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SUCCESS STORY:­ AEROFOILS

key facts

  • Industry: Automotive & Smart Mobility
  • Founder Team: Franz Hofmann & Christian Rößler
  • Founded: 2017
key facts
  • Industry: Automotive & Smart Mobility
  • Founder Team: Franz Hofmann & Christian Rößler
  • Founded: 2017

In a nutshell
THE IDEA

E-foils are one of the biggest trends in water sports. The innovative surfboards are electric-powered and can be operated independently from wind or swell. Franz Hofmann and Christian Rößler, the founders behind aerofoils, are developing this technology and setting new standards with their innovative and inherently safe driving system. Not only runs the board almost silently and emission-free, but also optimizes flow resistance and riding fun.

The success story of aerofoils: AUDI as a supporter

Aerofoils is a startup-success-story and an example of how corporations and startups can benefit from each other. The gate-startup receives a great deal of support from its parent company AUDI, particularly in the areas of design, development and marketing. In the initial phase, for example, the Group contributed the first parts for prototypes made of carbon and parts from the 3D-printer. This creates a win-win-situation as, in exchange, the technology can also be experienced by AUDI customers .

Thanks to the great support received, aerofoils has already presented the board at international trade fairs such as CES in Las Vegas, Formula E and OMR Hamburg. Prominent testers such as tech-investor Frank Thelen, VW board member Herbert Diess, Ironman Hawaii winner Patrick Lange and soccer legend Claudio Pizarro were quickly found.

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Franz Hofmann, a lightweight construction expert at AUDI, combined his professional skills with his passion for surfing in order to create an innovation. He found support among his friends: Christian Rößler is an aerospace engineer and teaches aircraft design and drone construction as an academic advisor at the Chair of Aeronautical Systems at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). The first prototypes were built by the two founders in their own basement. By 2015, Christian Rößler and Franz Hofmann were already milling the first molds at TUM and then grinding them at home.

THE FOUNDER STORY
HOW IT ALL STARTED

Franz Hofmann, a lightweight construction expert at AUDI, combined his professional skills with his passion for surfing in order to create an innovation. He found support among his friends: Christian Rößler is an aerospace engineer and teaches aircraft design and drone construction as an academic advisor at the Chair of Aeronautical Systems at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). The first prototypes were built by the two founders in their own basement. By 2015, Christian Rößler and Franz Hofmann were already milling the first molds at TUM and then grinding them at home.

INNOVATION ON THE WATER
THE MISSION

You may accelerate up to 50 kilometers per hour by means of a a remote control, and determine the course by shifting your weight. It feels like a mixture of snowboarding in powder and flying. The board takes off from around 12 kilometers per hour on – 25 to 30 kilometers per hour is a good cruising speed for covering long distances.

Besides the aerodynamic wing and exclusive design, the innovation and unique selling point of the gate-startup is the patented jet drive. Fully integrated into the hull of the underwater aircraft, it consists of an impeller and a stator that takes the spin out of the flow. The main factors for development were safety and efficiency. With current competitors, the propulsion system consists of an open propeller, which poses a high risk of injury, particularly to hands and feet, and, if encased, results in a larger surface area being sprayed over.

eFoiling will fundamentally change the water sports scene, and we want to help shaping the future with our patented jet propulsion system.

AEROFOILS AND THE GATE
A PERFECT MATCH

As an incubator, the gate stands behind the startup aerofoils. With their first product, Franz and Christian have set themselves the goal of developing an innovative concept for an electric hydrofoil surfboard and bringing it to series production. The founders want to build the most modern and safest e-foil on the market.

In 2020, contracts for the series launch of the product were concluded exclusively in cooperation with AUDI AG. After a long development phase, it has now been achieved: the first series of the AUDI e-tron Foil has been completed and delivers impressive performance data.

“It is the safest e-Foil in the world and impresses with incomparable driving dynamics, efficiency and quiet, relaxed gliding.”

FRANZ HOFMANN
CO-FOUNDER AEROFOILS