Small but mighty. Since autumn 2021, the Boutique Boatel ATTILA has been gliding across Lakes Neuchâtel, Murten and Biel, Switzerland's longest navigable waterway. Attila is committed to Slow Travel - environmentally conscious, regional tourism. Come aboard the first cruise/hotel ship on Swiss waters and become a co-owner of a Swiss shipping company!
Explore more about the crowdinvesting opportunity in our latest interview.
What is your name?
Richard Hurni
What is your role in the company?
Chairman of the Board of Directors
What is the problem your team wants to solve?
Every year, 160,000 Swiss people go on cruises with long journeys to Genoa or Miami, which is time-consuming and harmful to the environment.
What are you doing to solve this problem?
With the MS ATTILA, we offer a sustainable and climate-friendly cruise experience that our guests can enjoy right on their doorstep.
Could you please tell us more about your product?
Guests begin their journey by taking public transport to Murten, where they are picked up by our electric vehicle. During the two to three day cruise, they not only enjoy the picturesque waters of the Three Lakes region, but also have the opportunity to visit local wineries and museums. In the evenings, they dine in one of the many restaurants on shore, supporting the local economy and experiencing a family atmosphere that is very different from the huge ocean-going tankers.
What is your business model?
Our business model is very simple: our revenue comes from our guests' bookings and we have to make sure they are happy.
Which market are you addressing and who are your competitors?
We address the market for sustainable tourism in Switzerland. Our main target groups are environmentally conscious travellers, high net worth individuals and companies looking for unique excursion opportunities. Our competition consists of traditional cruise companies, but we stand out because of our sustainable and regional concept.
What milestones have you already reached? What are the plans for the future?
We have already attracted over 70 shareholders who have invested in the Reederei Vully AG. Since the launch in autumn 2021, we have operated successful cruises and received positive feedback from our guests. In the future, we plan to expand our offering and attract more investors to support our growth.
A great team is probably the most important asset of any company. Please tell us something about your team.
Our team consists of experienced entrepreneurs and professionals from the Biel, Murten and Bern region. Together we bring diverse expertise in tourism, shipping, business management and hospitality. Our commitment to the project and our deep roots in the region drive us to make Boutique Boatel ATTILA a success.
How much capital do you want to raise and how will you use these funds?
We are aiming to raise at least CHF 450,000, with CHF 250,000 already pledged by existing shareholders. These funds will be used to optimise sustainability measures on board, expand our services and clean up legacy issues from the first years of operation.
Before you contacted OOMNIUM & Aktionariat, what was the problem or challenge you were facing?
Before contacting OOMNIUM and Aktionariat, we faced the challenge of finding enough money for our next development step.
What measures did you take to overcome this challenge and why did you ultimately choose OOMNIUM & Aktionariat?
We first secured CHF 250,000 from existing shareholders to send a strong signal to potential new investors. Our choice fell on Aktionariat and OOMNIUM as they are the most established and largest players in the Swiss market and have the widest reach.
Why would you recommend OOMNIUM & Aktionariat to other start-ups and SMEs?
We recommend Aktionariat and OOMNIUM to other start-ups and SMEs because they help with two crucial challenges: raising enough capital and attracting new customers. A crowdinvesting campaign helps with both aspects.
To learn more about ATTILA and their crowdinvesting, you take a look at their investment pitch.
