Franziskus Lorey

Franziskus Lorey

• Franziskus Lorey is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hubdrive. He is a passionate advocate of digital transformation and is driven by the goal of making people’s lives easier through innovative technologies.
• After completing his studies in business administration and information systems at the University of Würzburg, Franziskus Lorey founded his first company. With the vision of developing software that supports people all over the world, he went on to establish Hubdrive.
• Today, he leads Hubdrive together with his partner Bernd Lachner and a team of dedicated executives and employees. In close collaboration with Microsoft, Hubdrive develops an innovative HR management solution that improves employees’ work lives while simultaneously increasing business productivity.
• As a globally active CEO who remains deeply rooted in the Franconian region of Germany, he has a strong passion for travel. Together with his wife, he seeks out authentic experiences across countries and cultures around the world.

The trigger that changed everything

• The initial trigger for Hubdrive came from its own day-to-day operations. The company started with 15 employees as a consulting and implementation partner for the Microsoft Business Platform and consistently used Microsoft business applications internally for nearly all processes – from sales and marketing to service and project management. Recruiting and HR, however, were handled in Excel. 
• As the company grew, it became clear that a proper HR solution was needed. An external HR system was initially introduced, but it did not fit into Hubdrive’s integrated environment. Duplicate data entry, IT silos, and inconsistent user interfaces were completely at odds with the way the team worked.
• Driven by existing customers who were missing this exact final piece within the Microsoft platform, Hubdrive decided to develop its own innovative HR solution on the Microsoft Business Platform. Working closely with customers, an initial version was created within one year. Thanks to the many built-in platform capabilities, it was completed faster than expected – and already delivered more functionality than originally planned.

Strong buy-in from day one

• When the first version of the HR solution was completed, Hubdrive initially made it available to the companies that had actively supported the team during its development. These customers received the software free of charge – as a token of appreciation for their time, feedback, and openness. The response was very positive, but one point of criticism stood out: the feature set was still too limited. Although this was expected, it quickly became a challenge in day-to-day use.
• As Hubdrive itself was also eager to expand the functionality, the team began enhancing the solution on a quarterly basis. More and more consulting customers joined, the software remained free of charge, and gradually established itself within their environment.
• Two years later, a key moment occurred. In a conversation, a long-standing customer praised Franziskus Lorey’s entrepreneurial spirit before asking the question that changed everything: “Mr. Lorey, you have developed the only HR solution on the Microsoft Business Platform that delivers real value. Why on earth are you giving it away?”
• This well-intentioned feedback prompted the founders to rethink their approach. A few weeks later, they decided to build a new business area: Hubdrive would enter the market as an ISV for HR management within the Microsoft ecosystem and distribute its solution through a professional licensing model in Germany and beyond.

The skeptics

• On the path to success, Hubdrive also encountered them – the skeptics. For some, the business case simply seemed too ambitious: “This isn’t achievable – have you lost touch with reality?”
• Others could not imagine that anyone would want to use an HR solution on the Microsoft Business Platform – “The market is already overcrowded, this makes no sense.”
• Still others questioned the decision to leave behind a stable and well-established consulting business: “Why would anyone buy software from Würzburg – no one even knows you.”
• Some went even further, turning skepticism into mockery: “I always knew those two weren’t quite right – let’s see how long it takes them to realize it and give up.”
• Yet these very concerns helped refine the business model, challenge assumptions, and address risks more consciously. In this way, the skeptics became a constructive part of the company’s success. Whether that was their intention?
• In the end, it was likely the combination of bold problem-solvers and constructive skeptics that enabled Hubdrive to make the leap from a service provider to an internationally successful software company – and to sustain that success.

Success set a new course

• Shortly after the launch of the first version of Hubdrive HR, support from Microsoft ensured that the news spread quickly: at last, an HR solution built directly on the Microsoft Business Platform was available.
• The leverage provided by Microsoft was enormous for Hubdrive – in the very first month, more than 1,000 inquiries about the new HR solution were received worldwide via the Microsoft marketplace.
• This level of interest transformed Hubdrive from the inside out. The consulting business and the project management solution – also developed on the Microsoft platform – gradually moved into the background. It quickly became clear: a company trying to operate simultaneously as an ISV and a traditional implementation partner is constantly working against its own processes – the two models follow entirely different logics.
• The founders came together once again and made a bold decision: they gave up their successful and profitable existing business to focus entirely on HR management as a product. In hindsight, this was likely the best entrepreneurial decision Franziskus Lorey and Bernd Lachner ever made.
• Today, Hubdrive HR has received numerous awards and recognitions, and customers in 36 countries use the solution daily for their HR management – with the trend continuing upward.

Personal support from Microsoft

• Throughout his journey, Franziskus was supported by Microsoft in a very special way. Over many years, it was repeatedly individuals at Microsoft who believed in his vision and, through their personal commitment, helped shape Hubdrive into what it is today.
• Franziskus is particularly grateful to Jean‑Philippe Courtois from the Microsoft board, who has been and continues to be a major role model for him, and who opened doors within Microsoft that would not have been possible without his personal support.

