Get out together, grow together

Key Takeaways:

• Marketing in Practice: What we learned during our FHV degree program in International Business Administration - Sustainable Management with a focus on Marketing, Sales, and Innovation—is directly applied and further developed at RAUS Collective.
• Moving Forward Together: RAUS Collective brings people together regardless of skill level or prior experience and fosters genuine connections.
• Networks Strengthen Ideas: Startup Vorarlberg helped build RAUS Collective through dialogue, feedback, and valuable contacts.   
  
  
  

How did the idea for the RAUS Collective community come about?

Teresa Hezel: Right at the beginning of our studies at the FHV, during a dinner together. We were talking about how hard it is to meet new people. In big cities, there are these running clubs that make it really easy to connect with others. That’s how we got the idea to try something like that in Vorarlberg. It quickly became clear to us that exercising in a group is the most beneficial. That’s exactly how RAUS Collective grew. It’s a labor of love that we’re building step by step.  



What is your long-term goal for the community?

Katharina Nitsch: We want to build a community where people come together through exercise, regardless of performance, skill level, or prior experience. In the long run, we hope that RAUS will become a go-to spot for anyone who wants to get outside, be active, meet new people, and form genuine connections. It’s less about numbers and more about the feeling of belonging.   Who can be part of RAUS Collective? Teresa Hezel: Anyone can join. Everyone is welcome here. We also offer a women-only run once a month. This is especially relaxed for beginners because you’re just among yourselves.  



What’s on your schedule for the summer?

Katharina: Over the summer, we’re planning group runs, hikes, and bike rides—casual activities where the focus is on community. If you’d like to join us or stay up to date, follow us on Instagram at “rauscollective.” That’s where we share all our dates and news. You got started with support from Startup Vorarlberg. How did they support you? Teresa: Startup Vorarlberg supported us above all with inspiration, feedback, and a great network. Their openness and the opportunity to build a network in Vorarlberg were especially invaluable to us. Connecting with people pursuing similar ideas gave us courage and helped us refine our concept. This support was a valuable boost for us in the early stages. 



What are the biggest challenges, especially at the beginning?

Katharina: The biggest challenge is time. Building a project you’re passionate about alongside other commitments requires good organization. On top of that, there’s the task of turning an idea into something tangible—finding the right format, reaching people, and fostering a community that’s truly vibrant. That takes patience, but that’s exactly what makes it so fulfilling. 



You run the platform part-time. Teresa, you work as a production planner at Ortovox, and Katharina works in project and process management at Dornbirner Sparkasse. 
How do you balance RAUS Collective with your regular jobs?

Teresa: It works mainly because RAUS isn’t an extra job for us—it’s a way to balance our lives. The movement and the interaction give us energy. Still, it requires clear priorities and good teamwork. We divide up tasks and use the time we have very consciously.



You’re both studying at the FHV. How has your degree programme supported you?

Katharina: We’re both studying International Business Administration—Sustainable Management with a focus on marketing, sales, and innovation. The coolest part is that we can directly apply and test everything we learn in marketing right here at RAUS. It’s a lot of fun and incredibly valuable because we can immediately apply what we’ve learned in practice and see what works. I also really appreciate the support from our professors, who guide our project with advice and openness. I’d especially like to mention Professor Florian Buehler, who has supported us from the very beginning and has been there to offer guidance.



What sets the programme at FHV apart?

Teresa: For me, it’s above all the exchange on an equal footing with the lecturers and fellow students, as well as the close connection to real-world practice. You don’t just learn theory; you can directly apply and test what you’ve learned, and much of it can be put into practice right away in the workplace. Overall, the programme is very well organized, and there are also cool opportunities, like the chance to take short study abroad stints through RUN-EU. But the best part for me is that I’ve made some really good friends in no time at all—friends who support each other when things get tough.



What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learned during your studies?

Katharina: To have the courage to ask questions, reach out to people, and even ask for help sometimes. The programme has shown me that everyone here is very open and helpful and forms a truly wonderful community. It’s exactly this openness that we take with us and put into practice at RAUS as well.