Bike-Alp.com
Mountain bikers enjoy the views
Bike-Alp.com
Recent University of Southampton graduate Eleanor Hayes started a guided mountain biking holiday company in the French Alps, with the aid of 'Fish Food' investment funding. Bike-Alp.com was granted matched funding from an investment fund solely for University of Southampton student businesses. To access the fund, managed by the University's Centre for Enterprise and Innovation and Fish On Toast the student entrepreneurs' club, Eleanor had to deliver a business plan, presentation, provide a contribution to start-up costs and offer a return on investment to secure the funds.
Based in Samoëns, a traditional French Alpine town in the Haute-Savoie, high in the Alps, the accommodation is an old farmhouse, which has been converted into a luxury chalet includes a DVD player, Play Station and full sized American Pool table.
Eleanor's business partner, Steve Mallett is an experienced and enthusiastic cyclist and was the inspiration behind the idea. While Steve provides the guiding throughout the week, Eleanor manages the business aspects of the company and is responsible for the accommodation and evening entertainment. Bike-Alp has now had several successful seasons and is currently in the process of being registered as a Limited Company.
