Smallpdf Trip to Sri Lanka
February 2020

Upon meeting their ambitious goals for 2019 Smallpdf took their team on a dream holiday to Sri Lanka. We were given the challenge to organize an overseas trip for 30 guests during high season only 6 weeks before departure, which serendipitously brought us to a surreal place underneath the mango trees. What a trip! The cruise on a private catamaran on which we saw whales and dolphins before swimming in paradise like coves, a hike through the rainforest that peaked with a refreshing swim under a water fall, a safari on which we saw elephants swimming and playing in a lake… temples, tea plantations and turtles, surfing, coconut tree climbing, bonfires and late night sing alongs…

Smallpdf Team Retreat
October 2019

For Smallpdf we organized four action filled days aimed at onboarding new team members, reviewing the past quarter and setting goals for the one to come. A beautiful solitary mountain lodge was the perfect backdrop for strategy work and relaxing evenings spent sweating at the sauna or performing like a star at karaoke. Early morning yoga sessions would be followed by bow hunting (styrofoam) animals in the forest and by gaining new perspectives while rock climbing.

Duplex Food Hike
August 2018

“A proper full day hike with pop up gastronomy out in the mountains”, was Duplex Architekten’s wish for their summer event. We have run food hikes over small distances in flat terrain, but doing this on proper mountains over the course of a full day was a new challenge. Of course we could not resist the temptation to try. During the 8 hour event we served a mix of contemporary and local food on an excursion tower and in hidden forests, surprised out guests with artistic performances and a herd of goats accompanied them to an abandoned textile factory where they found shelter from the pouring rain and a final potpourri of local specialties.

Interactive Things Team Assembly 2018
27 - 30 June 2018

We are very happy to continue our work with Interactive Things, a Zurich based digital product agency. This year we welcomed them at a former hotel in a small village in Berner Oberland. Our mission is to make everyone feel well and happy while working hard and every retreat we add a little something new. This time we introduced our new "Drinks with Benefits" menu, with teas, infusions, shots and smoothies with a desired effect like being more awake, able to sleep, relieved of sugar cravings or more focused. The second new addition was a giant colouring poster which was greeted and coloured with great enthusiasm. A great way to unwind,  find new focus and get into flow. 

Software Craftmanship and Testing Unconference Switzerland 2018
15 - 18 March 2018

Happy to continue our work for 42talents, we made SoCraTes Switzerland 2018 a memorable Swiss mountain unconference for 47 passionate software craftswomen and craftsmen. We took care of organization and logistics in advance of the event and enabled 42talents to focus on the content side. With the venue itself being a rather functional school, we did our best to give it a 5 star feel in terms of service.  In addition to stocking up on brain snacks, good coffee, traditional cured meat and local craft beer, we built a great camp fire to welcome participants with hot cocktails, guided everyone up (and down) the mountain for fondue and night-time sledging and organized a popular spa trip to the next village.

Winter Retreat 2018, Laax, Switzerland
17 - 28 January 2018

In January we hosted an open winter retreat in Laax. OnePM and Onedot came to hold their yearly strategy retreat in Laax while Comerge's team buzzed with creativity during its hackathon.  Our "festival center" was a fantastic newly opened cabin in the middle of the forest. It provided workspace for one team and also served as the gathering place for lunch and dinner. In addition to the cabin, we used the perfectly equipped workshop room and workspace at ALPEAN. The two venues were located within walking distance and gave participants the opportunity to escape on nice long walks through the snowy forest every day. For lunch we served nourishing salads and warm soups. Dinner was equally fresh and colourful, including fish roasted by the open fire. Over the course of two long weekends we welcomed 50 guests in Laax.

Interactive Things Vegan Anniversary Dinner, Switzerland
15 December 2017

Interactive Things loved the food we served at their Team Assembly in June and asked us to cater for their Anniversary Dinner: A festive vegan feast. We were thrilled and got to work. From writing a 5 course menu to crafting flower decorations with foraged greenery to impromptu deco painting on location and a BARF menu for the two team dogs, we enjoyed a great time preparing a memorable evening for everyone who attended. The starter - Müslichüechli (literally translating to mice cakes) -  fried sage in beer batter, were new to all the international team members and a huge success. The oriental citrus and bitter leaves salad brought a tangy fresh feel, followed by a warm and creamy pink beetroot and potato soup. The main course, DIY tacos, were not only popular because of the many homemade ingredients, but also by the absence of cutlery. The finale, a gooey pecan pie accompanied by warm winter fruit compote, marked the opening of our fine bar. 

