Startup Retreats

Bring your startup team together to plan, build, and grow

1000+
Offsites organized
10
Years of experience
200+
Retreat locations

Why organize a startup retreat?

As your startup grows, it becomes harder to keep everyone aligned. New hires join, teams expand, and important conversations often get lost in Slack or video calls.

A startup retreat (also called a startup offsite) gives your team the opportunity to reconnect, align on priorities, and create momentum for the next stage of growth. It's also a great way to celebrate major milestones, such as a successful funding round, product launch, or team expansion.

Surf Office helps startups organize productive retreats by handling accommodation, meeting spaces, activities, and logistics from start to finish.

Organize your next startup retreat with Surf Office

1000+ retreats organized ● 10 years of experience ● 200+ retreat locations

Sample Retreat Itinerary in Mallorca

Looking for inspiration? Here's an example of a 3-day startup retreat in Mallorca centered around a team hackathon.

Day 1: Arrival & Planning

Settling in and setting the stage

  • 14:00–17:00Airport transfers and hotel check-in
  • 17:00–18:30Company update and roadmap presentation
  • 18:30–19:30Hackathon kickoff and team formation
  • 20:00–22:00Welcome dinner by the sea

Day 2: Hackathon Sprint

Build, collaborate & explore

  • 07:30–08:30Breakfast at hotel
  • 09:00–12:30Focused hackathon sessions
  • 12:30–14:00Lunch
  • 14:00–17:00Team mentoring, collaboration and project development
  • 17:00–20:00Catamaran cruise along the Mallorcan coast
  • 20:00–22:30Dinner in Palma

Day 3: Presentations & Celebration

Demos, awards & farewell

  • 07:30–08:30Breakfast at hotel
  • 09:00–11:30Final project presentations and demos
  • 11:30–12:30Team feedback and awards ceremony
  • 12:30–14:00Celebration lunch
  • 14:00–17:00Airport transfers and departures

Recent retreats organized by Surf Office

Best retreat locations

Get 3 personalized venue proposals

Organize your next startup retreat with Surf Office

1000+ retreats organized ● 10 years of experience ● 200+ retreat locations

Startup retreat activity ideas

Looking for inspiration on how to keep your startup busy on the retreat?
Here are some activities that Surf Office has hosted in the past:

company retreat activity beach

Head to the beach

Workday, a people analytics company, hosted its company retreat in Barcelona. The team spent at the beach with activities like stand up paddle, swimming, and a surfing lesson. A beach trip is good for big groups because everyone can do what they want. Some can swim, some can play beach volleyball, and some can veg in the sun.

company retreat activity gran canaria

Take a hike

Get away from the noise and hustle of the city and bring your team for a nature hike. Our destinations in the Catskill Mountains, Zion national park, and Gran Canaria are perfect for bringing your team on a hike for some fresh air.

company retreat activity

Treasure hunt

Break up your larger group in small teams and take a walk through the historic streets of Lisbon, for instance. See famous monuments, hidden gems, and learn about the culture of the city on a scavenger hunt. Get to know the city and each other in a fun way.

company retreat activity sailing

Sailing trip

Surf Office can arrange as many boats as necessary to take your company for a sunset sail. We’ve hosted short sailing trips for our retreats in Lisbon, Ericeira, Santa Cruz, Mallorca, Valencia, and Barcelona. These are memorable evenings out – usually with a stunning sunset!

company retreat activity ted talk

Host a speaker or Ted Talk

Invite a local expert to speak about something out-of-the-box. Or, have your employees volunteer to give informal Ted Talk-style presentations about something they’re passionate about. This approach leverages internal resources, uplifts individual interests, and shows your support for skills beyond work roles.

company retreat activity evbox

Share a meal

EVBox is a company focused on providing charging solutions for electric vehicles. Their group of 200 people joined Surf Office for a company retreat. In the process, we hosted a special dining experience in Lisbon with traditional dishes and drinks. Organizing meals can be a challenge for large groups: read what we’ve learned about making restaurant reservations.

company retreat activity

Hackathon

If you want to keep your team bonding business-focused, host a hackathon. Divide the large group up into small teams and work on a project. A traditional hackathon focuses on creative problem-solving – emphasis on “creative.” Don’t be afraid to make the hackathon open-ended to foster innovation.

FAQs about startup retreats

What is a startup retreat?

