Munich Startup: What motivated you to found a company?
Julia Zimmermann: Many things! I wanted to help patients with chronically infected wounds and give them access to the innovative technology of “cold atmospheric plasma,” which can render bacteria (including multi-drug resistant bacteria such as MRSA) inactive in wounds while simultaneously promoting wound healing. We achieved that with plasma care® , which was approved as a medical product in 2019.
Plasma for everyone
It’s also my goal for everyone to have access to cold plasma. We accomplished that last year with the end user device FreshUp – a textile refresher with cold plasma – in cooperation with Bosch. And there are still so many other fields where cold atmospheric plasmas can be used!
Munich Startup: What do you now wish you had known before founding your first company?
Julia Zimmermann: Everything I know now.
Munich Startup: How have you funded your company so far?
Julia Zimmermann: Terraplasma GmbH is funded by development projects with customers and by licensing revenue. The subsidiary Terraplasma Medical GmbH received financial resources from investors for the development of plasma care®. Now plasma care® is being sold.
Munich Startup: When and where do you have the best ideas?
Julia Zimmermann: While in the shower or running.
Munich Startup: What are your three favorite work tools?
Julia Zimmermann: Microsoft Teams, PowerPoint, Excel – they might not be my favorites, but are the ones I use the most.
“Stay calm”
Munich Startup: What is your top tip for pitching?
Julia Zimmermann: “Stay calm – you definitely know more about your product idea and business concept than anyone else here.”
Munich Startup: Do you think now is a good time to start a company? Why?
Julia Zimmermann: With a good idea, sustainable technology, a great team and a sound concept, it’s always a good time to start a company.
‘Sustainable materials’ as an industry of the future
Munich Startup: What technology or industry would you bank on when founding your next startup?
Julia Zimmermann: Sustainable materials – for example, to reduce global plastic consumption. I’m particularly fascinated by the startup Traceless Materials, which is developing biomaterial that has the functional properties of plastics but biodegrades over a short period of time. That looks like the future to me!
Munich Startup: What do you think could still use some improvement in Munich as a startup location?
Julia Zimmermann: What I think could use the most improvement is the networking between founders and startup centers in and around Munich.
Munich Startup: What founder would you like to meet in person some day? And what would you ask them?
Julia Zimmermann: Whitney Wolfe Herd – the founder of Bumble. My question would be: Successful founder, IPO, passing of a new bill (that makes the sending of unsolicited lewd photos punishable), family – what do you have planned next?
