Munich Startup: What kind of career path have you had so far?
Christina Harbauer: I studied mechatronics, with a focus on automation technology. During my doctorate at TUM in the field of ergonomics, I focused on the development of ergonomic exoskeletons for commercial use. In 2021, I launched the spin-off with one of the exoskeletons I developed, together with my co-founders Martin Fleischer, Noah Gerullis, and Peter Schaefer. In 2025 we officially founded to take Ease further forward.
The leap from research to application
Munich Startup: What motivated you to start the company?
Christina Harbauer: Even during my studies, I was fascinated by the agile and fast-paced work in startups, thanks to the "Think.Make.Start" course. Ever since, I've wanted to found my own startup and build something with my own small team that would make the world, or even just the lives of individuals, a little bit better. But I was always missing that brilliant idea. When my research on exoskeletons grew into this team, and the feedback from users was so positive, I knew now was the perfect opportunity.
Munich Startup: What would you have liked to have known before starting your first business?
Christina Harbauer: The path to success is individual. What works well for a startup may not necessarily be the path to success for you. Many people will initially dislike your idea, but don't let that discourage you. You must always be open to input, but always weigh it against yourself and your own individual situation.
There's no standard recipe for success that you can apply – you learn a lot, fail a lot, and have to be open to new beginnings. And yes, you hear that a lot beforehand, but you only really understand what it means once you've experienced it yourself. But the foundation is a good team, a good network, a good relationship with potential customers, self-confidence, and a little bit of courage.
Munich Startup: How has your company been financed so far?
Christina Harbauer: We are fortunate to be currently funded by the EXIST Research Transfer Phase I within the framework of the EXIST program by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF Plus).
Harbauer: Ideas arise through dialogue and sport
Munich Startup: When and where do you get the best ideas?
Christina Harbauer: Sparring with my co-founders, as well as my mentors and coaches. As a team, we're all very creative problem solvers, but we sometimes have different approaches. This allows us to challenge each other very well, encourage each other to adopt new perspectives, and thus generate entirely new ideas.
My mentors always help me when I'm too focused on a problem. They always provide valuable, pragmatic input from outside, helping me take a step back and approach the issue from a new perspective and solve it.
Otherwise, it's also common when I'm doing sports, driving a car or when I'm out in nature.
Munich Startup: What are your 3 favorite work tools?
Christina Harbauer:
- Very old-school: pen and paper. It helps me quickly jot down thoughts, organize them, and sketch out possible solutions.
- I don't have a particular favorite, but LLM tools inspire my writing. Even though I always rewrite it afterward, it makes me much more efficient.
- Microsoft Teams: I work with it so much every day that I simply can't live without it. Even though Teams has its quirks and is sometimes a bit clunky, it simply makes my everyday life so much easier, both in terms of communication within the team and with our customers.
Munich Startup: Your top tip on pitching?
Christina Harbauer: Have fun! It's your topic, your expertise, your stage. Show them with your whole personality how great your passion topic is, and they'll be thrilled, too.
Reasons with effect and at the right time
Munich Startup: Does this seem like a good time to start a business? Why?
Christina Harbauer: Yes – for us, at least, it was the perfect time. The technological maturity had been achieved, and demand is steadily increasing due to the labor shortage and demographic change, which is now also becoming increasingly noticeable in the logistics industry. Ergonomics and employee health feel like never before more important. Despite the tense economic situation, companies are currently investing very willingly in this area and are clearly stating: "Ergonomics has no price."
Munich Startup: Which technology or industry would you focus on for your next startup?
Christina Harbauer: B2B hardware startups always face the problem of requiring a large initial investment and then having very long, complex sales cycles. This is, of course, risky. But these are the startups that also potentially have a major impact on the world and society.
Accordingly, I would probably choose a startup that offers a combination of scalable software with a hardware component that is not too complex.
Munich Startup: In your opinion, what could be improved at the Munich startup location?
Christina Harbauer: There are almost too many offerings – but too little overview. There are an incredible number of events, but they cover such a broad range that the added value isn't always there. And attending them all is almost impossible if you also want to work on the content of your startup.
I'd like to see more topic-specific, focused programs that offer real added value, not just "mass," and more targeted visibility for B2B and hardware startups. This simply increases the chances that an investor, mentor, or coach will find the right startup for them, and vice versa.
