Munich Startup: What does your startup do? What problem do you solve?
Muniqo: In Germany, approximately 60,000 premature babies are born every year. These infants are usually transported in an ambulance and in a transport incubator to a specialized clinic. About one in three premature babies suffers a brain hemorrhage, which can lead to disability or death. One of the causes of brain hemorrhages is the vibrations and tremors that occur during transport. Current solutions cannot sufficiently prevent these harmful vibrations that cause brain hemorrhages.
This is where we come in: Muniqo Perfomante. We offer an innovative solution for vibration-free storage of transport incubators, which enables safe transport of premature babies and critically ill newborns. This significantly reduces the risk of transport-related injuries such as brain hemorrhages. This technology not only potentially saves babies’ lives but can also save up to €200,000 in costs per prevented brain hemorrhage, as well as numerous care and medical expenses. Additionally, we offer the possibility of continuously monitoring vibrations. Furthermore, conclusions can be drawn about the risk of brain hemorrhage and preventive measures can be taken.
Muniqo Performante: Vibration sensor can do more than just transport incubators
Munich Startup: But that already exists, doesn’t it?
Muniqo: Our product is based on an innovative platform technology that enables optimal damping and suspension. Technically, it covers more spectra than comparable solutions.
Additionally, our system is a vibration sensor. High-precision work and processes play a role not only in the transport of incubators but in numerous economic sectors. The technology can also be applied in battery production or in quantum technology applications.
Regarding vibration-free storage for the transport of babies, there have been efforts to develop solutions. The most important current approaches to prevent vibrations include reducing driving speed, using damping materials such as gel mattresses, tight wrapping of babies, and the use of rubber shock absorbers. These approaches, and particularly the rubber shock absorbers, cannot optimally cover or cover at all the spring, damping, or sensor functionality. By installing our product in transport incubators, babies rest on a mounting surface and can thus be transported almost vibration-free. Another point is that the exact influence of rides and the effects of vibrations on the newborn have not been precisely researched but only estimated. Our sensor functionality can make an important contribution here.
From best friends to founding team
Munich Startup: What’s your founding story?
Muniqo: We, co-founders Luca Fabiano and Sebastian Wann, have known each other since primary school and have been best friends ever since. We completed our high school diploma together and stayed in close touch. Sebastian already had the idea for our product in school. We both studied at TU München. There we learned how to describe the idea mathematically and physically, and developed a first prototype. With a master’s thesis and winning the TUM IdeAward 2023, we decided to apply the technology to real-world problems. Since December 2023, Muniqo Performante has been a member of TUM Venture Labs Additive Manufacturing and Mobility. At the end of May, we also completed the Xplore program from UnternehmerTUM.
Munich Startup: What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Muniqo: A concrete challenge for a project in the early stages like ours is recruiting highly qualified personnel. Such an undertaking is an extreme risk and therefore it is difficult to find people who want to join us in that regard. Additionally, there are the usual problems, namely work-life balance or work-work-life balance, where we have to juggle startup, studies, and side jobs, the uncertainty, and of course the money.
Plans for further development
Munich Startup: Where do you want to stand in one year, where in five years?
Muniqo: In one year, we want to have completed pilot projects, developed fully functional and potentially deployable prototypes, and be EXIST-funded so that we can then officially establish the company. In five years, we want to be established on the market and run a stable company with six-figure revenue, while simultaneously advancing research and development and thus opening up additional market segments.
Munich Startup: How have you experienced the Munich startup location so far?
Muniqo: We have experienced extremely good support and were able to build a large network in a very short time, especially through UnternehmerTUM. The Venture Labs have also contributed to this. They also provide us with extremely good professional support. There are also often great and helpful events. And if you then need something or someone who is not in the network, there is always someone who quickly makes the connection. It is also extremely helpful that we have so many universities and sometimes also people who are genuinely interested in helping you. This greatly accelerates the development of tech solutions.
Munich Startup: Outsource or do it yourself?
Muniqo: We will not outsource.
