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“Change Mobility, Change the World – for us, this means rethinking mobility and creating real value.
Judith Häberli and Robert Ruttmann
Judith Häberli and Robert Ruttmann are the founders of Urban Connect, a leading multimodal mobility platform for businesses. Urban Connect supports nearly 100 renowned companies in managing employee mobility holistically. Through an integrated platform that combines fleet management, mobility benefits, sharing services and intelligent infrastructure, Urban Connect makes corporate mobility simpler, more efficient and more sustainable. In 2023, they were awarded the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in the Emerging Entrepreneur category, thus recognizing their entrepreneurial courage, ambition and innovative strength in the mobility sector.
Judith Häberli and Robert Ruttmann reflect on Urban Connect’s journey since their win of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year, discuss growth and key milestones, and share how trust, networking and innovation have shaped their entrepreneurial path.
Your founding story is anything but conventional. How did a planned coffee shop suddenly evolve into the mobility platform Urban Connect?
Our founding story was, in many ways, a coincidence. We originally intended to open a coffee shop and had found an old bicycle shop as the perfect location. However, the owner of the workshop told us he would only hand over the business if we agreed to continue employing his apprentice. For us, the answer was simple: of course we would! From that moment on, coffee was no longer the focus — mobility was. And that is how Urban Connect was born.
Sometimes the best ideas emerge unexpectedly. What started as the idea of opening a coffee shop became the foundation of Urban Connect.
Looking back on the past few years, which milestones have been particularly significant in your journey?
The most important milestones were often not the most visible ones. They included key hires, major client mandates and the establishment of robust organisational structures. Areas such as financial processes and internal systems may be less visible, but they are fundamental to sustainable growth. These developments were complemented by targeted product innovations that opened up entirely new use cases and opportunities.
You won EY Entrepreneur Of The Year in 2023 – where do you stand today?
Since 2023, we have strategically expanded our offering, particularly through the introduction of a mobility budget as well as integrated parking and charging solutions, which have been very well received by our clients.
At the same time, we have matured significantly as an organisation. Today, we are close to profitability and growing on a much stronger foundation. Furthermore, we are also increasingly expanding together with our existing clients and embedding our platform more deeply into their mobility strategies.
Who or what has influenced you the most during this phase?
Our team has been instrumental, particularly the combination of internally developed expertise and fresh external perspectives. At the same time, our clients have been a major source of inspiration. Their requirements and ideas help us develop relevant solutions and continuously refine our offering.
Was there a moment when you realised: “This is where EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is really paying off”?
There was no single defining moment. Rather, the impact reveals itself continuously — whether in client conversations or when attracting and recruiting talent.
The award creates trust and can make the difference in decisive situations
Were there any specific connections, events or encounters within the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year community that had a lasting impact on you?
The EY Strategic Growth Forum in Palm Springs in 2023 was particularly influential for us. Engaging with entrepreneurial leaders from around the world opened up new perspectives for us — both strategically and personally.
For us, the real value of EY Entrepreneur Of The Year lies in its strong network and the opportunity to engage with fellow entrepreneurs as equals. At the same time, the award serves as a powerful signal of quality and credibility — both for clients and in recruiting. This combination of trust, visibility and connectivity creates long-term impact.
What advice would you give to ambitious and innovative scale-ups considering participation in EY Entrepreneur Of The Year?
Participation is particularly worthwhile because of the unique combination of visibility, credibility and networking opportunities. Especially during growth phases, these factors can become powerful drivers — both for acquiring new clients and for attracting top talents.
Looking back, would you participate in EY Entrepreneur Of The Year again, and why?
Absolutely. Above all, because of the people, the exchange of experiences and the long-term impact that extends far beyond the award itself.
The greatest value does not lie in the moment of receiving the award, but in what grows from it afterwards.
