Munich Startup: What does your startup do? What problem do you solve?
Karevo: We are developing a retrofittable sorting machine for potatoesOur solution uses computer vision and artificial intelligence to detect defects on tubers and automatically sort out unsaleable goods – without any manual inspection.
Innovation for small and medium-sized farms
Munich Startup: But that's been around for a long time!
Karevo: That's right – for large industrial companies and large agricultural operations. Small and medium-sized agricultural operations have previously had little access to automated sorting solutions. Our innovation lies in the fact that we've designed the technology so compact and modular that it can be easily integrated into existing systems – directly on-site and without major modifications – and is more cost-effective than comparable products.
Munich Startup: What is your founding story?
Karevo: Our co-founder, Benedikt, grew up on a potato farm in Donauwörth and knows the arduous work of sorting firsthand. During his master's thesis in mechanical engineering at TUM, he developed the first functioning system for automatic sorting – this was the starting point for our company. The idea: If everything is automated, why not potato sorting too?
Munich Startup: What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Karevo: Each phase brings its own challenges—from technical development to financing and market access. So far, however, we've navigated it well with a lot of motivation, team spirit, and pragmatism.
Vision: More than just potatoes
Munich Startup: Where would you like to be in one year – and where in five years?
Karevo: In five years, we see ourselves as a major player in automation and computer vision in agriculture – with solutions that go far beyond potatoes.
Munich Startup: How have you experienced Munich as a startup location so far?
Karevo: Munich is a great place to start a business: a strong network, plenty of support options, and an inspiring tech scene. Through our connection to the TUM Venture Lab Food, agriculture, and biotech also give us access to many valuable resources. At the same time, the Bavarian serenity brings a nice balance to the often hectic everyday life of a startup.
Munich Startup: Outsource or do it yourself?
Karevo: We've tried both. For us, it works best to do most of the development—both software and hardware—in-house. Often, we have no other choice because available, generic solutions don't fit our use case. We outsource production and manufacturing to partners. This allows us to remain flexible and innovative.
