APM - Association for Progress in Management

What APM - Association for Progress in Management does

APM (Association Progrès du Management) is a French non-profit association (loi 1901), founded in 1987 by Pierre Bellon, that operates the largest peer-learning network dedicated to French-speaking business leaders. Its core product is the APM Club: a small (20-25 person) co-opted group of business leaders who meet roughly ten times per year under a trained facilitator, working through structured co-development (the proprietary Codev'apm method) and engaging with a curated bench of 450+ experts across 1,400 themes spanning four domains — Personal Development of the Leader, Leadership & Management, Business Techniques, and Business Environment. The association reports 8,700+ co-opted members across 432 clubs in 38 countries, with 30,000 entrepreneurs accompanied since inception, supplemented by an alumni network (for members of 3+ years), a biweekly podcast (Apm Le Podcast) and live-streaming series (Apm Le Live), learning expeditions (Voyages Apprenants), interest communities, and the biennial Convention APM gathering 5,000+ entrepreneurs. All activities are conducted in French, and the network is confined to French-speaking geographies.

The business model is a recurring annual subscription with three published tiers: an under-35 young-entrepreneur laureates offer at €2,025 HT, a Classic Formula for metropolitan France / BeLux at €4,050 HT (€4,850 TTC), and a Distant Clubs offer (Europe ex-metro, Africa, Indian Ocean, Asia, Caribbean, North America) starting at €3,675 HT with a mix of in-person and remote sessions. Each membership bundles a €250 HT association membership fee with the 10-encounter training cycle. Members can route payment through French OPCO/FAF professional-training funding mechanisms, supported by APM's Qualiopi certification (training-actions category) and its Datadock reference held since 2017. Distribution is exclusively direct: a structured 6-step onboarding process funnels prospects through registration, club orientation, meeting attendance, mutual co-optation by all existing club members, training-cycle enrollment, and self-evaluation. The team at La Maison APM in Paris numbers roughly 10 HQ staff plus ~48 colleagues coordinating the global facilitator network of 430+ field animators.

The go-to-market is fundamentally community-led and event-driven: awareness flows through member testimonials, the biennial Convention, the podcast, organic social channels (LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Spotify), and the website's content library of 400+ resources. A November 2025 memorandum of understanding with CCI France International codifies internationalization, opening co-branded events and preferential membership terms for CCI FI directors across its global chamber network. Recent product moves include the launch of Apm Radio as a dedicated podcast platform and continued investment in Voyages Apprenants and thematic interest communities. Governance rests on a Conseil d'administration led by President Erwan Rouxel with Pauline Leré as Directrice générale (Directrice de la publication); ownership is collective per loi 1901 with no shareholders, subsidiaries, or external investors.

Name

APM - Association for Progress in Management

Legal name

Association Progrès du Management

Website

https://apm.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

APM (Association Progrès du Management) is a French non-profit, founded in 1987, that operates a peer-learning network for French-speaking business leaders across 432 clubs in 38 countries, offering recurring annual club memberships, expert-led co-development sessions, podcasts, and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Peer Learning Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Meeting & Conference Planning (Internal/External) (THAHACAB), Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Partnership Management Services (THAHACAK)

Keywords

• Peer learning network
• Executive development
• Business leader community
• Leadership training
• Entrepreneur networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees - Classic Formula: Annual membership subscription covering a 10-session training cycle and association membership. Tariff for metropolitan France: 4,050€ HT (4,850€ TTC). Payment due at beginning of each cycle.
2. Membership Fees - Distant Clubs: Reduced rate for clubs in Europe (except metropolitan France and BeLux), Africa, Indian Ocean, Asia, Caribbean and North America. Mix of in-person and remote sessions. Starting from 3,675€ HT.
3. Laureate Network / Young Entrepreneur Offer: Reduced rate for entrepreneurs under 35 who are laureates of the Réseau Entreprendre. 50% reduction first year (2,392.50€ HT), 25% reduction second year (2,988.75€ HT). Commitment to attend at least 7 of 10 sessions.
4. Association Membership Component: 250€ HT included in each membership formula as association membership fee, with the remainder covering the training cycle of 10 encounters.
5. OPCO/FAF Training Financing: Members can request financing of their training through their funding organism (OPCO or FAF), suggesting partial reimbursement relationships with French professional training funding bodies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

APM organizes confidential peer-learning clubs for French-speaking business leaders: groups of 20–25 co-opted company heads meet 10 times per year, each session facilitated by a trained animateur and featuring a different top expert. The club work is structured around APM's proprietary Codev'apm co-development methodology, supplemented by APM Le Podcast, APM Le Live streamed events, Voyages Apprenants trips, Communautés d'Intérêt, and a biennial Convention.

