Deep Democracy Institute

What Deep Democracy Institute does

Deep Democracy Institute International (DDII) is a U.S.-based, non-profit educational organization founded in 2006 that delivers a competency-based international diploma program in Process Work, also referred to as Deep Democracy — a methodology developed by Arnold Mindell in the 1980s that integrates physics, psychology, and complexity science. The organization operates from Florence, USA, with a small core team ("The Squad" of four facilitators — Dr. Ellen Schupbach, Dr. Ruth Weyermann, Anna Pujol MA, and Dr. Yuliya Filippovska) and reaches learners through three regional autonomous organizations in Kenya, Thailand, and Ukraine, alongside an international community of diplomates and coaches coordinated via the Deep Democracy Alliance and a WhatsApp Co-Learning Space.

The core product is the DDI International Diploma Program, a 4-6 year competency-based track rather than a credit-based curriculum, structured around personalized learning paths, dream-directed methodology, private coaching sessions, mid-point outlook reviews with a DDI trainer, supervision in the final two years, and a final MDD (My Deep Democracy) project that can take written, visual, or experiential form. Supplementary offerings include an online "PW Fundamentals" series, international hybrid seminars (Amsterdam, Berlin, Tangier), face-to-face film seminars, and the annual Process Work and Worldwork Clinic Leadership Intensive. The diploma is IAPOP-compliant, enabling cross-program collaboration with sister and cousin Process Work training programs.

Revenue is generated through coaching subscriptions (approximately $1,000-3,000/year), one-time payments for classes and seminars ($1,000-4,000/year), and supervision fees ($500-1,000/year for the final two years), with a $0 student administration fee and scholarships available. Distribution is community-led and event-driven: new learners join by attending classes, finding a coach, and writing to the Squad; events are listed on Eventbrite; the WhatsApp Co-Learning Space functions as the primary engagement channel. The organization has no disclosed funding, no external investors, no mobile app, and no enterprise contracts, and it is positioned as a distributed educational institution rather than a scalable software business.

Name

Deep Democracy Institute

Legal name

Deep Democracy Institute International

Website

https://deepdemocracyinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Deep Democracy Institute International is a U.S. non-profit that delivers a competency-based, IAPOP-compliant diploma program in Process Work / Deep Democracy to individual learners worldwide through coaching, seminars, and an international community of diplomates and regional organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online/Hybrid Lifelong Learning Platforms & Open Enrollment Programs (EDAAAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Civic, Citizenship & Community Engagement Education (EDAAAEAI)

Keywords

• Process work training
• Deep democracy coaching
• Facilitation training programs
• Leadership development intensive
• Professional diploma certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Florence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Coaching Sessions: Monthly coaching sessions with personal coaches. Learners work with coaches to design learning paths, discuss dreams and dreaming processes. Pricing ranges based on session frequency and hourly rates.
2. Classes and Seminars: Revenue from in-person and online classes and seminars. Costs range from 1000-4000/year depending on participation.
3. Supervision: Supervision sessions during the final 2 years of study, providing oversight and guidance for diploma completion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Deep Democracy Institute International offers a competency-based IAPOP-compliant international diploma program in Deep Democracy/Process Work, delivered through personalized coaching, online classes, international hybrid seminars, and an annual leadership intensive. Learners complete a flexible, dream-directed learning path culminating in a final My Deep Democracy (MDD) project, supported by a global network of diplomates and regional autonomous communities in Kenya, Thailand, and Ukraine.

Product overview

Deep Democracy Institute International offers a competency-based international diploma program in Deep Democracy/Process Work, compliant with IAPOP standards. The core offering is the DDI International Diploma Path, which provides personalized learning journeys through coaching, collaborative learning, and dream-directed methods. Supporting products include My Deep Democracy (MDD) for final diploma projects, online educational series (PW Fundamentals), international hybrid seminars, face-to-face film seminars, and the annual Process Work and Worldwork Clinic Leadership Intensive in Tangier. The program also includes coaching services facilitated by the Squad team and supported by the global Deep Democracy Alliance network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• My Deep Democracy (MDD): The overall framework for final diploma projects at DDII. Projects reflect students' personal journeys and perspectives, including written work, visual projects, or experiential presentations.
• Deep Democracy Alliance

Segments2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and minor.

• IAPOP (International Association for the Study of Process-Oriented Psychology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDDI International Diploma Program complies with IAPOP standards, allowing individuals to actively engage in an International Professional Process Work community and form collegial relationships with other programs.
• DDI KenyaregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutonomous regional organization with its own organizational structure, providing trainings and facilitating own community under the DDI International umbrella.
• DDI ThailandregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutonomous regional organization with its own organizational structure, providing trainings and facilitating own community under the DDI International umbrella.
• DDI UkraineregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutonomous regional organization with its own organizational structure, providing trainings and facilitating own community under the DDI International umbrella.
• Deep Democracy AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network of DDI International Diplomats who are coaches and facilitators from all walks of life across the world. Provides community space for learners and diplomates to connect and collaborate.
• Sister and Cousin ProgramsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative relationship with other Process Work training programs. DDI facilitates bridges and docking processes in collaboration with sister and cousin programs across the alliance.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Center for Creative Leadership: Large established leadership development institution offering executive programs, coaching, and organizational leadership research. Comparable at the leadership-development category level, though far broader and more corporate-focused than DDII's niche.
• Coaches Training Institute (CTI): One of the largest coach training and certification organizations, serving individuals and organizations globally. Competes for the same pool of aspiring coaches and facilitators as DDII's diploma program.
• IPEC (Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching): ICF-accredited coach training and certification provider with corporate leadership programs. Comparable in coaching-skills development and professional certification outcomes to the DDI diploma path.

Regional players

• Mobius Executive Leadership: Leadership development consultancy offering cohort-based programs for senior leaders. Overlaps with DDII's leadership-intensive use cases, though its focus is corporate executive cohorts rather than individual diploma seekers.

Others

• Generon Consulting: Consulting firm specializing in conflict resolution, team facilitation, and leadership development. Adjacent to DDII's organizational change and team facilitation use cases, but differs by offering consulting services rather than credentialing programs.

Emerging players

• MetaIntegral Foundation: Educational organization offering integral leadership and transformative learning programs. Comparable to DDII in blending psychology, systems thinking, and leadership development, with a more online/digital program orientation.
• Goodmood Group: Process Work-affiliated facilitation and training organization running seminars and learning programs. Niche overlap with DDII within the Mindell methodology universe, sharing common ancestry but distinct brand.

Direct peers

• Center for Process Work (UK): UK-based Process Work training organization offering courses, seminars, and facilitator certification. Direct competitor for European learners and a sister/cousin program referenced in DDI's alliance network.
• Process Work Center of New York: NYC-based Process Work training institute offering individual and group learning programs. Competitor for North American learners and a peer under the broader Mindell Process Work lineage.
• Process Work Institute: Portland-based Process Work graduate school offering diploma and training programs grounded in Arnold Mindell's methodology. The closest direct competitor to DDII's diploma path, with overlapping curriculum and IAPOP-aligned standards.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/DeepDemocracyInst
• Facebookfacebook.com/DeepDemocracyInstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/deep-democracy-institute
• Xx.com/ddi_int

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 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 Deep Democracy Institute