What EAF Berlin does

EAF Berlin (Europäische Akademie für Frauen in Politik und Wirtschaft Berlin e.V.) is an independent non-profit research and consulting organization founded in 1996 in Berlin, registered as an eingetragener Verein (e.V.). It operates at the intersection of politics, business, and science, with a mission to advance women's representation in leadership and to promote diversity, equal opportunity, and democratic participation in Germany and selected international contexts. The organization was founded by Barbara Schaeffer-Hegel and Helga Lukoschat as a spin-off from TU Berlin and was the first institution in Germany dedicated independently and across party lines to promoting women in leadership in politics and business.

EAF Berlin delivers a portfolio of professional services rather than a software product: interactive trainings and workshops on diversity, unconscious bias, and inclusive leadership; mentoring and career-building programs (e.g., the long-running 'Sign Up' program for Max Planck Society since 2009 and 'KmK' for Deutsche Telekom); organizational consulting using participatory methods; and original research studies (including the first representative cross-industry study on workplace sexism in Germany). It also operates multi-year publicly funded model projects, most prominently the BMBFSFJ-backed Bündnis 'Gemeinsam gegen Sexismus' (now 900+ signatory organizations) and ESF-funded initiatives such as 'Demokratie, Gleichstellung und Vielfalt im Betrieb' and the EU-funded 3R European consortium project (2025-2027).

The business model rests on three revenue streams: publicly funded model projects and grants (federal ministries, ESF); fee-for-service training, workshops, and consulting delivered to enterprises, public administration, and political organizations; and corporate partnerships (Firmenpartnerschaften) with companies such as Deutsche Telekom. Distribution is direct — in-person and digital delivery by EAF's own team — supplemented by event-driven engagement (e.g., the 'NETZWERKTREFFEN Gleichstellung gewinnt' network meetings). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated per engagement. The technology footprint is minimal: a Webflow-hosted marketing and content website with no public API, SDK, or software product. Governance is provided by a supervisory board (Kuratorium) and a Board of Directors led by Chair Kathrin Mahler Walther, with co-CEOs Tina Weber and Stefanie Lohaus.

Name

EAF Berlin

Legal name

EAF Berlin | European Academy for Women in Politics and Economics Berlin e.V.

Website

https://eaf-berlin.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EAF Berlin is an independent German non-profit research and consulting organization founded in 1996 that delivers diversity training, mentoring, organizational consulting, and gender-equality studies to enterprises, government, political organizations, and scientific institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organizational Development and Diversity Consulting

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

DEI, Inclusive Leadership & Cultural Intelligence Coaching (EDABANAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment (BPAGABAF), Gender Equality & Women’s Rights (BPADAGAF), Inclusive Leadership & Leading Diverse Teams (EDABAAAM), Professional Development for Inclusive Practices (General Education Staff) (EDAKABAL)

Keywords

• Diversity consulting services
• Organizational development training
• Mentoring career programs
• Gender equality research
• Inclusive leadership workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

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. Public-Funded Projects and Grants: EAF Berlin operates as an independent non-profit organization implementing publicly funded model projects, studies, and expert analyses, primarily financed through government grants from federal and state ministries (e.g., BMBFSFJ, ESF). These projects include initiatives such as the 3R project, Frauen.Vielfalt.Politik, and the Bündnis 'Gemeinsam gegen Sexismus'.
2. Training and Consulting Services: EAF Berlin generates revenue through fee-for-service training, workshops, mentoring programs, and organizational consulting engagements delivered to companies, public administration, and political organizations. Services include half-day and full-day workshops, long-term development programs, and bespoke consulting engagements.
3. Firmenpartnerschaften (Corporate Partnerships): EAF Berlin receives financial and strategic support from corporate partners through formal firm partnership agreements. Partners include companies such as Deutsche Telekom and other organizations that co-develop diversity strategies and support EAF programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

EAF Berlin delivers professional services including interactive training and workshops on diversity, inclusive leadership, unconscious bias, and equal opportunity; mentoring and career-building programs for women in leadership; organizational consulting using participatory methods for diversity strategy development; scientific research studies and surveys on gender and diversity topics; and implementation of publicly funded model projects on democracy, political participation, and anti-sexism.

