The basic idea for the start-up came about when one of Julia’s colleagues needed feedback on a presentation. Julia realized that “sometimes feedback from different people turns out differently” and wondered “how to do it better”. She began to develop a technical solution to provide reproducible and useful feedback.

Leon and Julia had already worked together at a previous company, and when Julia heard that Leon had changed jobs, she asked him if he would consider a new project. “The funny coincidence” was that Julia contacted Leon just as he had decided to quit his last job.

Background and qualifications

Julia did her doctorate in the field of multimodal data fusion and works with sensor data. She wondered whether “sensor data, i.e. camera, audio, slides” could be used to make statements about presentations. Leon comes from a communications background and studied public relations and corporate communications. He explains that the idea of a tool that offers comparable feedback really appealed to him, as he himself had “huge problems when presenting”.

AI component

To evaluate the lecture, Presada uses AI to analyze the sensor data, including speech-to-text and computer vision. Julia emphasizes that they do not use external APIs, but host everything themselves to maintain sovereignty over the data and develop their own models.

Support and start-up experience

The startup is supported in its business development by the Startup Port @TUHH with advice, premises and coaching. “We got to know our mentor Henrik Hopp-Piepho at the Startup Port start-up camp,” says Leon. The Startup Port coach also supports the two of them via the AI Startup Hub and during the EXIST funding.

Initial challenges and support

Leon reports that the first few months consisted mainly of business development, and Julia adds that quitting her 40-hour job was a big challenge. They also had a bridging phase until the first funding, the AI Startup Hub program, began. This program allowed them to fully focus on their project and prepare the application for the EXIST start-up grant – here Startup Port provided advice and coaching support.

Market and competition

There are competitors, especially from the USA, says Julia. The competition often focuses on traditional speeches and calls. Her company wants to focus on presentations in a business context, but also develop modules for interview training, conflict resolution training, performance reviews and personal interviews. The aim is to offer a scalable software-as-a-service solution that can also be made accessible to younger employees.

Product development and pilot customers

The startup has developed a working proof of concept and is currently looking for pilot customers. They have already launched several pilot projects and are planning to develop the product further in order to target this clientele. A search for investors is currently scheduled for the end of Q1 2025.

Advice for founders

Leon recommends the principle of “fail fast and fail good”, i.e. approaching potential customers at an early stage and validating the product. He emphasizes that you should not respond to every idea that is suggested to you, but should carefully select what is feasible.

Fascination for start-ups

Julia and Leon value the freedom and the opportunity to take on responsibility that comes with starting a business. They want to create a workplace where they and their future employees enjoy working.

https://www.presada.ai