On February 27th the Institute of European Studies co-hosted with the Haas School of Business and its Austrian partner institution MCI Innsbruck a panel discussion with Daniel Krauss, co-founder and CIO of FlixBus and owner of Greyhound. The discussion was moderated by IES Director Jeoren Dewulf and visiting professor Andreas Altmann, president of MCI, with opening remarks from Associate Dean of the Haas School of Business, Jennifer A. Chatman. Over 30 people attended the conference in person, with some 500 participants tuning in online due to unusually rainy weather. The conversation with both moderators and audience participants was lively, as both students and professors asked questions regarding the future of FlixBus after having acquired Greyhound Lines.
Krauss began his presentation by talking about the risks you take when acquiring another company, especially one abroad. He explained that mergers and acquisitions depend on trust and involve integrating the cultures of two firms without overstepping territory. Because Greyhound has been around for over 100 years, many of its employees are incredibly proud of its history. Recognizing this, Krauss noted that respecting the pride and legacy of Greyhound was a priority of his. He then began talking about the ways he hoped to synergize Greyhound’s vast and interconnected network with more convenient booking through better software used with FlixBus. Together, he believes, the two companies can succeed better than they would alone. The panel discussion that followed featured many interesting questions from both faculty and students alike. Krauss noted that one of the biggest challenges he anticipates will be shifting brand perception of Greyhound away from the misconceptions surrounding it. In response to some questions about meeting carbon neutrality and autonomous driving, Krauss specified his anticipated timeline for FlixBus. He predicts that the 40s will usher in an era of little to no
combustion buses, and that steps are already underway towards this goal. For example, FlixBus is experimenting with biogas and solar paneled buses. Regarding AI, Kraus sees autonomous driving as most feasible on freeways in the 2030s, and suggests that bus companies implement a mixed approach where drivers can control buses remotely when they exit the freeway.
Finally, Krauss answered questions about how he informed himself about Greyhound before purchasing it, and shared his experience as an entrepreneur He concluded by offering advice for students interested in a career in entrepreneurship, and urged universities to encourage students to explore their entrepreneurial spirit earlier.