RealChange

What RealChange does

RealChange Network, Inc. is a privately held executive education and transformation services company founded in 1996 by Christian Forthomme and headquartered in Aptos, California. The company designs and delivers immersive Learning Expeditions (LEX) in Silicon Valley for enterprise leadership teams, with a primary customer base of C-suite executives, management committees, and operational managers at large global organizations. Its delivery model combines in-person expeditions in Silicon Valley and other innovation hubs with Virtual Learning Expeditions (VLEX) delivered via the Virbela metaverse platform, and is reinforced by post-expedition services including the Go Beyond Program, the Silicon Valley Innovation Pipeline, and RealChange Leadership Development.

The core offering is a customized, theme-driven immersion experience rather than a standardized curriculum. Programs are built around four experiential layers (Silicon Valley culture, innovative companies, team learning, and personal transformation) and are priced on a per-engagement basis based on number of participants, duration, theme, and objectives. Adjacent product lines target the Applied AI and AI strategy needs of executives, including VLEX Applied AI, an Applied AI Program, and AI Innovation/Continuous Innovation services aimed at making innovation a governed, repeatable capability for boards and leadership teams. Distribution is exclusively direct-to-enterprise via consultative sales, supported by LinkedIn, Vimeo, and a localized French-language site, with no public APIs, mobile apps, or disclosed standard pricing.

RealChange operates as a small, capital-light boutique: firmographic headcount is 1-10, the company has no disclosed funding rounds or institutional investors, and delivery relies on a named network of part-time experts (e.g., Applied AI, Design Doing, Health Innovation) alongside a core operations team. Since inception it has conducted 250+ Learning Expeditions, served 300+ global companies (including Google, Ubisoft, Crédit Agricole, Nissan, Renault, Stanford University, Procter & Gamble, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), and built a 3,500+ executive alumni community reporting a 96% Net Promoter Score.

Name

RealChange

Legal name

RealChange Network, Inc.

Website

https://realchange.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Learning Expeditions (LEX): In-person immersive learning expeditions in Silicon Valley and other global innovation ecosystems. Customized programs for executive teams, management committees, and companies. Revenue is generated through program fees based on duration, number of participants, and customization level.
2. Virtual Learning Expeditions (VLEX): Virtual programs including Applied AI VLEX, Innovation VLEX, and Custom VLEX. Offered in formats ranging from 2.5 hours to 5 days. Revenue generated through virtual program fees.
3. Post Learning Expedition Services: Extended services including Go Beyond Program (knowledge dissemination within organizations), Silicon Valley Innovation Pipeline (ongoing innovation intelligence), and Leadership Development Programs. Provides recurring engagement and revenue opportunities.
4. Innovation Outpost Services: Custom consultation and support for companies establishing Innovation Outposts in Silicon Valley. Strategic advisory services for sustained innovation presence.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

RealChange designs and delivers customized executive Learning Expeditions (LEX) in Silicon Valley and global innovation hubs, plus equivalent Virtual Learning Expeditions (VLEX) including Applied AI, Innovation and Custom tracks. Engagements are sold as bespoke multi-day immersive programs to enterprise leadership teams, followed by optional Post Learning Expedition services (Go Beyond, Silicon Valley Innovation Pipeline, RealChange Leadership) that help organizations implement and sustain transformation.

