Yessica Klein
8 min read
09 November 2025
Michael Putz’s entrepreneurial path began far from the defense and geospatial intelligence space. Raised in Salzburg and drawn to Graz for university, he first entered business in 2007 with a video game studio. There, he built big-budget titles from a remote location, learning how to attract and retain talent through passion and purpose.
By 2021, Michael had cofounded blackshark.ai, a spin-off built on computer-vision expertise from Graz University of Technology. The shift from virtual realism to real-world intelligence came naturally. The years he’d spent creating hyper-detailed digital environments had shown him the power of visual data but also its limitations when it came to understanding the real world at scale. Fuelled by the conviction that geospatial AI could give governments, first responders and other mission-driven clients the insights they need, blackshark.ai’s team scaled from 30 to 120 people in just one year.
What is the question your startup is trying to answer, and why is it personal to you?
We’re asking: how can machines understand what’s happening on Earth – instantly, at scale and without human interpretation? Satellites and aircraft produce vast amounts of imagery, but decision-makers still rely on manual pixel analysis to assess damage, risk or change. That delay is dangerous in a world moving quickly. At blackshark.ai, we’ve built a geospatial AI engine that turns unstructured imagery into structured, machine-readable intelligence in near real time. The mission is personal because my background is in video games, where I created lifelike 3D environments. Eventually, I realized the real world was far more complex and less understood, yet no one was building the tools to truly see it at scale. Adding to that, my father was a police officer, so I’ve seen how critical timely, accurate data is in moments that matter.
Was there a moment when you realized this idea could become a company?
Yes, when we processed the entire planet in just days, mapping every building, road and terrain feature without manual labelling or outsourcing. That level of automated, global-scale insight had previously taken governments years and billions to achieve. In that moment, I realized we weren’t just making a product, we were building infrastructure that others would inevitably create if we didn’t – and not necessarily with the same ethical boundaries.
What part of your work today feels closest to the original spark?
It’s when a customer – whether in urban planning, defense or insurance – realizes they can get direct answers from our system without a data-science team or a months-long process. That empowerment, giving people the ability to understand and act quickly, is what drives me.
What did your first six months as a second-time founder look like?
Still chaotic, in the best and worst ways. I was selling, recruiting, pitching, prototyping – often all in one day. There was no separation between building and presenting; sometimes we were finalizing features minutes before a demo. The pace was exhausting but energizing, because we were attempting something no one else had dared to do.
The lack of hype is a hidden advantage. In Graz, people – and especially tech minds – are loyal and focused on quality.
Can you describe a time when you nearly gave up? What kept you going?
In 2021, we scaled from 30 to 120 people almost overnight, riding the wave of AI hype. But our go-to-market couldn’t match the speed of product development, and we had to make the tough call to downsize significantly. Realizing that pure engineering strength isn’t enough without commercial alignment was a sobering moment. What kept me going was the clarity it brought: We rebuilt as a tighter, more mission-focused team, with everyone aligned on why we’re here and the value we bring to customers.
What’s something about building a company in your city that outsiders wouldn’t expect?
The lack of hype is a hidden advantage. In Graz, people – and especially tech minds – are loyal and focused on quality. They don’t jump ship for the next shiny opportunity, and that stability is rare in faster-moving markets.
Has your leadership style changed as your company has grown?
Absolutely. Early on, I was everywhere, involved in every detail. Now my focus is on two things: making sure the team is aligned and protecting our velocity. My job is less about doing and more about editing: removing obstacles, clarifying priorities, and ensuring we keep moving in the right direction.
Are there specific local habits, quirks, or values that influence your company?
Austrians are detail-oriented and skeptical. This can slow things down, but it also means we don’t ship half-finished work. When we say something works, it does, even at scale, under pressure. That mindset is invaluable in deeptech.
Where do you go when you need perspective?
I reset in three ways: spending time with my family, doing CrossFit and being in nature. Each pulls me out of the founder role and clears my head in a different way.
How do you stay grounded while working on something so ambitious?
I’ve learned that managing my energy is more important than managing my time. I keep my calendar as free as possible – no regular standing meetings – so I can think, reflect and respond to what really matters. It’s about staying above the waterline, avoiding constant firefighting and making space to lead with clarity.
"It’s easy to convince people to relocate here: good cost of living, strong infrastructure and in a few hours you can be in Venice, Prague or the Alps."