Exponential Innovation Institute

What Exponential Innovation Institute does

Exponential Innovation Institute GmbH (EXII) is a Hamburg-based, founder-led boutique consultancy that helps corporates, startups, and institutions develop exponentially scalable products and business models. Its offering is built around a proprietary Five Exponential Principles framework and a nine-module Exponential Transformation Roadmap organized across Academy (Fundamentals online course at EUR 49, Masterclass certification program at EUR 4,749, Team Development), Strategy (Workshop, Bootcamp, Operation & Change), and Builder (Incubation, Acceleration, Scale) tracks. Revenue is generated through a mix of consulting and coaching engagements billed at hourly rates with a 50% upfront requirement, paid digital courses, premium masterclass cohorts capped at 14 participants, keynote and event moderation services, and rental of a 140-square-meter venue (EXII Space) in Hamburg's Hafencity.

The company operates with a deliberately small team (1–10 employees) led by Dr. Uve Samuels, whose eight years of research in Silicon Valley and Shenzhen, prior 13-year tenure as CEO of Hamburg School of Business Administration, and authorship of "Exponentielle Innovation" and "Exponential Innovation Playbook" anchor the methodology and brand. Distribution combines a Wix-hosted website with booking infrastructure, LinkedIn-led thought leadership, an owned YouTube channel and podcast, and a recurring presence on premium keynote circuits including NOAH, TEDxSchwabing, and Microsoft events. Microsoft Deutschland is the most strategically significant commercial partner, providing joint scholarship funding and co-hosted Tech-Deep-Dive sessions inside the Masterclass. Visible enterprise customer logos include Beiersdorf, Bayer, KPMG, Otto Group, Vattenfall, Weleda, Hapag-Lloyd, Union Investment, Plug and Play, RB Leipzig, AI.Hamburg, Lufthansa Technik, Airbus, and Montblanc. Revenue figures, growth metrics, and funding history are not publicly disclosed, and the company appears bootstrapped.

Name

Exponential Innovation Institute

Legal name

Exponential Innovation Institute GmbH

Website

https://exii.eu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Exponential Innovation Institute (EXII) is a Hamburg-based boutique consultancy helping corporates, startups, and institutions develop exponentially scalable products via a proprietary nine-module transformation roadmap, masterclass certification program, executive coaching, and event services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Management Consulting

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Operational Excellence (OPEX) & Performance Management (KPI/OKR) (EDABAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Foundational PM & Delivery Methods (Waterfall/Agile/Hybrid) (EDABAHAA)

Keywords

• Management consulting
• Innovation consulting
• Executive coaching
• Corporate training
• Digital transformation

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Services - Consulting & Coaching: Transformation consulting, board coaching, C-Level advisory services, and expert coaching for corporates, startups, and investors. Billed at hourly rates plus travel expenses with 50% upfront payment requirement.
2. Online Courses - Fundamentals: 30-minute self-paced online learning program covering exponentiality, disruption, and transformation basics. One-time purchase at 49 EUR.
3. Masterclass Program: Intensive 5-day program (online preparation + in-person Sprintweek) qualifying participants as certified Change Agents. Price at 4,749 EUR including VAT. Includes networking events, Microsoft Tech-Deep-Dive, and 6-month platform access.
4. EXII Space Rental: 140-square-meter event venue rental in Hamburg's Hafencity for workshops, conferences, networking events, and pitch events. Accommodates up to 100 persons. Managed by Martina Samuels.
5. Keynotes & Speaking Engagements: Speaking services at management meetings, customer events, Future Days, and summits. Dr. Uve Samuels speaks at events including NOAH conference and Microsoft events.
6. Event Moderation Services: Conception and moderation of meetings, customer events, and conferences with national and international speakers and panels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

EXII helps organizations develop exponentially scalable products and business models through a structured nine-module transformation program (covering Academy, Strategy, and Builder tracks), executive coaching for boards, C-level executives, and innovation professionals, intensive cohort-based training programs (Fundamentals online course and Masterclass week-long Sprintweek), keynote speaking and event moderation, and a physical event venue (EXII Space) in Hamburg's Hafencity. The methodology is anchored in the proprietary Five Exponential Principles framework developed through eight years of research in Silicon Valley and China.