Product overview

APM (Association Progrès du Management) is a peer-learning network for French-speaking business leaders operating as a single integrated platform with multiple service tiers. The core offering is club membership (Formule Classique, Offre Lauréat, Offre Clubs Louriens) providing 10 annual peer-learning meetings per club of 20-25 co-opted entrepreneurs. This core is supplemented by APM Le Podcast (bi-weekly expert interviews), Codev'APM (structured peer-coaching), APM Le Live (live streaming), Voyages Apprenants (learning expeditions), Communautés d'Intérêt (thematic groups), Clubs Alumni (alumni network), and the biennial Convention APM event. All offerings are interconnected through the association's focus on peer-based learning, expert exposure, and personal/professional development of business leaders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Apm Le Podcast: Bi-weekly podcast featuring expert interviews on topics relevant to business leaders including strategy, personal development, and management.
• Apm Le Live
• Apm Radio
• Apm Alumni

Products and services

• Adhésion Club APM (Formule Classique) Annual club membership giving business leaders access to monthly peer-learning meetings of 20-25 co-opted members, with a rotation of 400+ top-tier experts and the proprietary Codev'apm structured co-development methodology.
• Offre Lauréat Réseau Entreprendre / Jeune Entrepreneur Specialized membership offer for Réseau Entreprendre laureates and young entrepreneurs, providing entry to APM peer-learning clubs with conditions tailored to their growth-stage context.
• Offre Clubs Lointains Membership offer adapted for members located far from existing APM clubs, providing adapted formats for remote participation in the peer-learning network.
• APM Le Podcast Audio podcast series produced by APM featuring expert content and member perspectives, available on demand to extend peer learning beyond in-club meetings.
• APM Le Live Live-streamed event series delivering APM expert content to members and remote audiences in real time.
• Voyages Apprenants International learning trips organized by APM for members, blending peer exchange and curated visits to leading companies or experts abroad.
• Convention APM Biennial in-person convention that brings together the APM network for plenary expert sessions, cross-club exchange and large-scale peer learning.
• Communautés d'Intérêt Member-led communities of interest allowing APM members with shared topics or industries to exchange across home clubs.
• Clubs APM Alumni Alumni clubs enabling former APM members to continue peer learning and stay connected to the network after their active membership ends.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30,000 entrepreneurs supported since 1987
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CCI France International (CCI FI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 November 2025On November 12, 2025, APM and CCI France International signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen collaboration and create synergies between their networks. This partnership supports APM's internationalization strategy and opens new opportunities for clubs, their members and speakers. Initiatives include co-branded events (breakfasts, conferences, networking cocktails), enhanced visibility at CCI FI events, and preferential membership rates for CCI FI directors.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tiger 21: Tiger 21 organizes peer groups for high-net-worth individuals with monthly meetings, expert presentations, and asset-portfolio reviews. Comparable in confidential small-group peer exchange with expert facilitation, though focused on wealth rather than management.
• FrenchFounders: FrenchFounders is a global community of French-speaking entrepreneurs and executives with events, peer groups, and digital networking. Overlaps with APM on the French-speaking entrepreneur target audience, though FrenchFounders is more digital/event-led versus APM's club-led model.
• EO (Entrepreneurs' Organization): EO is a global peer network of entrepreneurs operating in forums of 8-12 members at similar revenue stages, with annual learning events and accelerator programs. Directly comparable to APM's small-group, peer-driven executive development model.
• Vistage: Vistage is the global leader in CEO peer advisory groups, organizing monthly confidential meetings of 12-16 executives with trained chairs and expert speakers. APM is effectively the francophone equivalent, making it the closest structural and business-model peer.
• The Alternative Board (TAB): TAB provides peer advisory boards for SME owners and CEOs, with monthly facilitated meetings, expert speakers, and one-to-one coaching. Closely mirrors APM's monthly club format with facilitated peer exchange.
• Cercles des Dirigeants: Cercles des Dirigeants is a French organization of CEO peer circles with monthly meetings and expert speakers, specifically targeting business leaders in France. Direct French-market peer to APM with very similar value proposition and member profile.
• Réseau Entreprendre: Réseau Entreprendre is a French peer network that supports entrepreneurs through mentoring from established business leaders, with local chapters across France and partner countries. Overlaps significantly with APM on French entrepreneur peer support (and is explicitly mentioned as a feeder partnership for APM's Laureate offer).
• YPO (Young Presidents' Organization): YPO is a global peer network for CEOs and presidents under 50 (now expanding), running small peer groups with educational forums, expert sessions, and a biennial global event. APM's club + convention + expert model closely parallels YPO's structure.

Emerging players

• BNI (Business Network International): BNI operates structured referral-based business networking chapters worldwide. Shares the club/chapter model and small-group peer exchange format with APM, but focuses on lead generation rather than executive development.

Regional players

• Le Club des Entrepreneurs: Le Club des Entrepreneurs is a French business club providing networking and peer exchange for SME leaders. Comparable member profile and French-market focus, though typically smaller and less structured than APM's co-optation model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/tweets_apm
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQ-Ycp91Hdr59izC7aeysaA
• Facebookfacebook.com/reseauApm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apm
• Instagraminstagram.com/apm_podcast

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

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 APM - Association for Progress in Management