From lab to startup: this is how ATA Mute fights noise pollution

In 2022, Mohammad Kojourimanesh was on the eve of bringing a scientific breakthrough to the market. He developed an advanced damping material that efficiently absorbs sound waves. At the time, he was still a PhD student at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). Now he is the founder of ATA Mute works with major companies such as Bosch, Zehnder, and Intergas, and his startup was highlighted by Minister Eppo Bruins of Education, Culture, and Science as the prime example of turning scientific research into practical solutions.

How is he doing? “I am thrilled. We've known for a long time that our technology works and the options are endless. Now, our concept seems to be taking off. That's great, but also very busy. We are writing patents, looking for investors, and needing to decide where to build our production facility.”

99% of noise blocks with the revolutionary ABC muffler

Kojourimanesh developed an Anechoic Broadband Compact (ABC) attenuator that suppresses noise from electrical appliances like boilers, heat pumps, and air conditioners. This system consists of a stack of layers. When the spacing between the layers is adjusted correctly, the air between the plates causes the sound to be attenuated. This happens because the air attenuates the sound waves through air resistance and heat absorption. “The amount of reflection of a material is called the acoustic reflection coefficient. The reflection coefficient of the ABC damper is less than 0.1, which means that 99% of the sound can be absorbed,” explains the entrepreneur.

From steel block to wafer-thin acoustic tape

Meanwhile, the steel ABC block has given way to tape. “The concept is the same. The tape comprises stacked layers, is only a millimeter thick, and is made of natural fibers. The steel damper blocks 99% of the sound; the tape doesn't reach that percentage yet. Still, the tape dampens about 10 times better than foam dampers, which now dominate the market.”

The most significant advantage is that the tape is straightforward to apply in existing energy installations. But, the innovation has led to even more applications. The tape is now being tested for use in buildings, drones, and even as an additive to concrete. “We recently received a grant from the National program MKB Innovation Stimulation (MIT Zuid) to integrate sound attenuation into concrete. Together with MIT Zuid and CarbonAI, we are working on 'silent concrete' that drastically reduces ambient noise,” the entrepreneur enthuses.

Brain-on-a-chip models open new possibilities in fight against brain diseases

2ndB, a spin-off of Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), is working on brain-on-a-chip models.

The leap to entrepreneurship

The past two years have gone by lightning-fast for Kojourimanesh and his team. In March 2023, ATA Mute was officially founded. While the technology was initially still experimental, the startup received serious interest from the industry right from the start. Major companies such as Bosch, Intergas, and Zehnder are involved in testing the products. “We supply prototypes to these companies for testing purposes. We greatly appreciate that these companies are daring to work with us and support new technologies. The next step is mass production,” says Kojourimanesh.

The company is ready to scale up: “We will produce 10,000m² of our sound-deadening tape this year. Eventually, we want to scale up to 1,000,000m² annually.” To illustrate that, two meters of ATA Mute's tape is required to attenuate the sound of one heat pump.

Kojourimanesh is currently looking for suitable locations for a production facility. “Eindhoven is a logical choice because we collaborate with the TU/e here. But I live in Venlo, so a location between Venlo and Eindhoven is also an option. In addition, we are working on a spin-off in Germany, where we want our machines to be produced.”

The transition from researcher to entrepreneur brings plenty of challenges. “Finding the right investors takes time,” says Kojourimanesh. “They ask many questions about our production capacity, pricing, and market strategy. That's good, but it takes a lot of time. We are looking for investors who understand how a deep-tech startup works.”

The challenges of a deep-tech startup

ATA Mute's muffler stands on the shoulders of the work of several TU/e researchers: Philip de Goey, professor of combustion technology; Ines Lopez Arteaga, professor of mechanical engineering; and researcher Viktor Kornilo. As a TU/e spin-off, ties to the university are strong. Kojourimanesh holds a postdoctoral position there, and The Gate - the startup platform of Brainport and TU/e - got his startup off to a flying start.

The Gate tipped Kojourimanesh off to the Faculty of Impact program, of which ATA Mute eventually became a part. The program offers researchers from the alpha, beta, and gamma sciences an intensive, two-year program where they learn how to make an impact with their research and start a business. In addition to the budget, the Faculty of Impact teaches selected scholars about entrepreneurship.

Among other things, Kojourimanesh gets support from The Gate in writing patents, which is an essential aspect of his startup. “Our technology is easy to copy, so strong patents are essential to protect our position in the market,” he explains. “We started with one patent; now we have three and are working on the fourth.”

January in four investments: holographic chips, a digital twin for cities, and smart sensor technology

Each month, we list the investments that caught our eye the most.

Dreams and ambitions

What drives Kojourimanesh and his team? “We have three big ambitions,” he says. “First, we want to make an impact by reducing noise pollution, for example, with heat pumps and ventilation systems. Second, we want to build a financially sound company. And finally, we want to encourage other PhD students to start startups.”

He sees that many PhD students continue their careers at large companies, losing much of the specific knowledge their research has produced. “They go for the big money. I think that's a shame to see. They can apply their knowledge and impact the market if they start a startup. That's what we're doing with ATA Mute.”

Kojourimanesh's startup has a strong scientific foundation and clear ambition. “I hope we can be an example for other academics considering taking their research to the real world.”