Start-up "Ride&Connect" supports companies in employee retention

Three master's students from the University of Bayreuth have developed and advanced a business concept in the "5-Euro-Business" competition of Bildungswerk der Bayerischen Wirtschaft e.V. (bbw Group - the Educational Association of the Bavarian Economy). The Ride&Connect start-up is intended to help companies keep talented employees in the region in the long term. Ride&Connect offers new incentives in the area of team-building and work-life balance to inspire employees to stay in the region. The initially digital booklets even contain vouchers from participating restaurants in motivating employees to exercise more.

The Team

The founding team consists of three master's students from the University of Bayreuth. The co-founders, Adrian Hackauf and Lukas Leupold, who have been studying in Bayreuth since 2017, are very familiar with the region, which has greatly aided in the design of the tours.

The idea

The idea came about as part of the "5-Euro-Business" competition at the University of Bayreuth. The founding team is immensely enthusiastic about sport and aims to inspire more Bayreuthers to take up sport. "Our mission is to get as many employees as possible to consciously choose to cycle to work," says Lukas Leupold. This would lead to more exercise and a reduction in CO² emissions.

A booklet will offer a wide selection of tours for employees of the participating companies. From long tours of up to 80 kilometres to short lunch break rides, family-friendly tours and leisurely after-work routes, everything is included. The founding team is deliberately seeking to appeal to every employee, regardless of their level of fitness.

The booklet also contains information on bicycle shops and service offerings. At the partnering businesses, users will receive professional advice and the opportunity to rent all kinds of bicycles.

The team benefits from broad range of contacts in the Bayreuth economy. Within the framework of the "5-Euro-Business" competition, they are to be supported by the managing director of Personet e.V., Manuel Wolz (graduate sports economist).

The future

"Through its additional offering of guided tours, Ride&Connect offers a climate-friendly alternative to other team-building measures and opens up the possibility of networking," emphasises Leupold. That is why guided tours are being planned, to which all employees of all participating companies will be invited. These are intended to facilitate an exchange between individual companies in the Bayreuth region.

"Another highlight will be the company competition planned," the young founder reports. "Ride&Connect hopes to identify the "fittest company in Bayreuth" towards the end of the year. Each employee can collect kilometres on a bicycle for his or her company. The average distance covered by the entire workforce will then be evaluated, so that even smaller companies will not miss out.

In addition to a certificate for the first three places, there are many further prizes to be won, i.e. a team-building event.

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