Jochen Swiss fortune

Short introduction

Jochen Schweizer was born on June 23, 1957 in Ettlingen in Baden-Württemberg. He is primarily known as the founder and owner of the company “Jochen Schweizer” and as a former investor in the TV show “Die Höhle der Löwen”.

Early life

Jochen Schweizer was born in Ettlingen and grew up in Heidelberg. Here he also graduated from the Willy-Hellpach Business School. After graduating from high school, his path led him first to Africa, which he crossed by motorcycle. After this adventure, he trained as a logistician. Simultaneously, he attended courses at the University of Freiburg.

Career

After completing his training, he returned to the African continent. More precisely to West Africa, where he carried out transports for an international freight forwarder. He later rose to the top of the career ladder and became managing director of a branch in Munich.

Jochen Schweizer’s career as an independent entrepreneur began in 1985 with the establishment of an event and marketing agency. At that time the company was still operating under the name “Kajak Sports Productions”. It was only later that the well-known “Jochen Schweizer Unternehmensgruppe” would emerge. Schweizer recognized early on the growing importance of fun and extreme sports. In the following years, the company produced several films dealing with fun and extreme sports.

In 1989 the first stationary bungee jumping facility in Germany was opened in Oberschleissheim near Munich. This still exists today and is now the oldest plant of its kind in operation in Europe. In the years that followed, the company built more such plants in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In the following years the company expanded its activities to other fun sports events,

Due to several accidents, the company experienced an economic crisis in the early 2000s. As a result, from 2003 onwards, the decision was made only to act on experiences. These were first offered in the form of vouchers through their own branches. However, Jochen Schweizer quickly realized that the Internet was an ideal sales channel. As of 2004, the vouchers were also offered on the Internet. In addition, various trading partners such as discounters or book stores came.

It became known in 2017 that Jochen Schweizer sold a majority stake in Jochen Schweizer GmbH to ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG. MyDays operates a similar offer, which will be merged with Jochen Schweizer GmbH in the future.

About the company Jochen Schweizer Ventures, Schweizer also acts as an investor and has invested in various start-ups. This activity attracted great attention between 2014 and 2016 when he appeared as an investor in the TV show “The Lion’s Den”. In recent years, Jochen Schweizer has increasingly appeared as a motivational speaker.

Career highlights

1985 – foundation of the company “Kajak Sports Productions”
1989 – Opening of the first bungee tower in Germany
2003 – Start of sales of adventure vouchers
2004 – Start of the sale of adventure vouchers via the Internet
2010 – Publication of his autobiography “Why people have to be able to fly”
2014 to 2016 – investor in the TV show “The Lion’s Den”
2015 – Market leader for adventure vouchers in Germany
2015 – Publication of the motivational guide “The perfect moment”
2017 – Sale of a majority stake in ProSiebenSat.1 Media
2017 – Opening of the Jochen Schweizer Arena in Taufkirchen

Famous quotes

“Ultimately, it’s about getting up once more than you fell.”

“I sell real adventures, not the illusion of adventure.”

“Experiences are the glue of every social relationship.”

“Wherever I am is where I start. I’m always at the beginning and never finish.”

“Courage is the ability to overcome fear.”

Amazing facts

Jochen Schweizer made bungee jumping popular in Germany.

He holds several world records in extreme sports. Among other things, for the deepest bungee jump. In 1997 he jumped from a helicopter 1,050 into the depths.

He has appeared in several films as a stuntman. For example in “Feuer, Eis und Dynamit”, “Bandits” and “The Amanzing Race”.