January 10, 2024
Christian Jäger built a small empire with publishing services, real estate and many other pillars. Now, the Tyrolean businessman begins his big project: building a global healthcare group. He claims to have already found the right vehicle for this with the Easy Motion Skin Tec AG listed. Now the big growth is coming.
A lot has happened to Christian Jäger in recent weeks and months. The Tyrolean businessman has never been known for his inactivity. But he took advantage of the post-Covid period with even more intensity. In 2021, he opened his company Easy Motion Skin to the public, specializing in physical training with electrical muscle stimulation. Because Jäger’s goal, made even stronger by the Covid pandemic, is big: “I want to build a global healthcare group.”
But besides this “guiding motto”, Jäger has several other projects that keep him busy. In addition to managing his Jäger group of companies, where he generates a turnover of 200 million euros with around 20 companies and specializes in sectors such as healthcare, editorial services and real estate transactions, as well as in the marketing of events – such as the organization of European concerts by well-known Korean bands (“K-Pop”). Jäger is expanding his work in the venture capital field as a judge on the Puls4 program “2 Minutes, 2 Million” – the next season is scheduled to be filmed just a few days after our interview.
His popularity on the show also led to Puls4 showing interest in their own format with Jäger. But the businessman is still undecided whether he really wants to implement this. “It has to be right for me.” And Jäger is also involved in charitable activities: together with the Desert Flower Foundation run by activist Waris Dirie, Jäger is opening a school in Sierra Leone, which he will dedicate to his late father. “We have room for 660 kids there.” Jäger, who has known the foundation's co-founder Walter Lutschinger for a long time, will cover the construction and operating costs for two years – then the government will take over.
Above all is desire build something lasting in the healthcare sector. “This goal is number one when it comes to my energy, my time and my investment volume.” However, he is still “a long way away” from seeing his assets grow sustainably through this project, says Jäger. “Anything you want to build costs money.”
The company's proprietary technology promises a healthy, fit lifestyle – with just 20 minutes of exercise per week. Training is carried out in a special suit that uses electromyostimulation. Impulses are sent to the muscles, with the aim of improving the effect and efficiency of training. Jäger talks about the “smallest gym in the world”. But the project that Jäger has been pushing for several years is just one piece of the puzzle. In 2021, Jäger opened his mother capital, Easy Motion Skin Tec AG, in Germany. The main objective is to facilitate strategic acquisitions.
That's exactly what Jäger did in the summer of 2023: the company acquired Milongroup, which with its Milon and Five brands produces smart, electronically controlled training devices that are used in fitness clubs, but also in healthcare facilities. According to the company, in addition to the fitness studios managed by the owners, 550 physiotherapy centers and around 150 clinics and rehabilitation centers are also clients of the company. Milongroup operates in ten markets in Europe; In the DACH region, the market share in the premium segment is around 47%. Overall, Jäger aims to generate around 25 to 30 million euros in sales in 2023 – also through integration. But this should only be the beginning: “We want to do much more this year through integration. We want to grow dynamically – and we did.”
Jäger cites Peloton, among others, as a model. The North American company, which combines exercise bikes and treadmills with digital courses and competitions, grew especially during the Covid pandemic. The hype has since died down, but sales recently totaled $3.58 billion. “This is an ideal candidate for cooperation,” says Jäger. “Both companies focus on the topic of human health.”
Growth will also manifest itself in other ways. Because, according to Jäger, the new identity must also be reflected in the name: “A name change will probably also be necessary. Due to the complexity, the name Easy Motion Skin is no longer entirely appropriate. But the board members have to decide that.”
Because Jäger emphasizes that he himself is not involved in the operations. As majority owner, he wants to ensure the right people are in the right positions and that the company has everything it needs to grow. This is unlikely to change in the near future: “I myself want to hold more than 50% of the shares for some time”. the share is at €7.75), Jäger takes it in stride. “The market environment was difficult, so the price temporarily dropped. But the whole thing is a long-term project, we don’t necessarily look at short-term developments.”
“I have the ambition, the desire and the discipline. And: I like the work”, says Tyrolean businessman Christian Jäger.
This hunter, probably The fact that he no longer has to worry about his existence at the age of 60 and that he can still take on a project of this size at the age of 60 is based on his philosophy of life. The businessman, who first dropped out of school, then, with a lot of work and instinct, built something in the publishing service (especially through magazine subscriptions) after the fall of the Wall in East Germany. He's diversifying, expanding into real estate and anywhere else there's money to be made. For example, Jäger now holds the European rights to events for two K-pop bands – the hype for the Korean music genre has also fully reached the European continent.
Jäger is convinced that big goals and meaningful work are the best way to combat aging. “If you rest, you rust. People who stop drinking often age faster than average. Those who remain vigilant are often still there when they are in their 80s or 90s – often to the annoyance of their heirs.”
Jäger names the recently deceased Swiss Jörg Bucherer, who was still fully involved in the company at age 80. “That’s how I see myself.” The ingredients to achieve this are definitely there, says the consummate entrepreneur: “I have the ambition, the desire and the discipline. And: I like the work.”
Christian Jäger was born in Tyrol, dropped out of school, but later obtained his high school diploma. Its group of companies includes more than 20 companies. With Easy Motion Skin Tec AG, he now wants to build a global healthcare group.
Klaus Fiala,
Boss Editor