Product overview

EAF Berlin is an independent non-profit research and consulting organization (Europäische Akademie für Frauen in Politik und Wirtschaft Berlin e.V.) that does not offer a software product or technology platform. Instead, it provides a portfolio of professional services including: interactive trainings and workshops on topics such as Diversity & Inclusion, Unconscious Bias, Inclusive Leadership, and Equal Opportunity Digitalization; mentoring and career-building programs for advancing women in leadership; organizational consulting using participatory methods to develop tailored strategies for inclusive organizational culture; research studies and surveys (e.g., on workplace sexism, women in politics, diversity in sports); and awareness concepts and evaluation services for organizations. The organization works at the intersection of politics, business, and science to promote diversity and equal opportunities through these service offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Trainings and Workshops Interactive training and workshops on diversity, inclusion, unconscious bias, inclusive leadership, and equal opportunity, delivered in-person or digitally to organizations in business, public administration, science, and politics.
• Mentoring and Career-Building Programs Mentoring and career-building programs designed and accompanied by EAF Berlin to support professional and leadership development of women in business, science, and politics, including career reflection, networking, and self-development components.
• Organizational Consulting Consulting services for organizations to develop and implement diversity, inclusion, and equality strategies using participatory methods, tailored to client needs and delivered in the form of workshops, audits, and longer-term development engagements.
• Research Studies and Publications Scientific studies, surveys, and expert analyses on gender, diversity, women in politics, workplace sexism, and diversity in sports, produced for government ministries, public bodies, and partner organizations.
• Publicly Funded Model Projects Multi-year, publicly funded model projects implementing interventions on democracy, equality, diversity, and anti-sexism across companies, municipalities, and political organizations, often in partnership with federal ministries such as BMBFSFJ and ESF.
• KmK (Karriere und Mentoring für mich) Career and Mentoring Program Career and mentoring program developed for Deutsche Telekom employees, particularly working mothers, supporting professional development and career advancement within a corporate context.
• Sign Up Career-Building Program (Max Planck Society) Career-building program for female postdoctoral researchers at the Max Planck Society, addressing key challenges in young researcher promotion and contributing to strategic, diversity-oriented personnel development.
• Aktionsprogramm Kommune – Frauen in die Politik! Program supporting women in local politics by strengthening local networks and providing expert project advice to municipalities such as Stadt Oranienburg, aiming for attractive, contemporary, and family-friendly local politics.

