, CEO Futurail: The railway industry is heavily regulated, which makes bringing innovations to market complex. Safety is our top priority, but certification is a challenge. Fortunately, our team has deep expertise in autonomous vehicle certification and has a clear roadmap ahead.
Seed round planned for 2025
Munich Startup: Where do you want to be in one year, where in five years?
Alex Haag, CEO Futurail: We’re launching our seed round this year. Our goal is to successfully complete our funding round in one year, expand our team, advance product development, and strengthen customer partnerships.
In five years, we will have a certified product that is in commercial use on multiple trains. We see Futurail as the preferred partner for autonomous train technology, working globally to deploy driverless trains at scale.
Munich Startup: How have you experienced Munich as a startup location so far?
Alex Haag, CEO Futurail: Munich is a great place to build a company. As a major hub for mobility and innovation, Munich offers a strong ecosystem of investors, talent, and industry partners. The move to Werk1 was also a fantastic experience that gave us the opportunity to be part of and learn from the vibrant community.
Munich Startup: Public transport or bike?
Alex Haag, CEO Futurail: Good question, let me put it this way: within the city, I can get anywhere by bike. But I’m a big fan of public transport and take the train whenever possible – whether it’s for skiing, visiting family in France, or simply for sustainable travel.
