My Story
Welcome to my corner of the internet. I’m Richard — an electrical engineer turned Silicon Valley tech leader, startup founder, and lifelong tinkerer. Over five decades, I’ve followed my curiosity from a small town in Bavaria to Regensburg, California, and beyond.
This timeline captures a few moments from that journey — the milestones, the detours, and the adventures that shaped who I am today.
A New Chapter
In 2024, with the graduation of my younger daughter, I decided to resign and travel the world. Sometimes the bravest engineering decision is knowing when to step back and explore.
Daughter Graduates
My older daughter graduated from high school. One of those proud parent moments that puts everything else in perspective.
Autonomous Vehicles
My experience as engineer, manager, and startup founder brought me full circle back to automotive — this time as Head of Hardware Development for autonomous vehicles.
Robotics Leadership
After seven years as founder and CEO, I decided to take on a role as Director of Engineering at a robotics company in Silicon Valley. A different kind of building.
First Startup
2010 was the kickoff of my first startup — a truly humbling experience. From garage to growth, learning that building a company is nothing like building a circuit.
Founder Institute
My drive to try out a startup led me to graduate from the Founder Institute in 2009. Learning the ropes of entrepreneurship from the people who've done it.
Second Daughter
Soon after, in 2006, my second daughter was born. Our family was complete — two kids, two careers, one beautiful chaos.
Marriage & First Daughter
In 2002 I got married, and in 2004 my first daughter was born. The most important milestones aren't on any career timeline — they're at home.
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley called me soon after, and I started my journey in California at a semiconductor company. I stayed with that company until 2007 — the dot-com era, lived firsthand.
Move to USA
With my skill set, I got a job offer in Michigan at Siemens Automotive. Packing up and crossing the Atlantic for a new adventure in the American Midwest.
Siemens Automotive
With an EE degree in hand, I immediately got a job at Siemens Automotive in Regensburg. I worked there until 1999 as a hardware design engineer — my first real step into the automotive world.
Munich Marathon
The Munich Marathon — worth mentioning: I finished it! A test of endurance that proved the same stubbornness useful for engineering also works for running 42 kilometers.
Graduation
My graduation year in 1995 at the Fachhochschule in Regensburg, now known as OTH — including a memorable field trip to the Funkturm. Diploma in hand, ready for the world.
First Time in the USA
In 1994 I had my first introduction to the USA with an internship at the University of Champaign-Urbana. A young Bavarian discovering a whole new world — different culture, different language, same curiosity.
University in Landshut
I started my electrical engineering studies at the Fachhochschule in Landshut. From hands-on apprenticeship to lecture halls and circuit theory — a new chapter in learning.
Electronics Apprenticeship
It's common in Germany after school to do an apprenticeship — mine was in electronics, and it took three and a half years. The German dual education system at its best: learning by doing.
Building & Sports
There was always building stuff and sports. Growing up in Bavaria meant tinkering with anything I could get my hands on, and staying active outdoors.
First Day of School
Starting school somewhere deep in Bavaria. With the traditional Schultüte in hand — a cone filled with sweets and school supplies that every German child receives on their first day.
The Beginning
That was the beginning. Born in a small town in Bavaria, Germany — the starting point of a journey that would span continents and decades.
Stay tuned for what’s next…
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