A startup retreat is an event that brings founders and employees together outside the office to focus on strategy, team alignment, company culture, and relationship building. Startup retreats, sometimes called startup offsites, combine productive work sessions with opportunities for team bonding.

Why do startups organize retreats?

Startups organize offsites to strengthen company culture, improve communication, align on priorities, and create space for deeper collaboration. They are especially valuable for remote and fast-growing teams.

How often should a startup retreat take place?

Many startups organize an offsite once or twice per year. Fully remote companies and rapidly growing teams may benefit from more frequent gatherings to maintain alignment and build stronger relationships.

What should be included in a startup retreat agenda?

A successful startup retreat agenda typically includes strategy sessions, roadmap planning, workshops, team-building activities, and informal networking. The best startup offsites balance focused work with opportunities for employees to connect outside of their daily responsibilities.

How long should a startup retreat be?

Most startup retreats last between 3 and 5 days. This gives teams enough time for meaningful collaboration, planning sessions, and team bonding without spending too much time away from day-to-day operations.

What are the benefits of a startup retreat?

Startup retreats can improve communication, strengthen company culture, increase employee engagement, encourage innovation, and help teams align around shared goals. Many founders view offsites as one of the most effective ways to keep growing teams connected.

What are the best locations for a startup retreat?

The best startup retreat locations offer reliable infrastructure, inspiring surroundings, convenient travel connections, and opportunities for team activities. Popular choices include Ericeira, Costa Brava, Berlin, Mallorca, Austin, and Bangkok.

Should a startup retreat focus on work or team building?

The most successful startup retreats include both. Strategic discussions and workshops help teams make progress on business goals, while team-building activities strengthen trust and create stronger relationships across the company.

Are startup retreats worth it for remote teams?

Absolutely. Many remote startups use retreats and offsites to create face-to-face interactions that are difficult to replicate online. These gatherings help strengthen culture, improve communication, and build lasting relationships between teammates.

How much does a startup retreat cost?

The cost of a startup retreat depends on factors such as destination, accommodation, group size, duration, and activities. Most startups aim to find the right balance between achieving business objectives and creating a memorable experience for their team.

💛 Wall of love 💛

We recently worked with Surf Office to plan an offsite for our team in Sintra, Portugal and the experience was excellent. Elke went above and beyond throughout the entire process, even driving to visit the location herself to ensure everything was perfect. She was instrumental in securing a restaurant that opened exclusively for our group, making the experience truly special. The hotel was lovely, with breathtaking views that provided the ideal backdrop for both work and relaxation. The space was perfect for connecting, brainstorming, and fostering team collaboration. Every detail was thoughtfully managed. We would wholeheartedly recommend Surf Office to others looking to host memorable and productive retreats!

Natasha
Chief Human Resources Officer

Romane LeBrec-Foulatier was a fantastic partner in planning this event. She did a wonderful job of introducing the planning project via Coda and then was extremely helpful and conscientious in helping us plan toward the event. I always felt that I could depend on her follow-up and she was clear and articulate in her guidance. She was also proactive in flagging items that needed extra consideration or in raising potential issues with the schedule or venue or planning. We really loved the Coda site that she created to for planning and also the Coda dashboard that we shared with the team; the team found it very helpful as well. Lastly, Romane was critical in helping on our last day in France when the taxi drivers were on strike - she very quickly implemented a contingency plan and helped us communicate it to the team through the Coda site. Similarly. Álvaro Pérez-Segnini was very helpful in helping us choose the Chantilly location. He understood the parameters of the offsite and got back to us with multiple proposals in a limited time frame. He helped us understand which option would be the best for us and he helped us negotiate the best space and the best price.

Jen
Operations and Administration

Great offer - hotel did fit perfectly with our expectations. Danielle who took care about our company did a great job, was super available before the event and was a great help to accommodate with every impediment and change we faced and find the best solution for us. Also during the event, she was always available to make our stay a awesome moment.

Jean
Senior Director of Engineering

We had such a fantastic experience working with SurfOffice! It was our very first time getting external support for our company retreat – and we couldn’t have asked for a better partner. From the very beginning, we felt incredibly well taken care of. The regular check-ins helped us go through every detail and made sure nothing was overlooked. And in the end, everything turned out exactly as we had hoped! The implementation was seamless, and the SurfOffice team was always there to support us – even during the retreat itself. A huge thank you for your time, effort, and amazing support. You truly made our retreat an unforgettable experience. We can’t wait to work with you again next year!

