Munich Startup: What does Livair do? What problem do you solve?
Martin Waltl, Livair: We help make buildings more sustainable, energy-efficient and healthier while protecting the climate and people. We are specialists in measuring, analysing and solving indoor air quality and energy consumption problems in buildings. Why? Buildings are responsible for 40 per cent of the world’s CO2 emissions, mainly through the operation of ‘unsmart’ heating and ventilation systems using fossil fuels, which can lead to higher energy costs, among other things. Our goal of transforming buildings into sustainable, low-CO2 living spaces has a direct impact on health as well. After all, we spend over 90 percent of our time indoors and indoor air is up to five times more polluted than the air we breathe outside. This can lead to health problems such as respiratory diseases, allergies and even Alzheimer’s disease. The increasing importance of pollutants such as radon further exacerbates the situation.
Our hardware-enabled SaaS solution offers real-time monitoring of the indoor air with a specially developed and patented radon sensor and the recording of a total of 13 parameters. Thus, we provide a kind of permanent, complete blood count of the room’s conditions – as a basis for the upcoming therapy that we recommend to the building. Here we are talking about direct recommendations, as well as the possibility to initiate direct control of the HVAC systems through our data.
Munich Startup: But that’s nothing out of the box!
Martin Waltl, Livair: The decisive difference with Livair lies in its overall excellence, because if you use insufficient sensor technology, you only get a section of the overall picture. If the most harmful indoor air component radon is not detected, our health protection is not satisfied.
We offer strong hardware and real-time monitoring with powerful software that provides the ability to control heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems. This multitude of different data must be mapped visually in such a way that resulting options for action can be grasped by the customer at a glance – our dashboard. Another essential component of our all-in-one solution is our specially developed and patented radon sensor. The Alpha-Sensor is the result of many years of development, into which not only the latest technology but also the knowledge of the deficits of previously existing radon sensor technology has flowed. Thus, our Livair One including the Alpha-Sensor meets a market that finds fertile ground through corresponding legislation (nationally applicable reference value for radon at workplaces). All in all, we offer our customers not only an innovative and reliable radon sensor, but a comprehensive solution that helps them optimise indoor air quality, prevent legal requirements, and promote the well-being of their employees.
From radon sensor to software
Munich Startup: What is your founding story?
Martin Waltl, Livair: It all started about ten years ago when I discovered that my property was contaminated with radon while building my house. I had become aware of this dangerous, radioactive noble gas because at about that time the EU took the high health risk of radon into account with a Euratom directive and imposed radon protection laws on the member states of the EU. My co-founder and brother, and I, were among the first radon specialists trained by the State Office for Environmental Protection in Augsburg. That was the starting signal for the first company, Radontec. Here, through years of hard work, the patented Alpha-Sensor was developed. This innovative sensor received special attention through a European Innovation Council Grant and we became one of only eight selected startups to receive millions in funding.
But we soon realised that there are many other harmful substances that affect almost everyone. In addition, we noticed that many companies were suffering from high, but sometimes unnecessary, energy consumption. In response, we founded Livair as our own spin-off, which includes advanced sensor technology in addition to the radon sensor, as well as our software component to measure all harmful substances in the air in real time, analyse them AI-based and solve problems of indoor air quality and energy consumption through automatic recommendations and control of building systems. Our vision: Make buildings more climate-friendly. Reduce energy costs. Protect people in buildings from polluted indoor air. Prevent radon-induced lung cancer.
Munich Startup: What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Martin Waltl, Livair: One of the biggest challenges we overcame during our journey was undoubtedly the development of the unique radon sensor. This undertaking took a lot of time and commitment, but it was absolutely worth it. The radon sensor is an innovation that did not exist before, and it challenged us both technically and emotionally. In addition, we encountered a lack of awareness of the issues of radon and indoor air quality, as few people are aware of the associated risks and impacts. It was an exciting task to raise awareness of radon and its importance for indoor air quality and to communicate the relevance.
However, these challenges have made the whole adventure even more exciting. We have been passionate about overcoming obstacles and developing innovative solutions for healthy and energy-efficient buildings. The combination of technical breakthroughs and the mission to raise awareness makes our journey an exciting experience.
Livair: one-stop shop for sustainable and healthy buildings
Munich Startup: Where would you like to be in one year, where in five years?
Martin Waltl, Livair: In one year’s time, we would like to have a strong market position in the DACH region. Our success is based on the fact that we specialise in every type of building and offer a comprehensive solution that covers all aspects. Our goal for the next five years is to further expand our presence in Europe and possibly even be present in other parts of the world. We want to become the one-stop shop for companies seeking sustainable and healthy buildings. With our proven technology and comprehensive approach, we are confident that we can play our part in making buildings healthier, more energy efficient and more sustainable worldwide.
Munich Startup: How have you experienced Munich as a startup location so far?
Martin Waltl, Livair: The exchange with other startups proves to be extremely valuable and is promoted by the MTZ, where we are based. Through such platforms, we had the opportunity to gather many important learnings and exchange ideas with other innovative companies. One example of this was our participation in trade fairs such as Bits & Pretzels Healthtech, where we were able to officially measure air quality. Such events give us the opportunity to present our solutions to a broad audience and make valuable contacts. The city of Munich, where we are based, also gives us access to talented professionals through the city’s renowned universities. In addition, Munich offers a vibrant startup and investor network that provides us with valuable resources and support. These networks enable us to turn our vision into reality and further advance our solutions for healthy and energy-efficient buildings.
Munich Startup: Quick exit or staying power?
Martin Waltl, Livair: Our long-term goal – with external investors on board – is an exit or to be exit-ready in the next three to five years. However, it is currently too early to think about this in concrete terms, as we are currently concentrating on achieving our ambitious short-term goals. The market still offers us many opportunities and we see great potential for rapid scaling, driven by high demand. We are determined to move forward with our vision and have a lot of work ahead of us. Our previous experiences have shown that we have staying power and have successfully overcome the challenges with our previous startup. We are ready to use this experience and our commitment to move our mission forward and unleash the full potential of our solutions in the market.