Out of your own four (office) walls and into an offsite location—this is the approach Startup Alm, led by founders Kim Wlach and Jonas Schneider, aims to help teams learn the methods of the new world of work. They answer exactly how they do this in our 7 questions.
1. Who are you and what do you do?
Griaß di, in keeping with our motto — LEAVE YOUR OFFICE. FIND INNOVATION — we are launching the new Startup Alm GmbH We consciously bring innovative teams together in contemporary locations and accompany them on their journey into a new world of work.
Startup Alm was founded by Kim Wlach (29, studying Communications) and Jonas Schneider (32, studying Business Information Systems). Today, we operate our own team hut for up to 14 people, have two partner locations for up to 45 people in the mountains, which we exclusively use with our concept during certain seasons, and have built a Startup Alm coaching team of certified business and outdoor trainers. We are continuing to expand in the coming year.
Previously, I (Kim) helped build a startup in the electric mobility sector and worked for two major American IT companies. Jonas, meanwhile, worked in the automotive and big data sectors. In this sense, we both had previous experience in the innovation and startup space. In April 2019, we recruited Rüdiger Linhof (44) as a creative and strategic team member. He has been the bassist of the band Sportfreunde Stiller since 1997.
New Work, Coaching and Sustainable Team Building
In our various jobs, we've repeatedly become aware of the importance of a functioning and self-organizing team. But how do we implement this in the long term in the stressful everyday working world?
The more we then deal with the topics New Work, coaching and sustainable team building The more we dealt with this, the more concrete the idea of an offsite team location became, combining both team workshops and team-building activities in a unique setting. Combined with a childhood love of the mountains, the question of finding an "unusual location" was quickly answered: Nothing is better suited for this than a trip to a mountain hut in the Alps.
2. But that has been around for a long time!
The basic idea of Startup Alm doesn't fit neatly into the category of conference hotels, team event providers, and educational centers. This sector definitely needs to be rethought and expanded with additional services. We offer contemporary workshops and incentives specifically for teams, cozy locations with team areas, overnight accommodation with on-site contacts, full catering based on regional cuisine, and a supporting program of activities related to nature and the mountains. This distinguishes Startup Alm from pure conference hotels and other providers.
3. What has been your biggest challenge so far?
Focusing on the core to move forward: team building, location scouting, and content development. In other words, putting the basic framework in place.
It was equally difficult to hand over responsibilities completely and entrust them to someone else, even if the potential was doubled in the end.
4. Let’s get down to business: How is business going?
We've currently hosted over 40 team offsites and are in the process of realizing our dream of a larger, mountain-farm-style venue with space for up to 60 people, which we can operate year-round. We're currently looking for the right property for this.
We're also currently preparing for a very busy period at the end of the year, as we'll once again be welcoming many different companies to the Startup Alm locations for an offsite event to round out the year. We're really looking forward to it.
Long-established companies & progressive thinking
5. What does Munich mean to you?
For us, Munich is the most beautiful and best-located city in the world. The mountains are in the immediate vicinity, and despite being a big city, it still feels like a village—one you'd love to return to after every off-site trip. From a professional perspective, Munich offers us an environment of innovative, creative minds. The tradition of long-established companies is combined with progressive (team) thinking—that's what makes it exciting, and that's why our company is headquartered in Munich. And most importantly: the Bavarian influence is palpable despite the internationality. We feel completely at home here!
6. How will your startup become the next unicorn? Or will we see you soon at Epic Fail Night?
We believe in our company because the human factor will always be important. So let's hope that, like the Hoiz Alm, which has stood in the same spot for 450 years, we too can maintain our position for a few more years.
7. Isar or English Garden?
The Isar, of course! Because if you follow it long enough, you'll end up back in the mountains.
