How did the idea to found RVmagnetics come about?
As scientists, our mission is to bring groundbreaking inventions into the world that advance civilization technologically. I’ve pursued this goal for over thirty years. It’s not just my dream – it’s my life’s purpose, which I’ve been realizing through RVmagnetics in Košice, and now also through our new company, RVactuators, in the Czech Republic. I find deep personal fulfillment in knowing our microsensors help protect assets and lives by measuring properties of composite materials, instruments, vehicles, buildings, and bridges around us.
How did the unique technology of your microsensors come about?
Before founding the company in 2002, during my postdoctoral research at the Spanish Academy of Sciences (ICMM), I recorded surprising values in an experiment with microwires and published a scientific paper. Another researcher obtained different results from the same experiment. After comparing our studies, I realized the discrepancy was due to the unique composition conditions of the microwires. That discovery laid the foundation for our sensor technology and subsequent patents. I published nine peer-reviewed papers based on that nine-month study in Madrid.
Another milestone came in 2009, during a collaboration with another company, when we discovered that we could embed microsensors into composite materials, significantly broadening their applications. After twelve years of research in Košice, Madrid, San Sebastián, Oviedo, and Vienna, by 2014, I had proven that the research could lead to a working microsensor.
What can your microsensor do?
It can reliably measure in extreme conditions where conventional sensors fail. Our sensors are thinner than a human hair – approximately 3–70 µm in diameter – magnetic, contactless, and capable of measuring various physical quantities such as temperature, mechanical stress, torsion, magnetic field, and position. Each sensor consists of a custom-made metal core (1–50 µm in diameter) and a glass coating (2–20 µm thick).
How was the company founded?
Today, we are more than 40 people, but it all began with just 3 to 5 of us. I was the first employee, followed by Rudolf Sabol, an aerospace engineering expert. Then Peter Klein, a physicist, and Ľudo Hvizdoš, an IT specialist, joined. Tomáš Ryba came on board after completing a PhD in materials physics, and even attended two years of glassblowing school to learn how to properly encase wires in glass. Over time, our team grew to include IT specialists, physicists, magnetic experts, and chemists. While founding the company, we were already in talks with investors who were actively looking for promising technologies in academia.
What was key to successfully launching the company?
I knew we had unique microwires and the capability to manufacture them. We had specialized electronics for measuring physical quantities. The scientific community was convinced. But for commercial success, we needed to build a top-tier team across disciplines – physicists, chemists, metallurgists, engineers, and business professionals. Then, we had to convince innovation leaders and technical directors at global companies to believe in our microsensors. I deeply respect my colleagues – we have incredibly well-educated people on our team.
What helped the most in developing the company?
As a tech startup, we used every available accelerator – BIND in Spain, Sustainable Aero Lab, 6th Sense by Hexagon, NATO DIANA – and grants like those from the European Space Agency (ESA). We also benefited from collaborations with universities like Cranfield, TU Munich, TU Delft, and the University of Patras in Athens, as well as research institutions such as the Fraunhofer Institute, DLR, CNRS, ESTIA, and VTT. Many of our team members, including myself, were involved in research at Pavol Jozef Šafárik University and the Technical University in Košice, though RVmagnetics has always been fully privately owned.
How did you acquire global clients from the Fortune 500 list?
Once we were able to customize microsensors for early adopters, we focused on commercialization starting in 2019. A turning point was defining a go-to-market strategy and systematically presenting the company, not only through digital marketing but also at international trade shows, conferences, and startup competitions. Since 2023, we’ve moved into industrial production. Today, we collaborate with 27 Fortune 500 companies, including Airbus, Continental, Schaeffler, and TATA. In total, we’ve initiated over 200 collaborations at various stages, with nearly 50 real-world implementations.
What was the hardest part of the company’s 10-year journey?
We are creating a type of sensor that is not taught in schools. Our patented technology requires collaboration with innovation engineers at large firms to bring it into real-world use. First, we had to prove the technology worked through feasibility studies. Our biggest ongoing challenge is educating client engineers on how to integrate our sensors into their products. Often, we must define their needs for them. Another hurdle: sensors are among the most conservative sectors in the industry, despite ongoing growth. Current dominant sensor technologies are over a century old and rarely questioned – yet they’re no longer sufficient for modern challenges. We’re introducing an entirely new technology, and full-scale industrial adoption can take decades.
What is your company focused on today?
We’ve completed the first phase of the NATO DIANA accelerator, are expanding our industrial client base, and see strong potential in the defense sector. We’ve moved to new headquarters in Košice, rebranded, and developed a new brand strategy and visual identity. The team has grown to 44 people, and we’re hiring more scientists, engineers, and PhD students. We're actively involved in research projects. We’ve transitioned from a startup to a small-to-medium enterprise with commercial production and sales. The company is now organized into scientific, engineering, and commercial divisions.
Do you still have new scientific dreams?
Absolutely! We’ve launched a new startup, RVactuators, based in the Czech Republic. These are micron-sized actuators in the form of microwires – essentially tiny motors. These hair-thin fibers can move on demand and lift loads of tens of kilograms. I see massive potential for this technology in medicine, automotive, and especially the space industry. I now oversee only the Košice office and production as CTIO. I’ve handed off engineering duties to four technical leads and management responsibilities to our COO and board members. What fulfills me most is the scientific aspect of our work – I love pushing boundaries. Now, I have a new challenge – a new startup. Thanks to everyone who has believed in us over the years. I’m excited for what’s next.