Munich Startup: What problem do you offer a solution for?
Daniel Wolf, Co-Founder: One in two people over 50 suffers from shoulder problems. Despite this, to this day there is no training device that trains the shoulder in the way it actually moves: three-dimensionally, rotating, with consistent resistance. Therapists make do with resistance bands, cable machines, and free weights, but the results are difficult to reproduce, the supervision effort is high, and the therapy process is often inefficient. We have been working with the Rotator a system developed that allows patients to train in a structured and independent way, and finally gives therapists a tool that gives them back their time.
Munich Startup: What can you do as of today?
Daniel Wolf: The Rotator is unique in this combination: guided 360-degree rotation, constant resistance in both directions, over 30 exercises—purely mechanical, without electricity, and with no ongoing costs. Patented and made in Germany. For practices, this means a compact device that occupies less than two square meters, allows patients to train independently after a brief instruction, and relieves the therapist. We analyzed over 30 providers worldwide and found no directly comparable system.
Founders bring entrepreneurial experience with them
Munich Startup: What triggered the founding?
Daniel Wolf: Christoph, my co-founder, is a trained carpenter, interior designer, and passionate athlete: tennis, martial arts, and soccer as a goalkeeper. His shoulder has always been a constant companion, not always for the best. During his carpentry apprenticeship, he had a workbench with a large crank for height adjustment. The consistent resistance he felt when cranking it captivated him. He wanted something similar for training. He searched: gyms, the internet, trade fairs—nothing. So he went back to the workshop and built it himself. That was the beginning. Over the years and several prototypes, it evolved into the Rotator V3, a patented, third-generation training and therapy system. Christoph had previously run two companies in the field of interior design, Hendrik brings entrepreneurial experience from the real estate sector, and I have 25 years of experience in startup sales. When the three of us recognized the potential, it was clear: this wasn't just a product idea. This was a new category. Our experience helped us tremendously, but it didn't protect us from every unexpected challenge.
Munich Startup: Was there ever a moment when you thought about giving up?
Daniel Wolf: Honestly, no. But it wasn't always easy. From the initial sketch in 2022 to the production-ready third generation, it took four years. The journey from the workshop to series production demanded more of us than we anticipated—technically, organizationally, and sometimes even emotionally. But our belief in the idea always prevailed. And when the first experts on the system come along and say, "This is exactly what we've been missing, this is a true innovation," then the difficult phases are quickly forgotten.
Establish a new category in shoulder training
Munich Startup: How would you know in a year that you're on the right track?
Daniel Wolf: The success of the Rotator lies in its integration into everyday practice. This will be evident when physiotherapy practices, rehabilitation centers, and medical fitness studios use it daily. It will be evident when facilities retain it after our free four-week trial period—not because it impresses, but because it works. Our initial reference customers already confirm this: higher training quality, reduced supervision requirements, and patients who train safely and independently. Within twelve months, we aim to have a significant installed base in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) and our first sales partners in other European countries. Our goal is nothing less than to establish a new category in shoulder training.
Munich Startup: Would you start a business in Munich again, and why?
Daniel Wolf: Absolutely again. I came to Munich with the dot-com boom of 2000 and never left. All three of us are deeply rooted here, both personally and professionally. The region offers us enormous sales potential, strong partners, research institutes, and Universities in the fields of sports science and medical technology. And over 25 years, you build up a network that's invaluable as a founder. We're not 25-year-old first-time entrepreneurs; we bring experience to the table. And a little bit of dreaming is part of it, too.
Munich Startup: Bootstrapping or venture capital.
Daniel Wolf: Self-financed with supplementary private seed investment and funding programs. We deliberately chose not to follow a traditional venture capital route. We wanted to bring the product to market readiness without time pressure. There is interest from investors, and even the German TV show "Die Höhle der Löwen" (Shark Tank) contacted us. But for us, the right timing and the right partner are crucial. Currently, our full focus is on market entry: In mid-April, we will present the Rotator V3 for the first time at FIBO in Cologne, Europe's largest fitness and health trade fair.
