WiredSense

How did you get the idea to start WiredSense?
Thomas Gebert: “At the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, we research organic superconductors using powerful light sources in the infrared and terahertz range. To do this, it’s important to be able to perform precise measurements in this spectral range. There are only a few measuring instruments that are sensitive enough for our application and they’re usually very expensive. Pyroelectric materials are ideally suited to the detection of broadband radiation. Based on this, we began to build a radiation detector that was optimized for research and development.”

So, your own needs gave rise to the idea. Can you briefly describe the advantages of your product? 
Matthias Budden: “Our radiation detector is highly sensitive, quiet, and enables the detection of electromagnetic radiation over a very wide wavelength range. In addition, it’s compact, battery-operated, and can easily be integrated into existing optical setups. And when compared to sensors with a similar sensitivity that use different measuring principles, ours is much less expensive and easier to use.”

You are one of the first start-ups here on campus that doesn’t have DESY roots. How important is the support that you got – and still get – here?

Matthias Budden: "The DESY ITT Start-up Office has supported us in an advisory capacity in many ways and provides us with important infrastructure and contacts that have made it much easier for us to set up and run our company. In addition, the events and lectures offered have helped us, both in terms of content and also in building up a network of partners. Of course, the “beyourpilot” project run by the city of Hamburg for start-ups helped us a lot, as it enabled us to access the DESY Start-up Office.”

How important is the research campus’ network for you?
Thomas Gebert: "Since our first product is primarily aimed at customers in research and development, the feedback from colleagues on the research campus is extremely valuable to us. Additionally, the contacts to adjacent research areas and high-tech laboratories open up many opportunities for cooperation, which allow us to try out new ideas quickly and without bureaucratic red tape.”

Where will you be with WiredSense in 5 years? 
Thomas Gebert: "At the moment we’re only working part time on WiredSense. We have a lot of ideas as well as concrete prototypes for further products, and we want to get WiredSense on secure footing with additional projects in the next years.”
Matthias Budden: "Coming from science, we’re enthusiastic about Open Source approaches and hope to contribute to a more open development culture in the future.”

More about WiredSense can be found here