Quantifiable outcome

• 63% of employees in Germany have experienced sexism in the workplace (first representative cross-industry study by EAF Berlin, 2026)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gesundheit Nordhessen Holding AG (GNH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2025GNH is one of 12 companies nationwide participating in the ESF-funded model project 'Demokratie, Gleichstellung und Vielfalt im Betrieb' led by EAF Berlin. Over three years, partners work together to sustainably strengthen and make democratic competencies tangible in everyday working life.
• Deutsche TelekomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeutsche Telekom partners with EAF Berlin on the 'KmK' (Karriere und Mentoring für mich) career and mentoring program, supporting employees — particularly working mothers — in professional development and career advancement.
• Max Planck SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2009, EAF Berlin has been running the 'Sign Up' career-building program for female postdoctoral researchers at the Max Planck Society. The program addresses key challenges in young researcher promotion and makes an important contribution to strategic and diversity-oriented personnel development in the MPG.
• Senatsverwaltung für Arbeit, Soziales, Gleichstellung, Integration, Vielfalt und Antidiskriminierung BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Berlin Senate Administration is a joint initiator of the 'Gleichstellung gewinnt' (Equal Opportunity Wins) corporate network alongside IHK Berlin and Handwerkskammer Berlin. EAF Berlin participates in organizing network meetings and events for this initiative.
• Industrie- und Handelskammer Berlin (IHK Berlin)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIHK Berlin co-initiated the 'Gleichstellung gewinnt' network with the Berlin Senate and Handwerkskammer Berlin. EAF Berlin contributes expertise and organizes events within this corporate network promoting equal opportunity as a strategy for securing skilled workers.
• Handwerkskammer BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHandwerkskammer Berlin is a co-initiator of the 'Gleichstellung gewinnt' network alongside the Berlin Senate and IHK Berlin, promoting equal opportunity in the skilled trades sector.
• Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEAF Berlin co-founded Femtec.GmbH with TU Berlin in 2001, creating an international career platform for women in engineering and natural sciences. EAF Berlin has maintained a close working relationship with Femtec over more than 20 years.
• Württembergischer Landessportbund e.V. (WLSB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEAF Berlin and WLSB jointly published a multi-method study on diversity in voluntary-organized sports in Baden-Württemberg. The study contributes to engagement research and provides recommendations for sports clubs to increase diversity and reduce discrimination.
• European Consortium (3R Project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEAF Berlin is part of the European project '3R — Recognize, Resist, Rise Up: Tackling Gender-Based Violence against Women in Politics' (2025–2027). The project develops strategies for women in politics to maintain agency in crisis situations and addresses violence against women in politics across Europe.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DIALOGEO — Institut für Diversity und Antidiskriminierung: German institute offering diversity and antidiscrimination training, consulting, and certification for organizations; directly comparable to EAF Berlin's D&I training and organizational consulting services to corporate clients.
• 30% Club (Germany/Germany Chapter): Global campaign-driven organization advocating for at least 30% women on corporate boards; the German chapter is comparable to EAF Berlin's corporate-board and leadership diversity work.
• Total E-Quality Deutschland e.V. German association promoting equal opportunity in business, science, and politics through awards, consulting, and self-assessment tools; comparable to EAF as a national non-profit DEI organization serving similar corporate and public-sector clients.
• AllBright Stiftung: Berlin-based non-profit foundation dedicated to increasing women's representation in top leadership positions in the German economy; directly comparable to EAF Berlin in mission, target audience, and non-partisan advocacy focus.
• CEWS — Center of Excellence Women in Science and Research: German national center providing research, analyses, and programs to advance women in science and research; directly comparable to EAF Berlin's science-and-research segment (e.g., Max Planck Society programs).
• fwd3 — Bundesverband der Frau im Management: German association and network for women in management positions offering events, mentoring, and advocacy; comparable to EAF Berlin as a women-in-leadership network serving similar corporate and institutional members.

Broad incumbents

• McKinsey & Company (DEI Practice): Global management consultancy with a sizable DEI and women-in-leadership advisory practice; broad incumbent competitor for the corporate consulting and training portion of EAF Berlin's work.
• Catalyst (now part of Marsh McLennan): Global non-profit research and consulting organization advancing women in workplace leadership; broadly comparable to EAF Berlin's research and consulting model but at larger global scale with corporate membership base.

Regional players

• Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung (Programmbereich Gender & Diversity): German political foundation affiliated with the Greens operating programs on gender democracy, feminist policy, and diversity; comparable to EAF's intersectional work in politics, gender, and democratic participation, though larger and broader in scope.

Emerging players

• Europäische Akademie für Frauen in Politik und Wirtschaft Berlin e.V. (Femtec.GmbH historical): Former spin-off co-founded by EAF Berlin and TU Berlin in 2001 for women in STEM careers; closed in April 2026 but historically a directly adjacent peer serving overlapping audiences in science and academia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/vielfaltinfuehrung
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/eaf-berlin
• Instagraminstagram.com/eaf_berlin/?hl=de
• Xx.com/eaf_berlin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EAF Berlin