allunderground: How a Munich Startup is Revolutionizing Drilling Technology
The world is changing and with it, the way we transport energy. allunderground aims to revolutionize grid expansion with an innovative tunnel boring machine. But how did two former students come to develop the world’s most powerful drilling machine? And what role do the gate Garching and Munich’s startup ecosystem play in this journey?
Every breakthrough begins with a vision. For Kilian Schmid, it all started in his childhood:
“I’ve dreamed of building tunnel boring machines since I was a kid. It sounds crazy, but I think it’s incredibly important. Whether for fiber optic cables or railroad tunnels – underground infrastructure is essential for our quality of life.”
What started as a fascination with mechanical engineering became reality in an international competition. Together with co-founder Benedikt Seel and their team, Kilian won Elon Musk’s tunnel boring competition twice in a row.
That was the moment they decided:
“Let’s set up a company and build something big!”
Kilian and Benedikt share their story in this video:
THE MISSION: DEVELOPING A BETTER SOLUTION FOR GRID EXPANSION
The energy transition requires efficient power grids but expansion is expensive, slow, and environmentally harmful. Current methods for laying cables are inefficient. That’s why the gate startup allunderground is developing a power-dense, cost-efficient, and sustainable tunnel boring machine that enables the rapid and resource-conserving installation of underground power cables.
The difference: allunderground’s technology sets new standards in efficiency and could transform the entire industry. For Benedikt, this change is long overdue:
“It’s time to really step on the gas. Grid expansion has been neglected for far too long – we’re changing that now.”
WHY THE RESEARCH CAMPUS IN GARCHING NEAR MUNICH & THE GATE GARCHING ARE THE PERFECT LOCATION
Founding a hardware startup is a huge challenge – but the research campus in Garching near Munich provides the ideal environment for tech innovations:
- Proximity to the Technical University of Munich (TUM) → Access to top talent
- UnternehmerTUM & MakerSpace → Support for tech startups
- Strong partners at the gate Garching → For allunderground, this means collaboration with other hardware startups like Battery Dynamics
“The proximity to the Technical University of Munich is an enormous advantage for us. But the environment here at the gate, where many other hardware startups are active, is just as valuable. The exchange with our neighbors, such as Battery Dynamics, is not only helpful – whether in sharing tools or discussing technical challenges – but also creates a strong, supportive community. This is exactly what makes this location so special for us.” – Benedikt Seel, Co-Founder, allunderground
WHAT MAKES ALLUNDERGROUND A TECH STARTUP WITH FUTURE POTENTIAL?
Christian Heckemann, CEO of the gate Garching, writes about this on LinkedIn:
“I am inspired by both the experience that the two founders bring to the table and the fact that Kilian Schmid had the vision of founding a hardware startup for years. This determination drove him forward. As the founder of TUM Boring, Kilian Schmid has over ten years of experience in mechatronics and has already won two international competitions.
At the same time, co-founder Benedikt Seel, who was on the board of TUM Boring, brings impressive experience – both in construction companies, startups, and consultancies. He also has a background in International Management (ISM).
allunderground was only founded in early 2024. Since then, the team has grown from 2 to 7 engineers and they are still looking for top talent. So, if you’re looking for an exciting job in a promising tech startup, feel free to apply!
With the support of UnternehmerTUM, MakerSpace, and the gate Garching, the startup benefits from a first-class innovation environment at the research campus. In addition, allunderground is a spin-off of TUM Boring – Innovation in Tunneling e.V. (TBD) and can therefore draw on a strong network. The organization of 65 students is dedicated to the future of mobility and won the Not-a-Boring Competition in 2021.”
A STARTUP WITH REAL IMPACT
allunderground demonstrates how a passion for mechanical engineering can lead to innovation. They have evolved from a student initiative into a tech startup, solving a problem of the energy transition. As Kilian Schmid puts it:
“Of course, we have smaller problems to solve every day. The multitude of challenges is what makes this journey tough. But we solve one problem at a time and in the end, it works.”
Do you have a vision for your own startup? At the gate, we support you with office space, coaching, and a strong community – just like allunderground. Apply now and become part of our network! We look forward to meeting you!