Munich Startup: What does SoreAlert do? What problem are you solving?
Lorenz Grünerbel: SoreAlert is developing a method for the first time for personalized pressure ulcer prevention. Decubitus, also known as pressure ulcers, are pressure wounds that can develop in people with limited mobility if they don’t move at the right time or are not repositioned by caregivers. The problem today is that the right time to reposition cannot be determined, resulting in over 400,000 pressure ulcers annually in Germany. This causes considerable suffering for patients and high costs for the healthcare system. SoreAlert’s sensor patch continuously monitors the tissue condition of at-risk patients. Through modern sensors with AI evaluation, our technology detects pressure ulcer development before it becomes visible. This allows repositioning intervals to be personalized to patient needs and wound development to be prevented.
Munich Startup: But this has existed for a long time already!
Lorenz Grünerbel: The established prevention methods so far are based on time-consuming and labor-intensive manual examinations by nursing staff. These processes are based on general routines and are not tailored individually to patient needs. This is exactly where we come in.
Munich Startup: What is your founding story?
Lorenz Grünerbel: We have already developed and tested our technology in multi-year research projects with the TU München and Fraunhofer EMFT (= Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Microsystems and Solid State Technologies). Now we have built a strong team and are determined to realize technology transfer to create real added value for society.
Challenge: Financing and regulatory requirements
Munich Startup: What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Lorenz Grünerbel: Financing and regulatory requirements in the medical device sector. Grant applications take a very long time to get an answer. We have already attended accelerators to get help in the complex regulated medical device market.
Munich Startup: Where would you like to be in one year, and where in five years?
Lorenz Grünerbel: In one year we want to have finished developing our prototype and test it in several facilities.
Munich Startup: How have you experienced Munich as a startup hub so far?
Lorenz Grünerbel: Munich offers a lot for startups. However, programs with a focus on medical device technology are better established in other locations.
Munich Startup: Risk or security?
Lorenz Grünerbel: No risk, no fun!
