Building SoreAlert from Research

Lorenz, you are currently preparing to spin out SoreAlert from your research. Can you tell us what you are working on now and where the startup currently stands?

Yes, we are currently in the process of spinning out the company. We recently secured an EXIST Transfer of Research grant, which is an excellent funding programme designed to help bring deep-tech and medtech innovations from research into the market.

This support allows us to further develop and validate our prototype and prepare it for market entry. Especially in a highly regulated field like medical technology, it would be almost impossible to deeply validate innovative hardware-based solutions without this kind of support, because developing hardware requires a significant amount of time and resources. Right now, we are using this phase to make the startup market-ready and attractive for future investors.

How did the idea for SoreAlert originally emerge — and when did you decide to seriously pursue it as a startup?

The idea originated from a joint research project between Fraunhofer and the university hospital at TUM that I had the opportunity to lead during my PhD. Through the clinical collaboration, especially with plastic surgeons working on large wound reconstructions, we learned more about the problem of pressure ulcers. Using our expertise in advanced sensor technology, we developed an initial demonstrator that followed a completely new approach to the early detection of pressure ulcers. We were even able to test it with dozens of patients, which was incredibly exciting because the results gave us strong indications that the concept could actually work.

After finishing my doctorate, I took some time to reflect on what I wanted to do next. I had always wanted to become self-employed one day, ideally with a product that creates real value and allows me to apply my engineering background. That mindset was probably shaped early on through my family, with both of my parents running their own medical practices.

Even after the original research project ended, the idea never really left me. So I started developing an improved version of the demonstrator in my free time — one that integrated the learnings from our clinical studies into a small, flexible sensor patch. My business studies also helped me evaluate the business case behind it. Through research, discussions with experts, startup accelerators and people from the entrepreneurship ecosystem, the idea gradually evolved from a research outcome into a viable startup concept. Then I simply started building it.

From Scientific Perfectionism to Iteration

You mentioned that one of your biggest learnings was moving away from the scientific mindset of perfectionism towards a “build, test, iterate” approach. What helped you make that shift?

I think that shift is essential. In science, we are trained to communicate only results that are 100 percent validated. That is important for generating reliable knowledge, but it can slow down the validation of a business concept.

At Fraunhofer, I was already working very much at the interface between research and application, so I had some exposure to this mindset early on. But during my PhD, I realised something important: reality can never be fully captured by models or theory alone. At some point, every idea must survive the test of practice. The transition from a demonstrator to a real product also depends on thousands of factors beyond the technology itself — many of which you cannot fully anticipate in the beginning. So at some point, you simply have to start, test things and gather feedback.

Your personal background also gave you early exposure to chronic wounds and healthcare challenges. Did that influence your motivation to work on this topic?

I think it was more of a subconscious influence. Through conversations at home and seeing images of severe chronic wounds early on, I became very aware of the issue. What struck me most was that many of these wounds are preventable.

My father also spent many years building the organisation Foot Network Bavaria to improve interdisciplinary diabetic foot care. That was often a topic at home and showed me that meaningful change is possible when people are willing to commit to it. Later, my research on medical wearables created the connection between that healthcare challenge and my own technical expertise. That was when I realised I could potentially contribute something meaningful in this area.

Bridging High-Tech and Healthcare Practice

SoreAlert operates at the intersection of high-tech innovation and everyday healthcare practice. What is currently the biggest challenge when it comes to bringing this technology into real care settings?

What I find interesting is that there is a lot more openness towards innovation in nursing and healthcare than people often assume publicly. At the same time, there are currently many different approaches to digitalising healthcare, including a growing number of wearable technologies. That makes it extremely important not to build another isolated solution, but something that genuinely integrates into existing care workflows and patient care structures. That is why we are already building partnerships early on and working closely with potential practice partners to ensure the technology fits real-world needs.

You are still connected to the Fraunhofer environment while also building your startup. How do you experience this combination?

The close connection to a research institution comes with advantages, especially regarding access to infrastructure and resources. At the same time, intellectual property is a major topic and there are still very few established standards for how these processes should work.

In many cases — not just ours — the expectations of large research organisations or universities are still quite far removed from startup reality. That can consume a lot of energy and resources that early-stage startups would urgently need elsewhere.

At the same time, my role has evolved continuously. I stayed in close exchange with the institute leadership throughout the process, and once we secured our own funding, the separation became much clearer. Building a team now also allows me to work more strategically, while experts focus on further developing the technology itself.

The Value of Programmes, Exchange and Role Models

You emphasised the importance of networks for entrepreneurship. What role have networks and the Fraunhofer ecosystem played in your journey so far?

I think contacts and conversations are incredibly important. You can learn something from almost every exchange, even when someone comes from a completely different background — or perhaps especially then, because it opens up new perspectives. Every person has their own experiences and their own network, and you could never gather all of that knowledge alone. That is why I value exchange so highly. My work at Fraunhofer and the interdisciplinary research projects I was involved in have also played a very important role in shaping the development of the startup.

You also attended a Young Entrepreneurs in Science workshop in the past. What role do programmes like YES play for scientists who are considering entrepreneurship?

That experience was valuable. At the time, I already had the desire to translate science into a product or startup, but I had no idea yet how or with what. What I really appreciated about the YES workshop was the opportunity to exchange ideas with peers and learn methods for validating ideas, such as design thinking and lean startup approaches. Seeing role models is also extremely important. It gives people inspiration and makes entrepreneurial paths feel more tangible and realistic.

Lessons from the Founder Journey

What are the next steps for SoreAlert?

Our goal now is to further improve the current prototype through testing and practitioner feedback during the current funding phase, so that afterwards we can bring a product to market that caregivers genuinely want to use. That means not only improving the technical aspects, but especially optimising usability and integration into everyday workflows.

What advice would you give to other scientists who are thinking about turning their research into a startup?

Just do it. Use the available opportunities. Germany has an enormous amount of excellent research, but far too little of it is seriously translated into practice — even though difficult and slow processes are still a challenge. Still, it is worth it.

Early-stage accelerators offer a very low-threshold opportunity to evaluate the business model behind your research. When you are deeply immersed in your own scientific field, you often underestimate the potential that may already exist within your work.

If you are asking yourself whether your research has entrepreneurial potential, my counter-question would be: what do you have to lose? No matter how it turns out, it is an incredibly enriching journey — even if what you gain in the end is “just” experience.

What has become especially important to you throughout this journey?

One thing that is essential is the team. I initially started alone, developing the technology while also building the business case, attending accelerators and networking. That can become exhausting very quickly. At the same time, successes are much more meaningful when celebrated together, and setbacks become easier to handle as a team. Discussions also bring new perspectives that often lead to better decisions. That is why I would especially like to thank my long-time collaborator, Ferdinand Heinrich and our new co-founder, Hanna Strobel for joining us on this journey.

What happens next?

Check out our event calendar for upcoming workshops. Stay tuned for more updates, opportunities, and success stories! Connect with Lorenz via LinkedIn.

Interviewer & Editor, Design: Laura Walther