KeyNote

What KeyNote does

KeyNote Women Speakers (legally KeyNote Women Pte Ltd) is a Singapore-registered, volunteer-driven non-profit founded in 2017 with a stated mission to increase diversity on professional speaking stages globally. The company operates a curated global directory that connects event organizers with women keynote speakers spanning 40+ nationalities and topical expertise from leadership and AI to sustainability, neuroscience, and entrepreneurship. Alongside the directory, KeyNote runs speaker training programmes (Inspire and Elevate) that use story-crafting and theatre-based techniques to develop women into professional speakers, and operates a global community platform offering mentorship and sponsorship among speakers.

The core product is an online speaker directory searchable by topic, budget, location, and language, supplemented by direct-inquiry facilitation services that match event organizers with speakers based on stated criteria. KeyNote charges speakers a one-off membership fee (amount varies by country of residence) to publish a profile and earns a 20% commission on the gross speaking fee for any confirmed booking facilitated through the platform; it may also manage payment on the speaker's behalf. The organization markets through content channels including its website, a Spotify podcast, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, and participates in industry events. Named enterprise clients include Microsoft, Salesforce, Accenture, Aon, Indeed, Micron, Fidelity International, R/GA, Clarins, BNY Mellon, and White & Case, with geographic reach spanning 30+ markets across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. The organization is led by founder and Chair Mette Johansson and CSMO Amira Ben Achour, and has trained more than 500 women through its programmes.

Name

KeyNote

Legal name

KeyNote Women Pte Ltd

Website

https://keynotewomen.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KeyNote Women Speakers is a volunteer-driven Singapore non-profit operating a curated global directory that connects event organizers with diverse women keynote speakers, complemented by speaker training programmes and a community platform; revenue comes from speaker membership fees and a 20% commission on confirmed bookings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Speaker Directory and Booking Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

akta.pro primary industry

Entertainment Booking & Speaker/Talent Management (HSACAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Speaker, Program & Abstract Management Services (THAHACAI)

Keywords

• Women speakers directory
• Speaker booking platform
• Speaker training programs
• Diversity speaker matching
• Women keynote speakers

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Speaker Membership Fees: A one-off membership fee for speakers to join the KeyNote directory. The applicable amount and currency varies depending on country of residence.
2. Booking Commission: KeyNote facilitates introductions between event organizers and speakers. When an introduction results in a confirmed booking, a commission of 20% of the gross speaking fee applies. KeyNote may manage payment on behalf of the speaker, deduct the commission, and remit the remaining balance to the speaker within 30 days.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

KeyNote Women Speakers operates a curated global online directory of accomplished women keynote speakers that event organizers can browse and filter by topic, budget, region, and language. The organization also offers speaker training programmes (Inspire and Elevate), a global community platform for women speakers, and a booking facilitation service that manages introductions and optional payment processing for a 20% commission on confirmed engagements.

Product overview

KeyNote Women Speakers is a non-profit organization operating a curated global directory of women keynote speakers, paired with speaker training programmes (Inspire and Elevate) and a supportive community platform. The core offering is the Speaker Directory, which event organizers browse to find speakers matched by topic expertise, budget, and location. Training programmes develop speaking skills and confidence, while the community platform connects speakers for mentorship and mutual support. Booking facilitation services—including introductions and optional payment management—tie the ecosystem together, with a 20% commission on confirmed bookings facilitated through the platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KeyNote Women: Non-profit initiative focused on bringing diversity to speaking stages worldwide, connecting women speakers with event organizers.

Products and services

• KeyNote Women Speakers Directory A curated global online directory connecting event organizers with accomplished women keynote speakers, searchable by topic expertise, budget, location, and language, spanning 40+ nationalities.
• Speaker Training Programmes (Inspire and Elevate) Training programmes (Inspire and Elevate) designed to help women develop public speaking skills, build confidence, and grow as professional speakers, featuring story crafting and theatre-based techniques. More than 500 women have been trained through these programmes.
• Speaker Booking Facilitation Service facilitating introductions between event organizers and women speakers based on topic expertise, budget, location, and other criteria, with optional payment management on behalf of the speaker and a 20% commission on confirmed bookings.
• Global Speaker Community A global, supportive community connecting women speakers who champion each other's growth and visibility, with mentorship and sponsorship opportunities for members.

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• AWARE SingaporeminorOthersAWARE (Association of Women for Action & Research) is a women's organization in Singapore. KeyNote speaker Aarathi Arumugam serves as Board President of AWARE Singapore.
• PrimeTime Business & Professional Women AssociationminorOthersPrimeTime is a professional network helping women achieve their highest potential. Multiple KeyNote speakers, including Katia Melazzi (President) and Aurelie Saada (former President), are active in this organization.
• Asian Women Leadership SummitminorOthersEvent partnership for promoting women speakers at the Asian Women Leadership Summit.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Washington Speakers Bureau: Long-established full-service speakers bureau representing keynote and motivational speakers to corporate and association buyers. Comparable to KeyNote as a fee-based intermediary between event organisers and professional speakers, though it is for-profit and not focused on diversity.
• Gotham Artists: Speakers and talent bureau serving corporate events across business, technology, and lifestyle topics. Direct peer given the shared marketplace model for booking professional speakers for events.
• The Harry Walker Agency: Premium speakers bureau representing political, business, and thought-leadership keynote speakers. Direct peer to KeyNote given the shared model of curating and brokering keynote talent to corporate event buyers, albeit at the high-fee end and not diversity-targeted.
• Leading Authorities: US-based speakers bureau and events production agency providing keynote speakers, moderators, and executive programs. Comparable to KeyNote in brokering professional speakers to enterprise events, though broader in scope and not a non-profit.
• All American Speakers (AAE): Large online speakers bureau with a searchable directory and booking facilitation services. Closely matches KeyNote's directory + facilitation model and its enterprise-event buyer orientation.
• Big Time Speakers Bureau: Speakers bureau offering a curated directory of keynote and motivational talent to corporate and association clients. Comparable to KeyNote as a competing curated-speaker intermediary.

Emerging players

• SoGal: Global community supporting women entrepreneurs and founders, often partnering with brands on events and speaker programming. Tangentially comparable to KeyNote's mission to elevate women on speaking stages and its community-driven operating model.
• The Female Quotient: Equality-focused consultancy and community curating women speakers and DEI event experiences. Comparable to KeyNote in mission (amplifying women's voices on stages) and in serving corporate event buyers seeking diverse talent.
• Speakerhub: Online speaker directory and booking platform serving professional and expert speakers globally. Comparable to KeyNote as a digital marketplace for speakers, with broader (non-diversity-specific) inventory.

Broad incumbents

• CAA Speakers: Speaking division of Creative Artists Agency, the major talent agency. Comparable as a premium speaker-brokering channel for corporate events, but operating as a division of a global entertainment conglomerate rather than a curated non-profit directory.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/keynotewomen
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC6hTWqrYgsHpGmKEHs4MAcA
• Facebookfacebook.com/keynotewomen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/keynote-women-speakers
• Instagraminstagram.com/keynotewomenspeakers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 KeyNote