Six Seconds
Six Seconds is a global nonprofit founded in 1997 that develops emotional intelligence assessments, certification programs, and consulting services for enterprises, schools, professional coaches, and individuals across 150+ countries. Its SEI assessment, proprietary EQ model, and 125,000+ practitioner network anchor ICF-accredited credentials and enterprise training engagements.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersFreedom, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Six Seconds does
Six Seconds is a US-incorporated global nonprofit organization founded in 1997 that develops and distributes emotional intelligence (EQ) tools, assessments, certification programs, and consulting services. Its core product is the Six Seconds Emotional Intelligence Assessment (SEI), a psychometric instrument built on the proprietary Six Seconds Model of Emotional Intelligence (Know Yourself, Choose Yourself, Give Yourself), grounded in eight measurable competencies and normed against data from 200,000+ people across 200+ countries. The organization also offers specialized tools including the Brain Profiles Suite, Vital Signs organizational assessment, and youth-focused EQ assessments aligned with the CASEL framework, with materials available in 20+ languages.
The company monetizes through five primary streams: ICF-accredited certification programs (EQ Practitioner, EQ Assessor, EQ Coach, Master Coach, SEL Specialist, Brain Profiler, Facilitator, Consultant); SEI and related assessment subscriptions and credits; enterprise consulting and custom training via the EQ Biz division; an EQ Store for books, cards, and training materials; and donations/grants supporting its youth wellbeing mission. It serves four primary customer segments - enterprises (FedEx, Microsoft, Siemens, NHS, Qatar Airways, UCB, Sheraton, Komatsu), educational institutions (K-12 schools and universities), professional coaches seeking ICF credentials, and individuals pursuing personal growth. Distribution combines direct enterprise sales, self-serve online enrollment (events.6seconds.org), a 125,000+ certified practitioner network operating in 150+ countries, and community-driven grassroots events (EQ Cafes, POP-UP Festivals in partnership with UNICEF). The organization is led by CEO and co-founder Joshua Freedman, a Master Certified Coach.
Six Seconds firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Six Seconds
- Legal name
- Six Seconds
- Website
- https://6seconds.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Six Seconds is a global nonprofit founded in 1997 that develops emotional intelligence assessments, certification programs, and consulting services for enterprises, schools, professional coaches, and individuals across 150+ countries. Its SEI assessment, proprietary EQ model, and 125,000+ practitioner network anchor ICF-accredited credentials and enterprise training engagements.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Six Seconds industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Emotional Intelligence Assessment and Training
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Student Safety, Wellbeing & SEL Technology (Monitoring, Reporting) (EDAJAMAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Teacher/Provider SEL Coaching & Implementation Training (ECE) (EDACAOAH), Digital/Interactive SEL Apps & Media for Early Childhood (EDACAOAL)
Keywords
Where Six Seconds is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Freedom
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Six Seconds business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Certification Training Programs: Six Seconds generates revenue through ICF-accredited certification programs including EQ Practitioner (32 hours), EQ Assessor (18 hours), EQ Coach (ICF Level 2), Associate Brain Coach (ICF Level 1), EQ Master Coach (ICF Level 3), SEL Specialist, Brain Profiler, Facilitator, and Consultant certifications. Programs are delivered in-person and virtually with pricing that varies by region.
- EQ Assessments and Tools: Revenue from SEI assessments and related tools including Brain Profiles, Vital Signs Toolkit, and youth assessments. Organizations and individuals purchase assessment credits or subscriptions for measuring and developing EQ.
- Enterprise Consulting and Training: Custom consulting engagements with organizations to embed emotional intelligence throughout the employee lifecycle, including leadership development, talent management, engagement and culture programs, and AI adoption support.
- EQ Store (Products): Sale of books, cards, training materials, and resources through the EQ Store with fast shipping and local support in Europe.
- Donations and Grants: As a nonprofit organization, Six Seconds receives donations to support their mission of growing the world's emotional intelligence, particularly for youth wellbeing programs and democratizing access to EQ tools.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | EQ Practitioner Certification - foundational certification program |
| Other | Multi-year contract | EQ Assessor Certification - measurement and development tools |
| Other | Multi-year contract | EQ Performance Metrics Certification - consulting and performance enhancement |
| Other | Multi-year contract | EQ Coach Certification (ICF Level 2) - transformational coaching |
| Other | Multi-year contract | EQ Master Coach Certification (ICF Level 3) - in-person Bali October 2026 |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Brain Profiler Certification - tools integration |
| Other | Multi-year contract | SEL Specialist Pathway - comprehensive 6-course program for educators |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels10 records
Six Seconds product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Six Seconds is a global nonprofit that develops and delivers the Six Seconds Model of Emotional Intelligence and the SEI (Six Seconds Emotional Intelligence Assessment), along with ICF-accredited coaching certifications, organizational consulting (EQ Biz), social-emotional learning programs for schools, and a volunteer-led POP-UP Festival reaching millions of children annually. It sells certification programs, assessment credits/subscriptions, custom enterprise EQ solutions, and physical products through its EQ Store.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- EQ Biz: Six Seconds' corporate division that supports companies with emotional intelligence solutions for leadership development, talent management, engagement, culture, AI adoption, customer experience, and sales.
- POP-UP Festival
- Climate of Emotions (COE)
- EQ Cafes
Products and services
- Six Seconds Emotional Intelligence Assessment (SEI) The world's leading EQ assessment providing actionable reports across self-assessments, 360 multi-rater tests, and specialized reports for leadership, coaching, teams, and youth. Available in 20+ languages and used by individuals, organizations, schools, and governments globally.
