Kuchentratsch: Social commitment combined with an economic business model, based on the best cakes from granny.

Kuchentratsch is a young company based in Munich that aims to offer seniors an innovative point of contact while baking the most delicious cakes in the city.

For seniors, retirement marks the beginning of a new stage in life that is often characterized by the feeling of loneliness and not being needed anymore, while might be accomplished with financial losses due to low pension income. As a result of the demographic change, it affects a steadily growing group of people.

Kuchentratschs’ solution: Combining social commitment with an economic approach by pursuing the mission of “making life more livable”. The social start-up employs probably the most experienced and passionate cake bakers — our grandmas and grandpas. In doing so, the young company offers seniors an opportunity to bake together in a pleasant atmosphere, socialize and earn something on top of their pensions. Therefore, Kuchentratsch is raising awareness against loneliness in retirement and pensioner poverty, while creating a unique selling proposition by not having assembly line work but making each cake individually and with love. Thereby, the ideas, knowledge, and skills of the senior employees are crucial, as the sale of their cakes and cake-mixes are fundamental to Kuchentratsch’s business model. Cakes are sold to corporate and private customers as well as to cafés. Its innovative business approach is underlined by not only offering the cakes for self-pick-up and delivery in Munich but also providing the possibility to order various cakes through an online shop and sending them all over Germany.

Not only the fact addressing a social problem with an economic business model is very inspiring but also the realization of Kuchentratsch is remarkable. The start-up relies on cutting-edge business approaches (e.g. the possibility to order cakes online and send them as birthday gifts to family and friends) to satisfy its customer in the best possible way.

Concerning the following two examples of Design Thinking aspects, Kuchentratsch’s assumptions are very inspiring:

• Design Thinking approaches complex issues systematically and simplifies problem-solving enormously: Kuchentratsch addresses the complex challenge of loneliness in retirement and pensioner poverty by creating an environment where seniors can pursue their passion, socialize, and earn something on top of their pensions.
• Design Thinking implies problems are solved better when people with different competencies work together in a creative atmosphere: Kuchentratsch fosters collaboration of the most diverse generations, from interns of school and university to senior citizens into old age.