From Munich Hackathon to AI Visionary: The 36ZeroVision Story (My Story)

36ZeroVision Winning Hackathon Photo

Picture this: Munich, 2019. I'm surrounded by the buzz of an automotive industry programming competition. I've got this itch, this nagging thought... quality inspection is stuck in the past. Heavy hardware, fixed setups – it's inefficient. The idea hits me: what if AI could change all that? What if any camera, anywhere, could become a smart quality control tool?

Against the Odds

The thing is, I'm a bit of a hackathon addict. 100+ wins under my belt, from complex 3D tech to predictive maintenance systems. My mentors say it's impossible, too ambitious. But that's the fuel for me, right? That first prototype was a mess, a Frankenstein's monster of code...but it worked! Even I was shocked.

The Spark Turns into a Flame

Suddenly, it wasn't just some side project. People were asking for more, demanding these insane features. That's when I knew. My co-founder and I, we realized we had a tiger by the tail. This idea deserved our full focus. We called it 36ZeroVision – a hint at the all-around flexibility we dreamed of.

Building the Dream (and the Struggles)

Those early days were a blur. Hardware-free camera triggers, inspecting moving objects (a lifesaver for clients!), splitting cameras virtually. It felt like pulling rabbits out of a hat. We built platforms where users could train their own AI, hook into any system. Then those big moments: Bosch, SAP, the VC investors... It validated the craziness of it all.

Ever Forward

Now, it's about pushing further. Generative AI is going to blow minds with what we can do. A metaverse for quality inspection? We're on it. Small batches, no problem. It's about that relentless problem-solving, that passion to reinvent tedious processes.

The Heart of It

Honestly, they don't teach you this in textbooks. The all-nighters, the self-doubt, the moments where it felt impossible. But that's where the true innovation happens. 36ZeroVision is my story, but it's bigger than me. It's about proving that if you see a way to make things better, smarter, more efficient... chase that vision with everything you've got. The future of quality control, I firmly believe, starts right here 🚀🚀🚀