Funding for JKU Spin-out

The OptiKonf company, founded by JKU graduates, has now received funding for further development.

OptiKonf, opens an external URL in a new windowwas founded by Max and Simone Heisinger. Both graduated from the JKU's Institute for Symbolic AI(thesis adviser: Univ.-Prof. Martina Seidl). OptiKonf FlexCo focuses on integrating symbolic AI in economy using product configurators and a symbolic platform. The funding granted by Austria Wirtschaftsservice, opens an external URL in a new windowwas a big support, as Max Heisinger explains in the interview.

What happened after the launch of the company?
Max Heisinger: After the launch, we focused mainly on our first customer to get the company started. We received assignments by ENGEL Austria. In the downtimes between the projects, we kept developing our applications, manufactured demonstrations and technology prototypes, and, of course, also continued to write the aws Preseed assignment.

How was the funding application process?
Max Heisinger: We had to change the focus from mere technology to business case connections, and transform this into a detailed business plan. The plan was forwarded together with all documents to aws, and we were happy to receive some more questions over Christmas and new year. A soon as we had answered them, we had an appointment with the jury.

Why did you apply for a funding by aws? Is this a common procedure for spin-outs? What's the best way to score points there?
Max Heisinger: We checked all public and private offers available in Austria and abroad we could find, and aws Preseed was, by far, the best one. In start-up circles, this funding is seen as the absolutely best one a company can get, also because of the material verification quality. Tech2b and private investors were also enthusiastic about the AWS funds. So, we thought that we should aim high, and we actually did it!

Is there are reason why especially this start-up received the funding?
Max Heisinger: Our spin-out has a big potential to grow and offers answers to questions which the entire industry keeps asking: How can I adapt rapidly to supply-chain changes? How can I provide my customers with the perfect offers? How can I improve current configuration tools? Our tools will offer questions to all of these questions, and they already do so at our demonstrations. They can even be used to combine several configurators to optimize several medium-sized companies individually and reach a new level of vertical integration. We convinced the jury with our arguments and potential, which recommended to fund us.

What are you planning to do with the money?
Max Heisinger: Being a software service start-up, we have to invest most of the money in labor costs. The funding gives us enough time to transform our prototypes rapidly into practical tools.

Did the bilateral approach also have priority here?
Max Heisinger: Yes, as we use subsymbolic AIs to make symbolic approaches more accessible. The symbolic tools, which serve as a basis, require a big expertise. The operation of our symbolic tools requires much less prior knowledge. And the subsymbolic tools even facilitate the start drastically.

Which role did the BilAI, opens an external URL in a new windowcluster play here?
Max Heisinger: BilAI provides networking opportunities as well as a lot of inspiration to develop our service further. Without the cluster, we would not have met people from many other areas, especially subsymbolic AI. The exchange results in better tools and better products. We are convinced that our products will later reflect this!