Product overview

The Exponential Innovation Institute (EXII) is a transformation and disruption management consultancy based in Hamburg, Germany. Its offering is a platform-plus-program architecture centered on the Exponential Transformation Roadmap, which comprises nine standardized modules organized across three service tracks: (1) Academy — Fundamentals (online course, 49€), Masterclass (intensive week-long program, 4,749€), and Team Development; (2) Strategy — Strategy Workshop, Bootcamp, and Operation & Change; and (3) Builder — Incubation, Acceleration, and Scale. These programs are complemented by a free Selfassessment tool (Exponential Assessment), coaching services (Board/C-level/Expert), event services (Keynotes, Moderation, Disrupt & Connect), a physical venue (EXII SPACE, 140 sqm in Hamburg Hafencity), and a media library of videos, podcasts, and articles. The company also publishes books including 'Exponentielle Innovation' and 'Exponential Innovation Playbook.' EXII primarily serves corporates, startups, and institutions seeking to develop exponentially scalable products and business models.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Exponential Innovation Fundamentals 30-minute self-paced online course covering exponentiality, disruption, and transformation basics. Designed as an entry point for individuals and teams seeking to understand exponential thinking and apply it to business transformation. Includes videos, PDFs, quiz, and a free Exponential Assessment.
• Exponential Innovation Masterclass Intensive one-week program combining online preparation with a five-day Sprintweek covering Ideation, Prototyping, Validation, Roadmapping, and Sprintplanning. Targets CEOs, innovation experts, and product managers from corporates, startups, and institutions. Qualifies participants as certified Change Agents for exponential transformation.
• Exponential Self-Assessment Tool Free self-assessment tool analyzing scaling potential across five categories with five questions per category, delivering a personalized Exponential Scorecard and actionable recommendations within five minutes. Functions as a lead-generation and diagnostic entry point for individuals and teams.
• Exponential Transformation Program Custom transformation program for corporates, startups, and institutions organized across three service tracks (Academy, Strategy, Builder) and nine standardized modules, accompanying clients in developing exponentially scalable products and business models. Includes elements such as Strategy Workshop, Bootcamp, Incubation, Acceleration, and Scale phases.
• Executive Coaching Services Coaching engagements for boards, C-level executives, and innovation experts through individual sessions and team meetings, plus trainer development programs on agile methodologies (Design Thinking, Kanban, Scrum, Lean Startup, OKR) and Product-Market Fit development. Supports corporates, startups, and investors in transformation processes.
• Event Services (Keynotes, Moderation, Disrupt & Connect) End-to-end event services including keynote delivery at management meetings, customer events, Future Days, and summits; moderation of meetings and conferences with national and international speakers; and Disrupt & Connect networking events. Designed for organizations hosting conferences and corporate events.
• EXII Space Venue Rental Physical event and workshop venue in a renovated heritage warehouse in Hamburg's Hafencity, accommodating up to 100 persons. Hosts workshops, conferences, networking events, keynotes, and pitch events, with optional catering, speakers, and facilitation services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ Start-Ups developed through institute programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Microsoft DeutschlandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic partnership providing joint scholarship program for Masterclass participants. Microsoft co-hosts Tech-Deep-Dive evening sessions during the Sprintweek. Collaboration on AI competency development for corporate innovation. Includes up to 2 full scholarships (100%) and 2 partial scholarships (50%) per cohort.
• BeiersdorfminorOthersCustomer reference logo displayed on EXII website. Beiersdorf has utilized EXII services for corporate transformation consulting.
• KPMGminorOthersCustomer reference logo displayed on EXII website.
• Otto GroupminorOthersCustomer reference with executive endorsement from Dr. Michael Müller Wünsch (IT Vorstand). Otto Group has participated in EXII transformation programs.
• Plug and Play (Otto Group)minorOthersCustomer reference logo displayed. Plug and Play innovation center has worked with EXII.
• VattenfallminorOthersCustomer reference logo displayed on EXII website.
• Union InvestmentminorOthersCustomer reference logo displayed on EXII website.
• AI.HamburgminorOthersCustomer reference logo displayed on EXII website. AI innovation ecosystem partner.
• Singularity UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPascal Finette, Chair for Entrepreneurship & Open Innovation at Singularity University, provides endorsement quote: 'For Europe it is essential to understand exponential effects and implement them in own models.'
• Stifterverband für die Deutsche WissenschaftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Volker Meyer-Guckel, Generalsekretär und Vorsitzender der Geschäftsführung, provides endorsement: 'Das Exponential Innovation Institute gibt wichtige Impulse für die Transformation der Wissenschaft.'

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• innosabi: Berlin-based innovation management software and consulting firm powering corporate innovation programs. Adjacent competitor combining transformation consulting with platform tooling — overlapping with EXII's 9-module program.
• Singularity University: Global exponential-technology education and executive program provider. Directly overlaps with EXII's Masterclass and corporate transformation offerings; Pascal Finette (SU Chair) provides a public endorsement on EXII's site, evidencing direct market adjacency.
• HYVE Innovation: Munich-headquartered innovation consultancy running corporate innovation programs, accelerator-style engagements, and transformation sprints. Direct competitor for DACH corporate innovation mandates.
• Dark Horse Innovation: Berlin-based corporate innovation and transformation consultancy serving DACH enterprises. Competes for the same digital-transformation and innovation-program budgets as EXII with comparable methodologies and enterprise client base.
• appliedAI Institute: Munich-based AI transformation and corporate training provider offering executive education, AI strategy, and change-agent programs. Closely mirrors EXII's AI-augmented Masterclass and corporate AI transformation services.

Regional players

• ESMT Berlin: Berlin-based top-tier business school offering executive education, leadership, and transformation programs. Competes with EXII's coaching and Masterclass at the executive education layer in the same DACH market.

Broad incumbents

• Haufe Akademie: Major German corporate training and professional development provider offering structured continuing education programs for enterprises. Competes for the same corporate upskilling/training budget EXII targets with Fundamentals and Masterclass.
• Capgemini Invent: Global strategy and transformation consulting arm of Capgemini competing for enterprise digital and innovation mandates in DACH. Represents the scaled-incumbent alternative for the same Beiersdorf/Bayer/Otto-class buyers.
• etventure (Publicis Sapient): Acquired digital transformation consultancy now within Publicis Sapient. Operates at greater scale in the same corporate digital innovation space and competes for DACH transformation mandates.

Emerging players

• Pioneers: Vienna-based innovation ecosystem operator (events, corporate innovation services, startup scouting). Overlaps with EXII's startup-corporate bridging work and event/conference offerings such as NOAH-style keynotes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCtGelkKojcU7nLVHrdbTDMQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/Exii.eu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/dr-uve-samuels-exponential-pioneer-9a6b12114
• Instagraminstagram.com/exii.eu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Exponential Innovation Institute