What The Maker Group does

The Maker Group is a privately held commercial capability-building firm that develops and delivers negotiation training, consulting, and software to enterprise, mid-market, and small business customers. Its offering is organized around a proprietary methodology called The Maker Framework, which is operationalized through three tiers of training workshops — LV1 (self-led virtual), LV2 (experiential in-person or virtual, up to 12 participants), and LV3 (intensive two-day program with one-year tool access and coaching) — and a dedicated Small Business Academy priced at approximately $2,000 per participant.

Underpinning the training portfolio is Maker Connect, a proprietary web-based Negotiation Management System that guides users through deal planning and execution with step-by-step workflows, power-dynamics assessment, variable ranking, real-time multi-party collaboration, and an institutional knowledge repository of historical deal terms. The platform supports SSO and calendar integrations with CRM integration on the product roadmap. Maker Connect is sold as a standalone SaaS subscription or bundled with training under tiered service packages.

The Maker Group operates a hybrid go-to-market: an enterprise field-sales motion with complimentary 30-minute consultation booking, cohort-based events across 32 U.S. cities supported by SEO-optimized city landing pages, virtual self-paced training via LV1, and bespoke negotiation consulting covering pricing, contracts, and organizational transformation. Revenue is generated through tiered training fees, custom enterprise consulting engagements, Maker Connect subscriptions (annual billing, single-license or company-wide deployment), and per-participant Small Business Academy fees. Named customers include Nestlé, L'Oréal, Kellogg's, Smucker's, Chobani, Panasonic, Avery Dennison, Luminate, and Consumo Masivo. The company is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado (legal entity: The Maker Group Connect Inc.), has approximately 21 team members led by three Partners (Paul Voisard, Matthew Geddie, Marcos Mendez) and a CTO (Edward Lujan), and was recognized on the 2025 Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies.

Name

The Maker Group

Legal name

The Maker Group Connect Inc.

Website

https://themakergroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Maker Group is a privately held commercial capability-building firm that delivers negotiation training, bespoke consulting, and a proprietary SaaS platform (Maker Connect) to enterprise, mid-market, and small business customers, organized around its Maker Framework methodology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Negotiation Training Workshops: Tiered training programs (LV1, LV2, LV3) offered in-person and virtually. LV1 is self-led virtual training; LV2 is experiential workshop (in-person or virtual, up to 12 participants); LV3 is intensive training with eLearning resources, one-year tool access, and built-in coaching hours. Pricing varies by format and customization.
2. Negotiation Consulting Services: End-to-end consulting and advisory services for negotiation strategy development, contract negotiations, pricing execution, organizational transformation, and communication strategy. Custom engagement pricing based on scope and client needs.
3. Maker Connect Software Subscription: Negotiation planning tool available as standalone product or companion to training programs. Includes real-time collaboration, analytics dashboards, knowledge repository, and deal-specific strategic guidance. Offered with service packages for training and coaching support.
4. Small Business Academy: Cohort-based training program for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Includes pre-work simulation, full-day workshop, and 12-month planning tool license with micro-learning videos and on-demand coaching. Estimated fee of $2,000 per participant.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Maker Group is a global commercial capability-building firm that delivers negotiation training, sales enablement, procurement advisory, and strategic planning consulting to enterprises, mid-market firms, and entrepreneurs. Its portfolio includes tiered training workshops (LV1, LV2, LV3), the proprietary Maker Connect Negotiation Management System (a SaaS planning tool), end-to-end negotiation consulting services, and the Small Business Academy for entrepreneurs.

Product overview

The Maker Group is a global commercial capability-building firm offering a multi-product portfolio organized around negotiation skill development. The core offering spans three tiers of negotiation training programs — LV1 Virtual Workshop (self-led, introductory), LV2 Experiential Workshop (group-based, intermediate), and LV3 Advanced Negotiation Workshop (intensive, advanced) — all powered by the proprietary Maker Framework methodology. A dedicated Small Business Academy serves entrepreneurs and small operators. Underpinning the training is the Maker Connect (Negotiation Management System) software platform, a proprietary digital tool that provides step-by-step deal planning, real-time guidance, collaboration, and knowledge retention. The company also offers bespoke negotiation consulting services covering pricing, contracts, process development, and enterprise transformation. The products are designed to be used independently or in combination, with software serving as both a standalone planning tool and a companion to the training programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Maker Connect: A negotiation planning and management software platform that provides step-by-step guidance through the negotiation process with real-time feedback and collaboration features.
• Small Business Academy