Swisscom Startup Team Retreat, Switzerland
19 - 20 September 2017

For Swisscom's startup team we had the pleasure to organize a second team retreat. This time around, we welcomed the young and energetic team in an old countryside inn, just the right environment to catch up on projects in person, to work on their strategy for next year and - just as important - to spend some quality time together. We were in charge of finding the right venue, took care of logistics, decorated the house and took over the kitchen. Poké bowls for lunch and homemade pizza from the very old oven at night provided the right kind of energy for the different moods and flavors of the day. As always the bar was well stocked with fine liquors and all the equipment the team needed to mix the drinks on the bar menu. 

Comerge company trip to Tallinn and Tartu, Estonia
30 August to 3 September 2017

Comerge, a young team of 30+ software developers and interaction designers, asked us to organize their company trip to Tartu and Tallinn in Estonia. A trip dedicated to spending quality time together as well as with MobiLab, their Estonian partner company. In addition to booking flights, hotels, transport and the most enjoyable restaurants, our task was to give everyone a sense for Estonia and the achievements of this young, progressive and almost entirely digital nation with beautiful nature. Prior to the team's arrival we scouted out each of the cities new developments, activities and restaurants, always thinking of the tech oriented and food loving people at Comerge. We fed the results into dedicated Google Maps, creating several themed tours through each of the two cities that allowed everyone to choose what suited them best. These tours also included a guided early-morning discovery run through impressive abandoned buildings, a visit to the E-Estonia showroom  and a trip to the countryside to relax in a traditional Estonian smoke sauna.

Doodle Management Retreat and Food Hike, Switzerland
21-22 June 2017

For Doodle's management team we found a very private, yet not too remote location for their retreat, connected them to a senior facilitator and crafted a very special evening activity: A food hike. Connecting a long walk in the woods with a 4 course dinner, each course served at a different place in and around the forest which we set up as lounge or restaurant. On this very hot day we started out with cold melon soup and home-made smoky tortilla chips with salsa on a recently mowed clearing, followed by a salad from caramelized green asparagus and strawberries waiting for the team in the middle of the forest. Next was roasted salmon by the fire on a beech board accompanied by Swedish summer potato salad and crunchy fresh cucumbers while everyone enjoyed a stunning sunset and overlooking the landscape. The walk was completed with grilled pineapple and vanilla ice-cream:  An actual summer night's dream. 

Interactive Things Team Assembly, Switzerland
14-17 June 2017

For digital product design agency Interactive Things, we organized and hosted their team assembly. We took care of location scouting, logistics  and with extra dedication and care - the kitchen and bar. Our menu for the three days circled around summery fresh fruit and vegetables, giving joy while fueling the team's brains for strategic discussions. On the first evening, we served the partners a rustic 7 course tasting-menu as their workshop went on. On day two, we served a selection of nourishing salads for lunch and had a variety of home-made energy bars and healthy sweet bites ready all through the day. In the evening, the team visited a local alp where the farmer himself served traditional local food. As this consisted mostly of meat and dairy products, we equipped the vegan team member with his own picnic basket. The final evening culminated in a festive summer dinner and cocktail bar with select spirits, ingredients and instructions for the team to mix their own drinks. The location, a former countryside inn, provided the perfect private environment for focused work and relaxed socializing. 

Go Venturesome Photography Retreat, Switzerland
1-5 May 2017

Go Venturesome was a workshop retreat for wedding photographers, hosted by Venturesome Collective, a group of successful young wedding photographers. We came on board to find the right venue - this time it was a hotel - and made sure everything would run smoothly on the operational side. As a result, the organizers were able to focus all their attention on working with the participants. 

PhD Retreat Maastricht University, Switzerland
17-19 March 2017

A wonderfully cozy retreat for professors Angela and Helmut Brandt's PhD team that traveled to Switzerland from all over Europe. After many a Skype conversation to co-author papers, the team finally got to meet in person. They benefited greatly from updating each other on their research during the day, however, what they most enjoyed was the opportunity to extend discussions over dinner and a good glass of wine. For this retreat we took care of the entire hospitality experience and provided an exclusive, but relaxed private hotel service. This included setting up the venue as a welcoming retreat place full of inspiration and catering to the team with fresh and seasonal "brain food" around the clock.

