Munich Startup: What does Futurail do? What problem does it solve?
Alex Haag, CEO Futurail: Futurail develops a autonomous system for driverless trains, making public transport more frequent, reliable, and efficient. Our goal is to accelerate the shift from road to rail, improving mobility for all while reducing carbon emissions and promoting a more sustainable transport network.
Munich Startup: But that's been around for a long time!
Alex Haag, CEO Futurail: Not really. Autonomous subways already exist, but only in closed environments on limited routes. We're going a step further and enabling fully driverless trains on all routes.
From Tesla to Rail: The Founding of Futurail
Munich Startup: What is your founding story?
Alex Haag, CEO Futurail: My journey has always been at the intersection of robotics, automation, and mobility—from building my first robotics company to leading Tesla's Autopilot team in Silicon Valley to scaling Audi's self-driving subsidiary (AID/Argo AI) as CTO and Managing Director from 0 to 300 employees.
But as autonomous technology in cars advanced rapidly, I realized that rail, despite being four times more carbon-efficient than cars, had been overlooked. The industry suffers from staffing shortages and operational inefficiencies, yet it holds the key to a more sustainable future.
And so Futurail was born. With the goal of promoting train autonomy and accelerating the shift from road to rail. Fortunately, Max and Patrick shared this vision and, together with me, built a first-class and ambitious team to make this happen.
Munich Startup: What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Alex Haag, CEO Futurail: The railway industry is highly regulated, making bringing innovations to market complex. While safety is our top priority, certification is challenging. Fortunately, our team has deep expertise in autonomous vehicle certification and a clear plan for the future.
Seed round planned for 2025
Munich Startup: Where would you like to be in one year, where in five years?
Alex Haag, CEO Futurail: We're launching our seed round this year. Our goal is to successfully close our funding round within a year, expand our team, advance product development, and strengthen customer partnerships.
In five years, we will have a certified product in commercial operation on multiple trains. We see Futurail as the preferred partner for autonomous train technology, working globally to deploy driverless trains at scale.
Munich Startup: How have you experienced Munich as a startup location so far?
Alex Haag, CEO Futurail: Munich is a great place to start a business. As a major hub for mobility and innovation, Munich offers a strong ecosystem of investors, talent, and industry partners. Moving to Werk1 was also a fantastic experience, giving us the opportunity to be part of and learn from the vibrant community.
Munich Startup: Public transport or bicycle?
Alex Haag, CEO Futurail: Good question. Let me put it this way: I can get everywhere within the city by bike. However, I'm a big fan of public transport and take the train whenever possible—whether it's skiing, visiting family in France, or simply for sustainable travel.
