A cohesive culture is an essential element of successful companies, and it may be even more important for start-ups, which often have a small staff of people working long hours fueled by stress and pressure to attract and retain investors. That is what prompted David Goldstein to create YoYo, which stands for Your Office, Your Outing. Goldstein has been in the teambuilding business since 1998 when he launched TeamBonding, which operates in cities across the United States and Canada. But after working among start-ups in WeWork spaces in Boston and New York, Goldstein says he realized start-ups in particular need a more transparent and affordable option.
“These are people working their tails off, creating the next app, the next business, the next disruptor of an industry. There’s not a lot of time to plan an event,” Goldstein says. "You are building something really big, really quick, and you have to get everybody on the same page. In that sense teambuilding is kind of a requirement for it. Burnout rates are high. So these events get them out of the office and give them a break from the day-to-day grind."
The YoYo website lists each of the experiences, including the ideal group size, duration, and price, with options starting at $25 per person. The fee includes the venue and at least one facilitator, and in some cases food and beverages. Companies can request a booking from the YoYo website.
YoYo is currently available in Boston, with plans to expand to San Francisco, New York, Washington, Chicago, and more.