The technological port:
the Microsoft Business Platform

• Beyond the personal commitment of numerous Microsoft employees and executives, the Microsoft Business Platform serves as the technological home for Hubdrive’s HR solutions.
• It is an excellent fit for the needs of modern HR departments and employees, providing so many fundamental building blocks that Franziskus and his team can fully focus on what matters most to them: developing an HR management solution with real value for companies worldwide.
• Special thanks go to Charles Lamanna, Executive Vice President for Business Applications, who continuously listens, takes HR requirements seriously, and adds valuable components to the platform.
• Without this platform and his personal commitment, bringing the Hubdrive vision to life in this form would not have been possible.

The Hubdrive team made it possible

• Hubdrive’s vision is carried by the people who work there day in and day out. Continuously, the Hubdrive team brings together their expertise, creativity, personal conviction, and passion to rethink modern HR management and translate it into software.
• Many of them have worked closely with HR departments and employees in companies around the world for years and understand the challenges from real-world experience. This deep understanding is reflected in every detail of the solutions.
• What defines Hubdrive is not just technology, but a team that believes in the idea of making work better for people – and is willing to go the extra mile to achieve it.

Our Vision

Our vision is to empower people and organizations around the world to take advantage of digital transformation in human resources.

We want to make life easier for all employees and at the same time increase productivity.

Where the journey is heading

• For Franziskus Lorey, it feels as though the journey has only just begun. The global share of HR departments working in an integrated environment is still only 11% – 89% of companies continue to struggle with IT silos, unnecessary administration, and inefficient processes.
• For Hubdrive, this represents enormous potential: the accelerating pace of change creates the opportunity to translate AI innovations into practical, real-world HR solutions. Through deep integrations with payroll systems, ERP, services, and specialized partner add-ons, the offering will continue to expand and deliver new value for customers.
• For Franziskus, one thing is clear: the future of Hubdrive does not lie in going it alone, but in a strong international ecosystem of implementation partners, technology partners, and specialized providers who combine their strengths to deliver the best possible HR experience to customers worldwide.
• At the same time, the technological harbor of the Microsoft platform remains a constant anchor – a key differentiator for Hubdrive that will continue to open many doors in the future. Amid all these business opportunities, sustainability, stability, and a grounded mindset remain core values – the goal is to balance growth and responsibility in a healthy way.
• For Franziskus, Hubdrive is more than just a company – it is a promise to gradually create a world of work where technology empowers people rather than holding them back.

We draw our energy from our values

Our energy comes from our values – they are our daily compass. Hubdrive is not a 100-meter sprint. It is a marathon. Our values are the source of energy that drives us forward and brings a sense of ease to what we do.

• Drive for success – this is what we aim for
• Passion – sometimes it has to be difficult before it becomes something great
• Honesty – an underrated factor for success
• Transparency – knowing where you stand is an extremely strong starting point for improvement
• Structure – speed also requires routine
• Continuous improvement – better done than perfect – but then continuous improvement every day

Technologische Innovationen mit Philanthropie verbinden

• Ein besonderes Anliegen ist Franziskus Lorey die Unterstützung von NGOs bei der Bewältigung ihrer Aufgaben. Eine der größten Herausforderungen für NGOs besteht darin, mit begrenztem Budget und schlanken Verwaltungsstrukturen eine große Zahl von Mitarbeitenden und Ehrenamtlichen zu organisieren und in ihrem Engagement zu stärken.
• Die von ihm entwickelte HR-Management-Software setzt genau hier an und hilft NGOs dabei, mit einem hohen Wirkungsgrad effizient zu arbeiten. Franziskus Lorey verbindet technologische Innovation mit einem starken philanthropischen Verständnis.
• Franziskus: Ich bin sehr dankbar mit Hubdrive einen Hebel gefunden zu haben die Welt besser zu machen - viel mehr als meine Frau und ich als Privatpersonen es jemals hätten leisten können.

Station Regenbogen der Uniklinik Würzburg

• Die Station Regenbogen der Universitäts-Kinderklinik Würzburg betreut Kinder und Jugendliche mit Krebserkrankungen und begleitet ihre Familien durch eine extrem herausfordernde Zeit.
• Auf der Station werden junge Patienten mit Leukämien, Lymphomen, Hirntumoren und anderen Tumorerkrankungen medizinisch versorgt – in einer Umgebung, die bewusst farbenfroh und kindgerecht gestaltet ist, um trotz schwerer Diagnose Hoffnung und Zuversicht zu vermitteln.
• Hubdrive unterstützt die Station Regenbogen als Sponsor, so dass Kinder, Jugendliche und ihre Familien über die reine medizinische Behandlung hinaus bestmöglich begleitet werden.
• Franziskus möchte dazu beitragen, dass die Station Regenbogen auch ein Ort der Hoffnung, Nähe und Zuversicht ist.
• Dieses Engagement ist aber auch Ausdruck der Verbundenheit mit Würzburg und des Wunsches, einen konkreten Beitrag für die Region zu leisten.