ICA

What ICA does

ICA (Istituto per la Creatività Applicata) is an Italian-origin consulting and coaching firm that has operated since 1970 in leadership development, team collaboration, and innovation management. The firm works with large European and global enterprises across automotive, aerospace, banking, insurance, chemical-pharmaceutical, IT, retail, and FMCG sectors; named reference clients include Airbus, BMW, Daimler, Volkswagen, Porsche, Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, Apple, Roche, Novartis, L'Oréal, Ferrero, Coca-Cola, UBS, Credit Suisse, Generali, Allianz, and AXA. ICA's core methodology is experiential and humanistic, originally built on outdoor and group-based learning, and it is now codified into a portfolio of proprietary programs: TETA® (launched 1981) and TETA II/InnoMindset® for team effectiveness, InnoToolkit® for innovation capability, Spirit of Cooperation for cross-functional collaboration, the academically co-developed CREATIC framework (with Ruhr University Bochum) for creativity, LeadNav 360° for leadership assessment, and Smart Leadership SuperVision (introduced 2020) for virtual delivery.

The company is structured around a small Italian operating entity (ICA Italia S.r.l., headquartered in Milan, founded 2002, 1–10 staff) embedded in the broader IAK International partner network of more than 30 senior practitioners delivering in four languages across Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, and the United States. The founder, Giovanni Franco, also serves as Managing Partner of IAK International, making the partner network the primary vehicle for international reach. Revenue mechanics combine custom enterprise engagements (typically multi-phase programs with embedded coaching) with per-seat open seminars priced at premium levels (TETA at €2,500, InnoToolkit seminars at €1,800). No external funding rounds, acquisitions, or public revenue disclosures are on record, and the firm's positioning is that of a mature, methodologically anchored boutique rather than a scaled platform.

Name

ICA

Legal name

ICA (Italia) – Istituto per la Creatività Applicata S.r.l.

Website

https://ica-it.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ICA is an Italy-based consulting firm founded in 1970 that delivers experiential leadership development, team collaboration, and innovation programs to large multinational enterprises across six European countries and the United States via a 30+ partner network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Leadership Development Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Human Resources Consulting Services (541612), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Leadership Development & Executive Coaching (BPAHAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development (EDABAAAA), C-Suite & Senior Executive Coaching (EDABANAA), Talent Management & Leadership Advisory (Succession, Performance, Culture) (BPACAJAH)

Keywords

• Leadership development training
• Executive coaching services
• Organizational change consulting
• Team collaboration workshops
• Innovation management training

Headquarters

HQ city

Milano

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Services - Training & Seminars: Revenue generated from delivering inter-company (public) and in-company (corporate) seminars on leadership, collaboration, and innovation. Inter-company seminars are priced per participant (e.g., TETA at €2,500, InnoToolkit at €1,800), while corporate seminars are custom-priced based on client requirements. Each seminar typically includes an individual coaching session during implementation phase.
2. Executive & Individual Coaching: Revenue from individual coaching engagements typically consisting of 4-6 sessions of approximately 3 hours each, extending over 3-6 months. Coaching is conducted outside the company premises and is absolutely confidential.
3. Partner Licensing & Commissions: Revenue from licensing ICA programs to partners. All services are billed through a base commission and simple licensing system with no registration fees or investment costs for partners. Partners operate as independent workers with exclusive access to ICA programs.
4. Process & Organizational Development Consulting: Revenue from organizational change management support, innovation process accompaniment, and strategic consulting engagements tailored to client needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ICA delivers experiential learning seminars, executive coaching, and organizational development consulting focused on three competency pillars: Leadership & Culture, Collaboration & Team, and Innovation & Change. The company offers flagship programs (TETA\u00ae, TETA II/InnoMindset\u00ae, InnoToolkit\u00ae, Spirit of Cooperation) as inter-company public seminars and customized in-company programs, complemented by executive coaching and digital feedback tools like CREATIC and LeadNav 360\u00b0. Services target enterprises and individual managers/leaders seeking to develop entrepreneurial leadership personality, team cooperation, creative thinking, and change management capabilities.