Victoria
Operations & Office Manager

We had an amazing experience! Everything was perfectly organized from A to Z. As a vegan company, it’s usually quite difficult to find places that can fully accommodate our needs — but the Surf Office team handled everything with ease. They weren’t afraid of any request, preference, or extra thing we asked for. The communication was smooth, fast, and friendly throughout the entire process. We truly appreciated the attention to detail and how flexible and supportive the team was. We can’t recommend them enough!

Elya
Executive Assistant

I have just wrapped up my fourth annual retreat with Surf Office, this time hosted in Mallorca, and as always they created the perfect experience for myself and my team. Our sales representative Giselle was brilliant, she listened to what we needed and came back with venue options that were perfect for our budget and vibe. Romane was my main contact throughout for the logistics. We had some last-minute changes and she managed everything like a pro, even securing us refunds when we had a cancellation. This is why I keep coming back to Surf Office for our annual event. They actually care about making the retreat something special. It's that personal touch that makes all the difference.

Claire
Head of Operations and Community

We recently worked with Surf Office to plan an off-site retreat for 105 people, and the experience from start to finish was absolutely seamless. From the initial proposal stage, through planning, to on site support, everything went perfectly, and we honestly couldn’t have done it without them. A special thanks to Alvaro and Elke. Alvaro was our initial intro to Surf Office, and working with him on proposals for the retreat was a pleasure. He understood our needs and helped shape the retreat options. Once the planning stage began, Elke took over as our retreat planner. She made everything feel completely in hand and ensured that every detail was looked after. Nothing was ever too much to ask. On site, Fernanda and Bibi were fantastic. With their support, everything ran super smoothly, and we had all the help we could possibly need. The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive, everyone LOVED the trip! A huge well done to the whole team. We couldn’t recommend them enough.

Kevin
CEO

Our team had an amazing experience working with Surf Office. From the very first conversation, their team was incredibly communicative, organized, and attentive to every detail. They made the entire retreat-planning process smooth and stress-free from venue coordination to activities and logistics, everything was handled with care and professionalism. What really stood out was their responsiveness and ability to anticipate our needs before we even mentioned them. It’s clear they truly understand what makes a company retreat successful. If you’re looking for a partner who combines efficiency, great communication, and genuine hospitality, look no further than Surf Office. We couldn’t recommend them more!

Ierusha
Sr Executive Assistant

I had a wonderful experience working with the SurOffice team. I’d like to specifically highlight Raquel and Giselle, who have been incredibly supportive from day one. They were always proactive in checking in, handling last-minute requests, and doing so with the utmost professionalism and politeness. This was my second time working with the team, and it was an absolute pleasure. I would definitely look forward to collaborating with them again in the future.

Sandhya
HR Operations Manager

Organize your next startup retreat with Surf Office

How does it work?

1. Tell us more about your plans

We would like to hear more about your plans and how we can make your next startup summit a success.

Do you have an office in one location or is your team distributed? Can employees bring their partners? Is the retreat going to be more about work or fun?

2. Planning with your dedicated project manager

Even finding and booking one single restaurant for the dinner can be a painful project. Is the food going to be good? Is the price fair? How many of our team members have diet restrictions?

Each retreat is a combination of multiple smaller projects and with a large group the complexity might be scary.

But no worries, we mastered this process and made it fun and easy.

Our experienced project manager dedicated to you will help you with a whole organisation from searching for flights to crafting unique surprise activities for your team.

We will be your one-stop-shop for all of the logistics of your retreat. The Retreat Planner assigned to your group will work with you to book and coordinate everything from A-Z, providing you with peace-of-mind and a guarantee of quality and reliability from our local partners at the best possible prices.

According to our repeat clients and our first-time clients who have previous experience in organizing retreats in-house, this is the greatest value that we bring to them.

3. Detailed plan and schedule of your startup retreat

At the end of the planning process you will end up with the bullet-proof schedule. There is no room for improvisation with a large group.

Everything must work perfectly, all the activities and transfers must be just-on-time.

Sounds like a dream end, right? That’s how we work.

You are ready for your epic startup retreat.

How does Surf Office work?

OFF-SITE PACKAGE

Included in the package:

  • Private office
  • Accommodation
  • Dedicated pre-arrival Retreat Planner
  • Customized schedule with activities
  • Meal reservations
  • Online concierge service

choose your location

Choose from hundreds of retreat locations in Europe, America, Asia-Pacific, and Africa.