How a TUM student built a top AI startup with Isarsoft

It was a normal day on the U6 subway line heading toward downtown Munich, yet it marked the beginning of a startup story. Oskar Haller, then a master’s student at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), was sitting on the train when a passenger survey began. He observed how much effort was put into collecting the data and how incomplete the results remained. For Oskar, it was clear: there had to be a better way. This moment sparked an idea that took shape at the gate Garching, right next to TUM, and led to one of Germany’s most promising AI startups.

FROM AHA MOMENT TO FOUNDATION

Sometimes it all starts with a decisive idea. But that alone is rarely enough to build a software startup. From his studies at LMU Munich, Fudan University Shanghai, and TUM, Oskar brought not only a broad understanding of business and technology but also the ambition to develop a scientifically grounded solution that works in practice. Together with co-founder Philipp Schmidt, who contributed his expertise from computer science research at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), he founded Isarsoft.

ISARSOFT PERCEPTION – THE SOFTWARE THAT TURNS IMAGES INTO KNOWLEDGE

The first product, Isarsoft Perception, is the result of this collaboration. It analyzes image data from existing cameras and provides important key figures in real time: how many people are on the platform, how passenger flows move, or how full a vehicle is.

This analysis goes far beyond the detection of people. Bicycles, luggage, and even arriving trains are recognized. The software works without additional hardware. This is a decisive advantage, making it possible to use in a wide variety of transportation systems and locations. From the outset, Oskar and Philipp aimed to make their technology versatile—for example, for use in train stations, retail stores, or airports. In shopping centers, not only can visitor numbers be recorded, but movement patterns can also be analyzed. This enables operators to improve their interior design and product placement in a targeted manner.

THE ROLE OF THE LOCATION: GARCHING RESEARCH CAMPUS

It was no coincidence that Isarsoft was founded at the gate Garching. The research campus gives young tech companies like Isarsoft direct access to TUM and to a strong network spanning science, business, and the startup scene. For Oskar, this meant close access to experts and exactly the mix a deep tech startup needs in its early stages.

In the video, Oskar talks about his time at the gate:

FROM THE IDEA TO THE AWARD

What began as a spontaneous idea on the subway developed into a market-ready product in the environment of the gate Garching. Today, appliedAI Institute for Europe GmbH Isarsoft is one of Germany’s most promising AI startups in 2024. At the beginning of 2025, the time will have come: after intensive years at the gate Garching, Isarsoft will move into its own office outside the startup center. This milestone shows how consistently and successfully the team has developed. We look back on this time with mixed feelings – because even though our goal is for startups to “outgrow” us, saying goodbye to such a dedicated team is not easy.

YOUR WAY TO THE STARTUP INCUBATOR

Anyone who, like Oskar Haller, wants to make the leap from idea to startup will find ideal conditions at the gate Garching: modern infrastructure, an innovative environment, and close proximity to TUM.

Register now for the FAQ workshop “Is a startup center worthwhile?” and discover how the Garching Research Campus can give your startup the decisive boost it needs.