- Vital Signs (EQ Performance Metrics)
Quantifiable outcome
- Organizations prioritizing EQ are 22x more likely to be high performing
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Six Seconds
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Six Seconds technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Six Seconds partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- UNICEFflagshipGlobal partnership for POP-UP Festival in support of UNICEF World Children's Day, reaching 3.5 million children annually across 200+ countries and territories. POP-UP activities are aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and translated into 34 languages.
- Antioch UniversitycoreEducational partnership where graduates of Six Seconds EQ Coach Certification can apply 9 semester units toward AU's MBA, MA in Nonprofit Management, or Masters Human Services Administration programs. Also includes EdD with SEL specialization.
- World Resources Institute (WRI)corePartnership through Climate of Emotions program for youth climate activists. WRI Managing Director Wanjira Mathai serves as champion for the initiative.
- United Nations Office of PartnershipscoreSix Seconds works with UN Office of Partnerships to advance youth wellbeing and emotional intelligence skills globally. UN Senior Programme Officer Will Kennedy endorses Six Seconds impact.
- Wangari Maathai FoundationcoreYouth-focused nonprofit partnership to grow courageous leaders, enhance emotional well-being of young people, equip them with essential life skills, and foster resilient, empathetic future leaders.
- GlobalGivingcoreDonation collection platform partner for supporting Six Seconds programs to improve youth wellbeing globally through evidence-based emotional intelligence skills and training.
- International Coaching Federation (ICF)flagshipICF has accredited Six Seconds' coaching school at its highest level with Level 1 (ACC), Level 2 (PCC), and Level 3 (MCC) accreditations. All coaching programs are ICF-accredited.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Six Seconds competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Multi-Health Systems (MHS): Publisher of the EQ-i 2.0, one of the most widely used emotional intelligence assessments globally. Direct competitor to Six Seconds' SEI assessment with overlapping customer base in coaching, HR, and leadership development.
- TalentSmartEQ (Travis Bradberry): Creator of the Emotional Intelligence 2.0 book and accompanying assessment; offers corporate EQ training and certification programs competing directly with Six Seconds' certification and assessment portfolio.
- Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute (SIYLI): Google-originated organization offering mindfulness- and EQ-based leadership programs to enterprises. Competes for the same corporate emotional intelligence training budget with a similar evidence-based, science-backed positioning.
- Hogan Assessments: Provider of personality and leadership assessments (Hogan Personality Inventory, MVPI, HDS) used in talent management and leadership development. Overlaps with Six Seconds' enterprise assessment and consulting offerings in HR and leadership pipelines.
- Institute for Health and Human Potential (IHHP): Corporate emotional intelligence training and certification provider serving enterprise clients. Directly comparable in delivering EQ certification programs to coaches and HR professionals as well as enterprise consulting.
Broad incumbents
- Center for Creative Leadership (CCL): Globally established leadership development organization offering assessments, executive education, and coaching. Competes for the same enterprise leadership development budget as Six Seconds' EQ Biz division but with a much broader portfolio beyond EQ.
- Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm offering leadership development, talent management, and assessment solutions. Overlaps with Six Seconds' enterprise EQ offerings as part of a much larger portfolio of HR and consulting services.
- FranklinCovey: Provider of leadership and organizational performance training including The 7 Habits and related programs. Competes with Six Seconds in enterprise leadership training and offers complementary content around personal effectiveness.
- Development Dimensions International (DDI): Global leadership development and talent management firm offering assessments, training, and consulting. Overlaps with Six Seconds in enterprise leadership development and behavioral assessment categories.
Others
- CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning): Nonprofit that sets the dominant SEL framework and accredits assessment providers, including Six Seconds. Not a commercial competitor but a critical ecosystem influencer whose endorsements shape Six Seconds' K-12 market access.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Six Seconds social profiles
Digital presenceSix Seconds financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Six Seconds leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Six Seconds subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
Six Seconds funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Six Seconds M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Six Seconds
What does Six Seconds do?
Six Seconds is a global nonprofit that develops and delivers the Six Seconds Model of Emotional Intelligence and the SEI (Six Seconds Emotional Intelligence Assessment), along with ICF-accredited coaching certifications, organizational consulting (EQ Biz), social-emotional learning programs for schools, and a volunteer-led POP-UP Festival reaching millions of children annually. It sells certification programs, assessment credits/subscriptions, custom enterprise EQ solutions, and physical products through its EQ Store.
Is Six Seconds a public or private company?
Six Seconds is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Six Seconds founded?
Six Seconds was founded in 1997. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Six Seconds based?
Six Seconds is headquartered in Freedom, United States, in the North America region.
How does Six Seconds make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Certification Training Programs are the primary driver. The others are EQ Assessments and Tools, enterprise Consulting and Training, EQ Store (Products) and donations and Grants.
Who are Six Seconds's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Multi-Health Systems (MHS), TalentSmartEQ (Travis Bradberry), Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute (SIYLI), Hogan Assessments and Institute for Health and Human Potential (IHHP). Broad incumbents are Center for Creative Leadership (CCL), Korn Ferry, FranklinCovey and Development Dimensions International (DDI). CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) is listed as an others.
Does Six Seconds have an API?
No public API is recorded for Six Seconds.
What industry is Six Seconds in?
Six Seconds's product category is Emotional Intelligence Assessment and Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAMAJ, Student Safety, Wellbeing & SEL Technology (Monitoring, Reporting), with a secondary code of EDACAOAH, Teacher/Provider SEL Coaching & Implementation Training (ECE). Its NAICS code is 611430 and its SIC code is 8200.