Product overview

RealChange operates as a Learning Expedition company offering two primary delivery formats: in-person Learning Expeditions (LEX) and Virtual Learning Expeditions (VLEX), supplemented by Post Learning Expedition services. The core Learning Expeditions are immersive programs conducted in Silicon Valley and global innovation ecosystems. VLEX programs include Applied AI, Innovation, and Custom tracks. Post-expedition services comprise the Go Beyond Program, Silicon Valley Innovation Pipeline, and RealChange Leadership development. The company also offers Applied AI and AI Innovation/Continuous Innovation services focused on executive education and organizational transformation. Together, these offerings form an integrated portfolio from initial immersion experiences through sustained innovation support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Learning Expeditions (LEX) In-person immersive learning experiences in Silicon Valley and global innovation ecosystems that connect executive teams with pioneering companies and thought leaders to drive organizational transformation.
• Virtual Learning Expeditions (VLEX) Remote learning expeditions delivered through live video sessions and virtual collaboration environments, offering the same transformational experience as in-person expeditions with iconic speakers, collaborative workshops, and team-based innovation activities.
• VLEX - Applied AI Virtual learning expedition focused on applied artificial intelligence, providing a performance turbo for data and digital transformation projects, led by global AI expert Gregory Renard.
• VLEX - Innovation Virtual learning expedition on innovation and design thinking, guided by Silicon Valley innovation experts to transform leadership and business resilience.
• VLEX - Custom Customizable virtual learning expedition tailored to specific organizational objectives, themes and schedules, with destinations including Silicon Valley, North America, Scandinavia, Africa, Asia and Europe.
• Learning Expedition for Executive Teams In-person learning expedition for executive committees and management teams in Silicon Valley addressing transformation challenges, innovation objectives, and mindset changes required for successful change.
• Learning Expedition for Global Businesses Learning expeditions for large global companies seeking to connect with Silicon Valley innovation culture and ecosystem transformation.
• Learning Expedition Inter-company / Inter-generational Multi-company and inter-generational learning expedition in San Francisco bringing together diverse leaders and family business members for collective intelligence and innovation envisioning.
• Post Learning Expeditions Suite (Go Beyond, Silicon Valley Innovation Pipeline, RealChange Leadership) Post-expedition programs that help organizations sustain and implement transformation: Go Beyond (multimedia dissemination, implementation support and measurable ROI), Silicon Valley Innovation Pipeline (ongoing local scouting of new concepts and support for Innovation Outposts) and RealChange Leadership (extended executive leadership development).
• Applied AI Program Applied AI consulting and education program helping organizations move from AI observers to players, including AI opportunity identification, ethical framework definition, team composition guidance, and 12-month implementation roadmap.
• AI Innovation / Continuous Innovation Executive-level innovation programs including Everyday AI Innovation Workshop, Post-AI Strategic Vision, and Executive Innovation Coaching, designed to make innovation a governed, repeatable strategic capability for boards and leadership teams.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% Net Promoter Score
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Delancey Street FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelancey Street Foundation is featured as a key partner in RealChange's programs. Founded in 1971, this San Francisco community provides transformative experiences for participants through encounters with leaders of social change. Over 23,000 people have transformed their lives through this self-managed community model. RealChange includes immersive visits to Delancey Street as part of its transformational journey, allowing participants to learn from radical human reinvention examples.
• Doctors Without BordersminorOthersOne of the organizations supported by RealChange through its social and environmental responsibility commitment. RealChange devotes minimum 1% of annual revenue to organizations providing tangible support to people in crisis situations.
• Seva FoundationminorOthersOne of the organizations supported by RealChange through its social and environmental responsibility commitment, focused on eye care and blindness prevention programs globally.
• AshokaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAshoka is listed among organizations RealChange supports. Ashoka identifies and invests in social entrepreneurs worldwide. RealChange participants may meet Ashoka fellows during Custom VLEX expeditions focused on meeting exceptional entrepreneurs and change agents.
• BioneersminorOthersListed among organizations supported by RealChange. Bioneers is a community of change-makers focusing on breakthrough environmental and social innovations.
• Bonneville Environmental FoundationcoreOthersCarbon offset partner for all RealChange Learning Expeditions. Each expedition earns an offset certificate from this foundation, ensuring carbon-neutral operations for travel, meals, activities, and technology platform operations.
• 1% for the PlanetminorOthersRealChange is inspired by the 1% for the Planet movement, dedicating minimum 1% of annual revenue to support organizations facilitating reintegration of people in difficulty or providing immediate support to those facing crisis situations.
• VirbelacoreTechnology or IntegrationVirtual platform partner for immersive metaverse learning experiences. RealChange conducts VLEX Deep Dive sessions in the Virbela Virtual Innovation Lab, an immersive and interactive virtual world that enables collaborative learning experiences beyond traditional video conferencing.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• IDEO U: IDEO U is the online learning and executive education arm of IDEO, the design firm behind RealChange senior advisor Blaise Bertrand's background. It sells design thinking and innovation courses to executives and teams — the same theme and buyer that RealChange's VLEX Innovation and LEX products target.
• Mind Gym: Mind Gym is a publicly-listed behavioral change and corporate training provider that designs custom programs for enterprise leaders around transformation and mindset shifts — comparable to RealChange's focus on mindset, leadership behavior, and organizational change rather than pure technical upskilling.
• Duke Corporate Education: Duke Corporate Education is a global custom executive education provider working with Fortune 500 leadership teams on transformation, innovation, and capability building — directly mirroring RealChange's bespoke, enterprise-focused delivery model and post-program reinforcement approach.
• INSEAD Executive Education: INSEAD's executive education portfolio serves a similar global executive audience with custom and open-enrollment leadership and innovation programs. Its multi-campus model and strong European brand position it as a direct competitor for the European multinational buyers that feature prominently in RealChange's customer base.
• Singularity University (Abundance360): Singularity University's Abundance360 executive program is the closest analogue to RealChange — invite-only, premium-priced Silicon Valley immersion cohorts for Fortune 500 leaders focused on exponential technologies, AI, and innovation. Same customer profile (C-suite, founders), same Silicon Valley-centric format, and a similar virtual-extension strategy.
• Hult EF Executive Education: Hult EF offers globally delivered executive education programs focused on leadership, innovation, and digital transformation for multinational companies. Its custom enterprise engagement model and global campus network overlap with RealChange's enterprise field-sales motion.
• Silicon Valley Innovation Center: Silicon Valley Innovation Center operates curated executive innovation tours and corporate programs based in the Bay Area, targeting the same global executive audience. It is a directly comparable immersion-style competitor in the same geography and price tier.
• Stanford Executive Education: Stanford's executive education division offers premium leadership and innovation programs based in Silicon Valley for global executives — directly overlapping with RealChange's buyer profile, geographic anchor, and curriculum themes (innovation, transformation, leadership). RealChange's Stanford University logo among its clients signals direct competition for the same wallet.

Broad incumbents

• Bain & Company: Bain & Company's transformation and organization practices include capability-building, leadership development, and innovation immersion work for the same C-suite buyers RealChange targets. While Bain is far broader and productizes consulting rather than expeditions, it competes directly for transformation budgets from the same enterprise segment.

Emerging players

• Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies: CIFS is an emerging thought leader in executive foresight and future-of-work training, selling workshops and executive programs on emerging tech and societal change. It overlaps with RealChange's AI and innovation curriculum themes but is smaller and geographically focused on Northern Europe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/realchangenet
• YouTubevimeo.com/realchange
• Facebookfacebook.com/realchangenetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/realchange

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 RealChange