Do you see what he sees?

Visionaries see what others cannot. Those that are not only able to see, but act on an idea are true pioneers. This is true throughout the world.

In Germany, one of the first countries to enter the Super Age, those with demographic foresight are few and far between. There has been some support in the federal and state governments, and some major employers understood the complexities of demographic change and that it would affect their bottom line. However, few saw the potential of the older marketplace clearer than Frank Leyhausen.

Up until this point, Leyhausen has carved out a niche as one of the first and foremost experts on older consumers in Germany and around the world. His company, MedComm International has informed some of the biggest brands, including companies like Volkswagen, with key market research and insights. He’s also been featured in global thought leader forums at the United Nations and SXSW.

A new endeavor for a new era

Leyhausen’s research in January 2021 illustrated that more than one in three pre-retirees were concerned with their transition to later life. And the diversity of their concerns were dramatic - some were focused on income, while others were interested in changing roles and social status.

In the past week, Frank has launched a new endeavor in Germany with-co founder Anja Klute, called AgeForce1. This new platform offers educational programs for retirement planning, including online self-assessment and self-guided learning, which are based on behavioral research. The programs offered focus on finding purpose in retirement, rather than on finances. It creates a whole new segment in the education technology segment.

With AgeForce1, Leyhausen and Klute are helping individuals prepare for later life transitions with the goal of “mission retirement,” meaning that in order to have a full and fulfilling life, individuals need to plan for more than how much money they have in the bank. Individuals need to focus on purpose, meaning, and social connectivity in order to harness the true potential of their later years. 

It’s an admirable and aggressive goal, but given Leyhausen’s track record of success and moving the market, he and AgeForce1 will likely make the lives of older people better, again.