Products and services

• LV1 Virtual Workshop A self-led, game-based virtual training program that introduces negotiation fundamentals including behaviors, core theories, and basic strategies, using a points-based progression system. Designed for individual professionals and scalable as a single-license or company-wide deployment for new hires and seasoned professionals.
• LV2 Experiential Workshop An experiential workshop delivered in-person (1.5 days onsite, up to 12 participants) or virtually (three 4-hour modules, up to 12 participants) that introduces a structured framework for planning, preparing, and executing negotiations through case-based exercises and consultant-led sessions across three negotiation scenarios.
• LV3 Advanced Negotiation Workshop The most intensive workshop covering behavioral strategies, negotiation types, planning and execution skills, and confidence building. Offered in-person over two 12-hour days or virtually in four 5-6 hour modules, with one-year access to The Maker Framework digital tool and built-in coaching hours.
• Small Business Academy A cohort-based program for entrepreneurs and small business operators covering retail/distributor deals, co-manufacturing contracts, rent/insurance/services contracts, and investor negotiations. Includes a 2-hour self-led pre-work simulation, a full-day workshop (up to 24 attendees), 12-month Maker Connect planning tool license, short video refreshers, and on-demand coaching support. Estimated fee is $2,000 per participant.
• Maker Connect (Negotiation Management System) A proprietary cloud-based SaaS negotiation planning tool that guides users through planning, preparing, and executing deals with real-time feedback, deal-specific strategic guidance, cross-functional real-time collaboration, analytics dashboards, and a historical deal-knowledge repository. Available as a standalone product or companion to training programs, with optional Negotiation Success Manager support packages.
• Negotiation Consulting Services End-to-end bespoke advisory engagements covering negotiation strategy development, contract negotiations, pricing execution, organizational transformation, and communication strategy. Delivered by senior consultants with deep expertise in CPG, procurement, sales, and change management; pricing is custom and quote-based on engagement scope.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of participants reported improved confidence when negotiating deals following training
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments8 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Karrass Negotiation: Long-standing negotiation training and consulting firm offering workshops, seminars, and custom advisory to enterprise clients. Highly comparable to The Maker Group in core methodology, customer base, and instructor-led delivery model.
• Black Swan Group: Negotiation training and consulting firm founded by former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss, focused on tactical empathy and high-stakes deal negotiation. Closely comparable target customer and workshop-based delivery.
• RAIN Group: Sales and negotiation training firm delivering workshops, certifications, and consulting to enterprise sales organizations. Directly comparable in customer segment, methodology-led workshops, and outcome-based value proposition.
• The Gap Partnership: Global negotiation consulting and training firm serving enterprise clients across procurement, sales, and supply chain. Comparable in custom negotiation advisory delivery and enterprise focus.
• Vantage Partners: Consulting firm specializing in negotiation, influence, and complex deal-making for Fortune 500 clients. Closely comparable in custom enterprise consulting, methodology-led engagement, and senior consultant delivery.
• Richardson (sales training): Global sales training and performance company offering curriculum, workshops, and consulting for sales negotiation and buyer interactions. Comparable in enterprise training delivery and sales-skills focus.

Broad incumbents

• Sandler Training: Established global sales training franchise delivering methodology-based coaching across sales, management, and negotiation. Comparable enterprise customer base but broader portfolio beyond negotiation.
• FranklinCovey: Large-scale leadership and sales-effectiveness training provider with enterprise workshops, content, and consulting. Comparable in training workshop delivery to enterprise but offers broader leadership portfolio.
• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with sales enablement and talent management practices serving Fortune 500 clients. Overlaps on enterprise sales capability consulting and broad delivery footprint.
• Dale Carnegie Training: Long-established global training provider covering sales, leadership, and presentation skills. Comparable enterprise training delivery and workshop format though broader curriculum than negotiation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheMakerGroup3
• Facebookfacebook.com/people/The-Maker-Group/100064184645773/?lsrc=lb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-maker-group-consulting

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Maker Group