Founder of the month: varmo sensors

15.01.2025 Emma Schmitt Founder of the month

varmo sensors is a startup from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) that has been officially established since July 2024. The team, led by Felix Kottek, Leonard Franke, Mofasser Mallick and Martin Gutfleisch, manufactures innovative high-tech sensors for thermal management and transport. They aim to combine economic efficiency and sustainability.

In an interview with varmo sensors

What does your company stand for?

varmo sensors stands for novel, highly efficient manufacturing technologies for high-tech sensors in the field of heat management and transport. We develop processes that are not only economically attractive but also technologically groundbreaking. We want to optimise heat management worldwide and apply it in a wide range of industries in order to sustainably conserve resources and drive innovation.

Where and how did you get the idea to found the company?

The idea came about when Felix and Leo were discussing new technologies at the LTI (Institute for Lighting Technology). The vision developed of producing thermoelectric heat flow sensors using a cost-effective screen printing process and then establishing them on the mass market. This idea formed the basis for our startup, which has since been working passionately on developing this idea further.

How did the founding team come together?

Felix and Leo had known each other privately for many years and quickly realised that they complemented each other perfectly in terms of their skills and personalities. As one of Leo’s colleagues, Mofasser had the necessary know-how for novel printing pastes – an important component of our sensors. Martin initially joined us as an external consultant with expertise in printed electronics and was so convinced that he later founded Varmo together with us. Together, we now combine technological expertise, entrepreneurial experience and a great passion for innovation.

Where do you see the hurdles in the start-up process? Where did you get support?

Since two members of our team had already founded another start-up, we were familiar with the essential steps and bureaucratic requirements. This enabled us to avoid many typical pitfalls and to initiate relevant processes more quickly. Overall, we therefore got through the startup relatively smoothly.

We took a broad approach from the outset and sought support from a range of institutions and experts. These include the KIT-Gründerschmiede and the Axel Energie Accelerator. In addition, various professors at KIT are on hand to provide us with advice and support. The exchange with experienced mentors has been very helpful in refining our business idea and effectively overcoming challenges.

What was one of your biggest challenges during the start-up phase?

One of our biggest challenges was to establish a robust production chain that would both manufacture high-quality sensors and be economically competitive. To do this, we carried out numerous test runs with different materials and worked closely with suppliers. This process was demanding, but it helped us gain valuable experience and create a solid basis for series production.

Has the coronavirus had an impact on your startup so far, and if so, what has it been?

Fortunately, we have not experienced any significant restrictions or delays in this context. So far, our industry and our company have been largely spared from the immediate consequences of the pandemic.

Even in the face of global crises, we have not experienced any significant adverse effects. Our supply chains and material procurement have remained stable so far, enabling us to continue our operations without change.

Has anything changed for you since the formal founding? And if so, what?

Yes, definitely. Now that we’ve been officially established as a company, we enjoy significantly more freedom of action and receive faster legal support. Before, we often had to wait months for contracts or agreements, which delayed our projects. Now we can act much more flexibly and push our ideas forward faster.

What are your next big milestones in the next 12 months?

Our goals for the next year are ambitious: we want to produce 100,000 sensors and at the same time successfully complete a proof of concept (POC) in a mass-produced product. In addition, we are working on a competitive PIR sensor that can be seamlessly integrated into a wide range of applications. With these steps, we want to strengthen our market position and further emphasise Varmo’s innovative strength.

What qualities do you think someone should have if they want to start a company?

From our point of view, courage and determination are essential – especially when it comes to presenting prototypes or unfinished ideas as early as possible in order to get feedback. A flair for networking is also indispensable, because every founder must be able to ‘sell’ their product. In addition, it takes a consistent focus on the essentials. Only those who concentrate on the most important goals will be successful in the long term.

Do you have any practical tips for other young founders?

Definitely: make sure people know you! Get coverage in newspapers, enter competitions and use your private network – friends, family and acquaintances can often make the most unexpected connections. Many doors only open when someone knows someone who in turn knows someone. The best opportunities often arise through personal contact and recommendations.

From today’s perspective, what would you do differently?

In retrospect, we should have clearly assigned the internal roles and responsibilities even earlier. A clear division of tasks creates transparency and avoids frictional losses. We would therefore advise every team to introduce binding structures at an early stage in order to work together efficiently and purposefully. This saves valuable time and creates the necessary space for creative ideas.

Want to know more? Listen to the podcast episode on Spotify or Apple Podcast. Daniela talks to the startup about their journey from the initial idea to market entry, hurdles, challenges and successes.