Turning the world upside down: The founder's story of Somersault

Picture this: Rick, with his head in the clouds, is off dreaming up the next big thing. Probably while looking like he just stepped off a fashion runway. No mismatched socks here! Enter Nathalie, the yin to his yang. The pragmatic force who gently pulls him back down to earth when his imagination starts doing backflips. 'You can’t build a castle in the sky, Rick,' she quips, 'unless you’ve got a solid foundation first! Remember: ambition and creativity are great, but without focus, we’d just be spinning in circles. Focus allows us to truly pay attention to what matters.'

We are about to turn everything upside down — quite literally. This time, the vision is different. We humans need connection, real connection — something that’s been a bit neglected lately, wouldn’t you say? Yet the need for interaction is stronger than ever.

And so, Somersault was born. Because let’s face it, hotels and restaurants are more than just places to sleep or grab a quick bite. Design and architecture are great, but if they don’t encourage people to engage, what’s the point?

And don’t even get us started on restaurants and bars being merely for hotel guests — no chance. These spots should be the heartbeats of the city, not some footnote in a lease agreement. They deserve their own identity, their own branding, their own website, and, most of all, their own passionate teams. Forget boring hotel restaurants serving up croque monsieur and burgers; we’re talking about real restaurant and bar masters who get their hands dirty. No scripts, just pure passion and creativity.

Our vision comes to life under the name Frozen Lemons — a creative R&B studio serving up everything from in-house concepts to full-scale operations. The name was born, like all great ideas, at a kitchen table (because, of course, it was). Rick wanted something fresh and energetic, not pulled from a dusty Latin dictionary. “Frozen Lemons?" Exactly! It’s the name that sparks curiosity and that’s the beauty of it. A little mysterious, a lot of energy, and just the right amount of “what on earth?” That’s the vibe we bring to every project.

But naturally, Rick isn’t stopping there. “Why just a hotel or a restaurant? Why not turn these buildings into mixed-use spaces?” Co-working areas, medical services, cultural venues, and amenities for locals and guests alike — let’s make these buildings come alive. The possibilities are endless, and that’s exactly why we’ve decided to go all in. No longer just renting, we’re owning. Shaping the future of spaces that are alive with opportunity and human connection.

Rick has never wanted to build a hotel or restaurant; he wanted to build a feeling. That is exactly why he once stepped into the hotel industry with zero experience, like the outsider he was, and here we are — with a track record of 23 hotels across Europe. Turns out, maybe being a bit of an outsider wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

Our brand partners like Marriott and IHG know us well. Maybe a little too well. They love challenging us, pushing us to outshine even our best work. Apparently, once you succeed, you’re doomed to keep raising the bar. Why do people want to work with us? Because they like us, trust us, and believe in what we do. It’s all about relationships. Because let’s be honest, a killer business plan is great, but buildings alone don’t create value. It’s the people behind the plan that matter. Understanding the value of relationships has unlocked a whole new chapter for us. The weight of past successes has been replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again.

“That spark — being crazy, confident, and passionate enough to think I can make it happen — is back,” Rick said, with a grin that only founders can get away with. It’s freed me to dive into one of the most creative periods of my life, where securing investments and developing our brand feels almost second nature. But this time, we’re going deeper — figuring out who we really are as a company.

Starting from scratch means one thing: learning from our past while keeping that fresh mindset. It’s all about the balance between effort and sprezzatura — what looks effortless is, in reality, the result of years of practice and planning. Rick’s analogy? Tennis, of course. “Watch video's of Federer or Nadal, and you think: ‘Well, that looks easy.’ But the moment you pick up a racket, you understand the countless hours of work they’ve put in.” It’s the same with entrepreneurship. What seems like spontaneous brilliance is often the outcome of relentless dedication.

And if you’re a founder, playing to your strengths is key. “I’ve tasted the adrenaline of the early stages — the hustle of turning a crazy idea into something real. When I hear ‘no,’ I work twice as hard for a ‘yes.’ That’s what defines me as an entrepreneur,” Rick says. Entrepreneurship is believing in the impossible and fighting to make it happen. But being a founder and being a CEO? "Those are two very different skill sets, Rick mentioned. My superpower isn’t in the day-to-day grind. That’s why Nathalie is now CEO of Somersault. She’s the one who ensures the engine runs smoothly while I dream up the next big leap".

Nathalie is no stranger to running the show — she’s like the conductor of our little orchestra, leading multiple departments with a grace that makes it look effortless. We are doing this together with a small, dedicated team of creatives who’ve spent the last months reflecting, brainstorming, and learning from every challenge we’ve faced. Together, we have shaped the next phase of Somersault, marking a fresh beginning while naturally building on everything we started back in 2012.