Munich Startup: What motivated you to start the company?
Julia Zimmermann: A lot! I wanted to help patients with chronically infected wounds and give them access to the innovative technology of "cold atmospheric plasma," which can inactivate bacteria (including multi-resistant germs like MRSA) in wounds while simultaneously promoting wound healing. We achieved this with plasma care®, which was approved as a medical device in 2019.
Plasma for everyone
Furthermore, my goal is to make cold plasma accessible to everyone. We were able to do this last year with the consumer device FreshUp – a textile freshener with cold plasma – in a collaboration with Bosch. And there are so many other applications for cold atmospheric plasmas!
Munich Startup: What would you have liked to have known before starting your first business?
Julia Zimmermann: Everything I know now.
Munich Startup: How has your company been financed so far?
Julia Zimmermann: The Terraplasma GmbH is financed through development projects with customers and through licensing income. The subsidiary Terraplasma Medical GmbH has received funding from investors to develop plasma care®. Now, plasma care® is being sold.
Munich Startup: When and where do you get the best ideas?
Julia Zimmermann: In the shower or while running.
Munich Startup: What are your 3 favorite work tools?
Julia Zimmermann: Microsoft Teams, Power Point, Excel – maybe not my favorites, but the ones I use most often.
"Keep Calm"
Munich Startup: Your top tip on pitching?
Julia Zimmermann: “Keep calm—you certainly know more about your product idea and business concept than anyone else here.”
Munich Startup: Does this seem like a good time to start a business? Why?
Julia Zimmermann: With a good idea, sustainable technology, a great team and a well-thought-out concept, it is always a good time to start a business.
Future industry 'Sustainable Materials'
Munich Startup: Which technology or industry would you focus on for your next startup?
Julia Zimmermann: Sustainable materials – for example, to reduce global plastic consumption. I was particularly fascinated by the startup Traceless Materials, which is developing a biomaterial that has the functionality of plastics but is quickly degradable. I see this as the future!
Munich Startup: In your opinion, what could be improved at the Munich startup location?
Julia Zimmermann: In my opinion, the networking of founders and start-up centers in and around Munich could be improved.
Munich Startup: Which founder would you like to meet in person? And what would you ask them?
Julia Zimmermann: Whitney Wolfe Herd – the founder of BumbleAnd my question: Successful founder, IPO, passage of a new law (which criminalizes the sending of unsolicited nude photos), family—what are your next plans?
