The ESA BIC Bavaria startup Teiimo designs conformable textile-integrated solutions for capturing and transmitting biometric data in real-time and via Cloud, which are fully compatible with standard textile manufacturing techniques and able to improve people’s quality of life.
Teiimo founder Markus Strecker (MS) is interviewed by Lena Nietbaur (LN), Deputy Head of Marketing & Communications at ESA BIC Bavaria’s managing company AZO.
LN: Please give us a sneak peek of your product and the team behind it.
MS: At Teiimo, we develop conformable systems consisting of sensors, conductors and electronic units, which can be integrated into textiles to capture biometric data. We have a suite of technologies that enable us to map the most diverse electronic functionalities. Our sensors are used in textiles where they have the best sensing conditions. High density electronic nodes will then collect the signals, store the data and calculate live information to provide this information to the user and to a cloud system. We work with the newest wireless technologies for data transfer while complying with data protection requirements. A product is, for example, a biometric shirt for fire fighters where we have live information about their biometrical data and with extensions their location inside the building. Today we are still a small team of five people, but we have set the course for further growth.
LN: What has been your company’s biggest challenge so far?
MS: A major challenge was the expansion into new market segments after we started in sports. To achieve this, we first had to refine our technology to meet more specific industry requirements. We also intensified our sales activities. It was hard work, but we succeeded. Today, our technology is simpler, more refined, more versatile and shows a higher performance. Our customer base includes well-known companies from the medical and healthcare sectors as well as the manufacturing industry with a focus on work safety.
LN: Can you explain the three main ingredients of your recipe for success?
MS: First, don’t stop learning. Many things go well, but you also make mistakes. From these you must draw the right conclusions. Second, make decisions, execute and sometimes do things differently. There is no patent recipe for success except to satisfy the customer. And third, but most important, find the right people for the team and partners. Build on trust and loyalty in all these partnerships.
LN: What did you expect from ESA BIC Bavaria? How did the initiative and its network help you to kick-start your business case?
MS: The initiative gave us an important financial kick-start, as well as a home base accompanied by a network to work with. The professional trainings and the experience of the team was a great help to improve during our start-up period. Several marketing activities gave us visibility. Overall it was a great experience and pleasure to work with the ESA BIC Bavaria team so far.
LN: Let’s reach for the stars – what is going to happen in Teiimo’s future?
MS: With the further development of our technology and the expansion into new market segments, we have laid the foundation for further growth. The order situation shows a positive trend and we are starting to work with a first customer from the US. We identified business opportunities in the medical, para-medical and industrial segments that fit with our proven technology and know-how base. The enormous progress in the ability to use Artificial Intelligence for our applications allow for further functional improvement and open new application areas to the technology. Up to now we are self-funded, therefore we will intensify our search for a strong financial partner. We plan to grow our team in Munich to fulfil our vision of improving people’s quality of life.
Did you enjoy this interview with the outstanding innovator? Stay tuned for upcoming interviews with ESA BIC Bavaria innovators on our AZO Blog.
