Dr. Thomas Münch is one of the co-founders of Striatech and has been instrumental in shaping the company from the very beginning. With a background in research and a passion for innovation, he played a key role in turning a lab-built prototype into a trusted solution for visual neuroscience labs around the world.

Thomas’ drive to build tools that are both precise and easy to use has helped define Striatech’s vision — and continues to push it forward. In this interview, he shares what inspired the company’s founding, the evolution of its flagship product and what motivates him as both a developer and entrepreneur.

From overcoming early visibility challenges to celebrating published studies using the OptoDrum, Thomas reflects on what it takes to grow a company in the scientific field — and what he’s learned along the way.

Professional Insights

What inspired you to start Striatech and how has the company’s vision evolved over time?

Striatech was the natural next step after years of research at the University of Tübingen. The OptoDrum emerged from our scientific work, and we saw the potential to create something far more advanced and reliable than what was available at the time. Our vision was to create tools that were not only scientifically robust but also very precise, objective and – most importantly – easy to use. Over time, this vision expanded to continuously improve and innovate – whether through refining the OptoDrum or developing new technologies that meet the evolving needs of the scientific community.

What do you see as the biggest innovation Striatech has brought to the field of visual neuroscience?

Our biggest innovation lies in the objective data produced by the OptoDrum, and its ease of use. Previously, scientists had to manually observe and record each animal’s reaction to visual stimulation, which was time-consuming and often inconsistent. Now, the OptoDrum provides researchers with direct, comparable data that is far more accurate, and it significantly speeds up the research process. This not only saves time but ensures that the data is consistent across different students, technicians, and researchers with a labs, and across labs.

What challenges have you faced as a founder and how did you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges I faced as a founder was generating visibility for Striatech. Making the name known and convincing people to buy from a young company was particularly difficult. In the beginning, we had only one product and few references. Overcoming this required a strategic approach to marketing and building trust with potential customers. We focused on showcasing the unique value of our product, leveraging early adopters’ feedback, and gradually expanding our product line to meet the needs of a broader audience. This helped us establish credibility and grow our customer base over time.

What’s been your proudest moment as a leader at Striatech?

One of my proudest moments was seeing how far the OptoDrum has come – from something we manually pieced together in my own lab to a highly sophisticated tool that researchers around the world now actively seek out. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that there’s a real demand for our products, that researchers want to use them because they trust their reliability and appreciate their ease-of-use. Every time a research paper is published using our device, it reminds me of the tangible impact we’re having on the field. It makes the late nights and meticulous work all worth it.

How do you envision Striatech shaping the future of visual neuroscience?

I see Striatech becoming a global leader in providing highly accurate, easy-to-use testing tools that continuously support advancements in visual neuroscience. Our focus will remain on reliability and usability, ensuring that researchers can collect the best possible data efficiently. Looking ahead, I also see potential for Striatech to expand into other areas of neuroscience, developing new products that can make a real difference beyond just visual research.

Personal Insights

What drives you personally in your work and life?

I’m driven by the idea of creating something that is truly useful. I’ve always believed in two things when it comes to research products: On the one hand, they should be easy to use even for beginners, and innovative automation should make experiments and data collection as easy and reliable as possible. On the other hand, I want the researcher to have full control over every aspect of the experiment if they choose not to rely on the automation provided. And: the generated data has to be fully accessible. Knowing that what we build can have a significant impact on scientific research is a constant motivator.

Outside of work, what inspires you or keeps you motivated?

I’m inspired by problem-solving in all forms. Whether it’s programming, building something from scratch, or optimizing an existing system, I love the challenge of figuring out how to make things work better. It keeps me motivated and excited to apply what I learn back into our work at Striatech.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work that helps you stay balanced?

Programming and tinkering with technology might sound like work, but it’s something I genuinely enjoy, even in my free time. Whether it’s coding new features for our website or finding ways to optimize our internal systems, it helps me relax and refocus. I also find that working late into the night, when it’s quiet, is when I’m most productive and can get deep into creative problem-solving. Furthermore, I enjoy listening to audiobooks.

What’s one lesson you’ve learned as an entrepreneur that you wish you knew at the start?

I’ve learned that sometimes “done” is better than “perfect.” When you’re building a startup, there’s always something more you can tweak or improve, but you also need to recognize when to move forward. In a sense, this is not so much different from doing research and publishing papers: There could always be more experiments, more questions that beg to be answered, but at one point, it is time for the current state to go public. Learning to strike that balance has been key in helping Striatech grow without losing the attention to detail that sets us apart.

Who or what has been your greatest source of inspiration throughout your career?

My greatest inspiration has always been the drive to create something that works exceptionally well. Whether it’s scientific tools or software, I’m motivated by the idea of building something that solves a real problem and does so with high accuracy. Seeing researchers use the OptoDrum and rely on its results is incredibly rewarding.

How would you describe Striatech’s journey and culture in three words?

Innovative, approachable, evolving.

Want to meet the rest of the team?

That was a glimpse into the world of Thomas at Striatech. For more voices, more insights, and more people driving our mission, the full interview series is just a click away.