Product overview

ICA (Istituto per la Creatività Applicata) is a consulting and training organization founded in 1970, offering experiential seminars, coaching, and organizational development services. The core portfolio centers on three competency areas: Leadership & Cultura (with flagship programs TETA® and TETA II/InnoMindset® for leadership and innovation development), Collaborazione & Team (including Spirit of Cooperation, Teamcoaching, and Team development services), and Innovazione & Cambiamento (featuring InnoToolkit® for creative problem-solving and CREATIC, an online innovation climate assessment tool developed with Ruhr University Bochum). Additional offerings include Executive Coaching, intercultural competency training, strategy and vision development, and change management support. The company operates as a network with over 30 partners across Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, and the United States since 2002.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Seminario TETA®: A flagship leadership development seminar focusing on the entrepreneurial personality of leaders, running since 1981.
• TETA II (InnoMindset®)
• InnoToolkit®
• Spirit of Cooperation
• CreatIC
• Smart Leadership SuperVision©
• Lead and Listen
• LeadNav 360°
• CreatIC
• Brainstomp©

Products and services

• Seminario TETA\u00ae Foundational 3-day full-immersion leadership seminar focusing on entrepreneurial personality, self-management, overcoming personal limits, and the 7 principles of action. Includes topics on serenity, risk-taking, personal commitment, effectiveness, and communication. Includes one individual coaching session during implementation phase.
• Seminario TETA II (InnoMindset\u00ae)

Quantifiable outcome

• World Economic Forum projects 39% of workplace skills will be transformed in coming years, with socio-relational competencies growing in value as technical tasks are automated
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers46 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ruhr University BochumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for the development and scientific validation of CreatIC (Innovation Barometer), an online real-time feedback tool for measuring and influencing sustainable innovation climate in organizations. The collaboration produced a scientifically validated instrument tested across multiple industry sectors.
• Jerusalem Gestalt InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on publication of leadership insights. Giovanni Franco's article 'Smart Leadership SuperVision' will be published in English in a book edited by Talia Bar-Yoseph Levine, Co Executive Director at Jerusalem Gestalt Institute.
• Agriturismo La CamillaminorOthersVenue partner for inter-company seminars in Italy. Located in Concorezzo (MB), Italy, used for hosting TETA and other public seminars.
• IAK InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICA is part of IAK International, an international network with partners in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, and USA. The network enables cross-border service delivery and knowledge sharing among member organizations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm; its leadership advisory and coaching services compete directly with ICA's executive coaching engagements for C-suite clients.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Executive search and leadership advisory firm with growing leadership consulting and coaching practices — overlaps with ICA at the senior executive coaching layer and competes for similar C-suite relationships.
• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with a major Leadership & Professional Development practice offering executive coaching, assessment, and team development — broader portfolio but directly competes for ICA's enterprise clients.

Direct peers

• DDI (Development Dimensions International): Global leadership and talent management consultancy delivering leadership development, assessment, and coaching to large enterprises — competing head-to-head for multinational L&D budgets alongside ICA.
• FranklinCovey: Global leadership and execution training firm (e.g., '7 Habits', 'Leader in Me') selling enterprise seminars, coaching, and certifications — directly comparable to ICA's flagship TETA and executive coaching offerings for similar Fortune 500 buyers.
• RHR International: Boutique consultancy specializing in executive coaching and senior leadership development — closely comparable to ICA's executive coaching and leadership culture practice in scope and buyer profile.
• Center for Creative Leadership (CCL): Nonprofit research-backed leadership development provider offering open-enrollment programs, custom corporate solutions, and 360° feedback instruments — overlapping with ICA across leadership programs, coaching, and assessment tools.
• Ken Blanchard Companies: Leadership training and consulting firm built around 'The One Minute Manager' and Situational Leadership — a direct peer in proprietary-methodology-led leadership seminars sold to enterprise L&D.
• BTS Group: Public Swedish consulting firm specializing in leadership development, sales transformation, and experiential learning simulations — a close functional peer to ICA's experiential seminar and strategy execution work.

Regional players

• Gi Group Holding: Italy-headquartered global HR services group with significant training and organizational development offerings — a regional peer competing in the Italian enterprise L&D market where ICA Italia is headquartered.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ica-italia---istituto-per-la-creativit-applicata

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 ICA