Dr. Rafael Fietzek is an expert in Vehicle Dynamics, Control Theory and AI, with a background in Industrial Engineering from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and a PhD in Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering from TU Darmstadt. As a post-doc researcher, he co-founded COMPREDICT with Dr. Stéphane Foulard, a pioneering company in the field of Virtual Sensors and automotive predictive maintenance. He currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer. Dr. Fietzek is deeply passionate about technology and innovative solutions transforming the automotive industry

The Pop in Your Job – What drives you? Why do you love your job?
What drives me is the thrill of building something from the ground up-assembling a dynamic team and shaping a company that thrives on innovation. My passion lies at the intersection of AI and physics, where cutting-edge technology meets the fundamental of vehicle dynamics. This is what Virtual Sensors are. I love exploring how these fields converge to solve complex challenges and push the boundaries of what’s possible. The journey of creating a collaborative environment where ideas flourish, and groundbreaking solutions emerge, is what fuels my enthusiasm every day.

Stefan Hassels, as the Head of Product, has been applying his top tier automotive industry expertise to elevate COMPREDICT’s product offerings. Stefan’s journey includes a pivotal role in digital innovation at AUDI AG, where he honed his skills in developing products that truly connect with customers. With a keen eye for market opportunities and a talent for empowering product teams, Stefan is dedicated to ensuring that COMPREDICT's Virtual Sensors not only meet but exceed customer expectations globally.

The Pop in Your Job – What drives you? Why do you love your job?
What drives me is using the latest technologies to transform the automotive industry. I love improving traditional processes, maximizing efficiency and seeing the real impact of innovative products. Virtual Sensors allow us to make a significant impact because they are a business-critical layer for any future vehicle architecture and create value across the entire OEM organization. As a result, my passion for Virtual Sensors comes from its ability to truly revolutionize the industry. The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the genuine happiness and appreciation of our customers when they see the improvements and value our products bring to their business.

COMPREDICT is driving the paradigm shift towards software-defined vehicles, offering next-level solutions for sustainable mobility. Founded in 2016 in Darmstadt, Germany, by Dr. Rafael Fietzek and Dr. Stéphane Foulard, our focus lies in developing Virtual Sensors for Mobility to optimize vehicle design, usage, and maintenance. We partner with and serve automotive manufacturers and Tier1 companies worldwide. With a diverse team of 35+ members from 10 different nations, we are on an exciting journey of growth and innovation. We are specialized in developing Virtual Sensors, intelligent algorithms turning available vehicle signals into valuable insights. To achieve this, we combine deep data science know-how and automotive domain expertise.