Software Craftmanship and Testing Unconference Switzerland
9 - 12 March 2017

We really enjoyed hosting the first Swiss 4 day SoCraTes unconference in March 2017. Following the invitation of lead organizer Patrick Baumgartner from 42talents, developers from Switzerland, Germany, the UK, Finland and France spent 4 days sharing knowledge and best practices or exploring new solutions to challenges they are facing in their work. We were in charge of finding a location providing solid internet connection and spaces to suit the group's work style, shaped and guided the side program and took over part of the hospitality to upgrade the venue from school to cool (un)conference venue.

Winter Co-Working Retreat in Ftan, Switzerland
30 January to 25 February 2017

The second edition of our winter retreat in a boarding school in Ftan, Engadin. The historic building with its diverse and spacious rooms, set on a sunny plateau above a picturesque mountain village, is the perfect place to be productive. 90 participants from diverse companies joined us:  Contovista, LivingDocs, Packagist, Nelmio and Wealthport came with their entire team, Microsoft, Unic and Impact Hub Zürich sent a few lucky ones to work from the mountains and some greatly inspiring individual co-workers such as Martina Melcher, pharmacist and trainer, Heiko Specking from specking + partners and Florian Rittiner, innovation space expert came all by themselves You can tell: We loved it. 

Christmas themed strategy retreat Switzerland
21-23 November 2016

A wonderfully atmospheric strategy retreat & team Christmas party. Swisscom's startup team took two days to retreat and talk strategy before the end-of-year buzz set in. We had the pleasure to help with all the logistics and offer a great venue and Christmas hospitality to them so they could get the best of work and celebrating during their short time out. 

Summer Retreat in Zweisimmen, Switzerland
25 May to 6 July 2016

This summer we enjoyed beautiful Hamilton Lodge Zweisimmen as our base camp for a series of individual retreats.

50 co-workers from - among others - Contovista, Knip, Electric Feel, Kickstart Accelerator and Climate KIC  joined us to work on products, strategy, team building and even their yoga poses.

Winter Retreat in Ftan, Switzerland
16 January to 14 February 2016

Our longest mountain experience so far! During 4 weeks we ran a pop-up co-working and co-living space in an alpine sports boarding school.

From startup teams like Contovista and Advertima to grown up companies like Knip and Tutti.ch all the way to Microsoft BizSpark - 180 people from 50+ companies enjoyed focus and creative space, the amazing views, sports facilities and - most importantly - the company of like minded people. 

Summer Retreat in Scuol, Switzerland
2 - 7 August 2015

What a great week! 8 adventurers from fields as diverse as clean tech, food, marketing, software development, design, politics, outdoor coaching, journalism and business development joined our summer retreat under the blue skies of Scuol. 

Click on the pictures to see our video memories!

We kicked-off with an evening stroll through the picturesque village and alpine forest along the local creek, finding a lot of common ground as we walked and talked. Throughout the week hikes and meal times saw many a deep discussion and including some embellished with a light bulb moment.  With exceptionally hot weather of 35°C and more the daily schedule of mindful moments, individual work time, outdoor activities and collaboration was tweaked to suit the temperatures and general mood. The covered terrace got awarded favourite work spot while some even took to the hills for their creative sessions. Who'd have thought we'd continue our discussions on smart strategies at either a mountain lake or the village lido? 

At the end of the week, Debbie has written the best part of her business plan for a food truck venture, Christian has moved a good bit forward with his aviation tracking script, Steffen takes home less ideas than he brought and has a clear plan about those, Kuno knows which strings to pull next in his diverse political engagements and Anke is half way to a new website. Collaboration and sharing continue on our Facebook group as well as in individual calls, meetings and the plans for a next and longer retreat. 

Winter retreat in Schmitten, Switzerland 
2 - 6 February 2015

What would be more obvious than to combine working with skiing!

The very first Alpine Co-Working retreat took us to Schmitten, near Davos. 9 happy skiers enjoyed a multitude of world class ski slopes, endless cross-country tracks, cozy chats by the soap stone oven, great food and good laughs at the dinner table of the atmospheric century old house.

Wondering whether we were working? Yes, we were. Here's what we focussed on: Organizing a medical congress, managing a software development company, building a website for yoga & riding retreats, updating an online shop for local food, developing a marketing strategy for a childrens' game, testing Design Thinking methodology with participants, preparing a crowd-funding campaign for a new bike repair technology, taking some time out before launching a new project.