Kea Robotics is run by three founders, Roman Hölzl, Paul Maroldt, and Constantin Dresel. Together, they pursue the vision of Robotics-as-a-Platform for small and medium-sized manufacturing companies From the startup's perspective, current robots do not meet the needs of manufacturing SMEs. They are too expensive to purchase, require a lengthy and complex integration process, and are limited in their application possibilities.
“If, for example, the required robot range or payload changes, the existing robot can no longer be used and the purchase of a new robot system becomes necessary,”
explained Roman HölzlWith Kea Robotics' technology, based on seven years of research at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and a European patent, these problems are set to become a thing of the past. The founders met as research assistants at the Chair of Robotics and AI at TUM and founded the company in mid-2020.
With the support of the EXIST Research Transfer Programme and the European Space Agency, the Startup now the first fully modular industrial robots. These can be flexibly constructed from a standard set of robot modules, which should simplify and reduce the cost of use. The founders explain:
"Our system is self-learning, robot kinematics-agnostic, and fully plug-and-play. Almost any robot setup can be implemented, ready for plug-and-play operation at the customer's site. The complex calibration, testing, and setup of the system are eliminated. Furthermore, we enable a software-based platform model that maps not only the individual robot, but the entire robot application, including peripherals, grippers, and safety devices, from the initial concept to the final implementation."
“We are the technology leader in modular robotics”
The biggest challenge for the startup, besides developing the solution, was securing early external financing for the complex technical project. However, after the team secured seven-figure funding last year, nothing stands in the way of success. Kea Robotics is currently preparing its market entry in the DACH region. Furthermore, it plans to expand its team and develop customer relationships. The startup has big plans for the future:
“In five years, we will be the market leader in flexible automation for SMEs through our Robotics-as-a-Platform solution with a global footprint.”
Munich also plays an important role in these plans, as he further explains:
"With its renowned universities, Munich is a top location for qualified employees, is home to many manufacturing companies and thus potential customers for us, and has great potential to become an internationally highly respected robotics location."
