Generation CEO

What Generation CEO does

Generation CEO is a Frankfurt am Main-based registered nonprofit association (e.V., VR 16461) operating one of the earliest and most exclusive peer networks for female C-level executives, supervisory and executive board members, and entrepreneurs in the German-speaking region. Founded in 2007 by Heiner Thorborg, the network has grown to 274 members drawn from all industries, with a stated DACH + international footprint that includes members in markets such as Singapore. Membership is gated: applicants must hold a C-level, Vorstandsmitglied, or Unternehmerin position with at least 10 years of professional experience and must secure endorsement from existing members.

The organization's core product is a closed community platform (community.generation-ceo.com) paired with a Member App that enables profile search, messaging, event booking, and access to member knowledge resources. A public website hosts a Newsroom with thought leadership content on leadership, AI in governance, and member achievements. Marketing is concentrated in organic channels: LinkedIn presence, the website, member referrals, press relations, and events including the WOMEN OF TECH CONFERENCE 2026. Distribution is self-serve via a website application form, with no external channel partners.

Revenue is generated exclusively through recurring annual membership subscriptions from the 274 individual members. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The organization holds tax-exempt status under § 60a Abs. 1 AO and operates without venture capital backing, parent entities, or subsidiary structures. Governance rests with a five-member Vorstand and a Beiratsvorsitzende; the organization employs between 101 and 250 people and has no disclosed M&A, funding, or restructuring activity on record.

Name

Generation CEO

Legal name

Generation CEO e.V.

Website

https://generation-ceo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Generation CEO is a Frankfurt-based nonprofit association operating an exclusive, application-gated peer network of 274 female C-level executives, board members, and entrepreneurs across the DACH region, supported by a closed community platform and Member App.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Networking Association

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development (EDABAAAA)

Keywords

• Executive networking
• Women leadership network
• Peer network membership
• C-suite networking
• Professional association

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfurt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from 274 C-level executives, Vorstandsmitglieder, and Unternehmerinnen. The organization is registered as a non-profit association (e.V.) with tax-exempt status under § 60a Abs. 1 AO. Specific pricing tiers are not publicly disclosed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Generation CEO operates an exclusive peer network for female C-level executives, board members (Vorstandsmitglieder), and entrepreneurs (Unternehmerinnen) in the German-speaking DACH region. The network has 274 members across all industries and requires C-level, board, or business owner status with at least 10 years of professional experience for membership. Members pay annual membership fees for access to a closed online community platform, a Member App, exclusive events, and peer exchange opportunities. Founded in 2007 by Heiner Thorborg, the organization is structured as a non-profit registered association (e.V.) registered in Frankfurt am Main.

Product overview

Generation CEO operates as an exclusive peer network for female C-level executives, combining a member-facing networking platform with a public content channel. The core offering consists of the Generation CEO Netzwerk (the exclusive membership network of 274 C-level leaders), accessible via the Member App (closed community for networking, messaging, event booking, and knowledge access), and the Newsroom (public thought leadership platform featuring articles on AI, leadership, and member achievements).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Generation CEO Network (Generation CEO Netzwerk) An exclusive peer network for female C-level executives, board members (Vorstandsmitglieder), and entrepreneurs (Unternehmerinnen) in the German-speaking DACH region. The network provides a curated space for exchange among 274 members across all industries with strict membership criteria requiring C-level, board, or business-owner status with at least 10 years of professional experience and endorsement from existing members.
• Generation CEO Member App and Community Platform A closed community application and online community portal (community.generation-ceo.com) for registered Generation CEO members, enabling networking, messaging, profile management, person search by criteria, event booking, and access to news and management knowledge resources.

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Ellevate Network: Global membership community for professional women with mentorship, circles, and events. Comparable to Generation CEO in female-executive peer-networking model and subscription model, though it spans multiple career levels and is US-rooted.
• Chief: US-headquartered private membership network for senior women executives that offers peer groups, events, and digital community tools. Comparable to Generation CEO in exclusive C-level female peer-network model, though it operates as a venture-backed for-profit at much larger scale and primarily in North America.
• AllBright: German nonprofit foundation focused on increasing women in leadership positions and on corporate boards. Highly comparable to Generation CEO in mission (advancing female executives), DACH geography, and nonprofit advocacy-based operating model, though AllBright leans more on research/public rankings while Generation CEO emphasizes peer membership.
• FidAR – Frauen in die Aufsichtsräte: German association advocating for more women on supervisory boards, with a curated network of senior female executives. Comparable to Generation CEO in targeting board-ready women leaders, DACH focus, and association structure (e.V.), making it the closest functional substitute in the German-speaking market.

Others

• Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award / Bold by Veuve Clicquot: Corporate-sponsored initiative and awards program celebrating female entrepreneurship and leadership. Comparable to Generation CEO's empowerment-and-visibility value proposition for female executives, but operates as a brand-led marketing program rather than a member-governed association.

Broad incumbents

• WomenCorporateDirectors (WCD): Global membership organization for women serving on corporate boards. Comparable to Generation CEO's Vorstandsmitglieder segment and mission around board-ready female talent, but with a global footprint and broader governance-focus portfolio rather than a curated peer-network.
• Catalyst: Global nonprofit helping companies build inclusive workplaces with a strong focus on women in leadership. Comparable to Generation CEO in mission and nonprofit operating model, but is a much larger, research-and-advisory incumbent rather than a curated peer network.
• European Professional Women's Network (EPWN): Pan-European network of professional women's associations with local chapters across multiple countries. Comparable to Generation CEO in mission of advancing women leaders, but operates a broader, multi-tier professional membership rather than a curated C-level-only network.

Regional players

• Werkstatt – Österreichisches Frauennetzwerk: Austrian women's executive network offering peer exchange and events for senior female leaders. Comparable to Generation CEO in female-executive peer-network model and DACH overlap, but Austria-focused rather than pan-DACH.
• Global Women: New Zealand-based nonprofit advocating for gender parity in leadership. Comparable to Generation CEO in nonprofit mission and female-executive focus, but serves a different geography (APAC) and operates more as an advocacy/research organization than a C-level peer network.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Generation_CEO
• Facebookfacebook.com/GenCEO

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 Generation CEO