SolutionSurfers

What SolutionSurfers does

SolutionSurfers Ltd. is a privately held, Lucerne-based coach training institute founded in 1997 (originally as 'Weiterbildungsforum') by Master Certified Coach Daniel Meier. The company delivers International Coach Federation (ICF)-accredited programs in the Solution-Focused Brief Coaching methodology derived from Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg, including the foundational Coaching PURE (64 hours), advanced Coaching PLUS (37 hours over five months), the introductory Coaching Plain & Simple (14 hours), the certification prep programs ACC PRO and PCC PRO, and the supervision-oriented Guide on the Side. Training is delivered fully online via Zoom webinars, supplemented by the ol.surfersfactory.ch learning platform and self-organized study-buddy groups, with an in-person 'Solutionsurfers LAB' venue in Lucerne for advanced cohorts.

The company's go-to-market is direct-to-consumer with community-led referral dynamics: a free top-of-funnel of info webinars and an open 'Introduction to Brief Coaching' course feeds paid enrollment across 12 countries on 4 continents via a faculty network of ICF-credentialed coaches (MCC/PCC) acting as regional representatives. Pricing is premium and program-based, ranging from CHF 750 (Plain & Simple) to CHF 5,160 (PURE), with country-specific discounts negotiated through HQ. Revenue is generated almost entirely from professional-services training fees and certification preparation, with no disclosed licensing or subscription revenue. Customer segments are primarily individual practicing and aspiring coaches, with secondary segments in managers/leaders, HR professionals, and organizational development practitioners served through the Go Beyond Project sub-brand.

Ownership is founder-controlled and bootstrapped, with no disclosed external funding, parent company, or M&A activity. The firm operates as an independent education provider under Swiss law (CHE), with continuity of senior leadership (Daniel Meier as owner and Managing-Founder; Dunja Wicki as Head of Headquarters) and a distributed faculty rather than a centralized employee base. No awards, patents, partnerships, or AI/technology capabilities beyond the LMS are disclosed in the source material.

Name

SolutionSurfers

Legal name

Solutionsurfers® Ltd.

Website

https://solutionsurfers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SolutionSurfers is a Swiss, founder-owned coach training institute (since 1997) that delivers ICF-accredited Solution-Focused Brief Coaching programs online via Zoom to individual coaches, managers, HR professionals, and organizations across 12 countries on 4 continents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Coach Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Training Delivery Services (Onsite/Virtual Instruction, Workshops, Coaching) (BPAEANAN)

Keywords

• ICF coach training
• Solution-focused coaching
• Brief coaching methods
• Executive coaching education
• Organizational development training

Headquarters

HQ city

Luzern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Coach Training Programs: SolutionSurfers generates revenue primarily through ICF-accredited coach training programs. Programs include Coaching PURE (foundational), Coaching PLUS (advanced), ACC PRO (certification), and PCC PRO (professional certification). Training is delivered online via Zoom webinars with supplementary learning platforms.
2. Workshop and Seminar Fees: Fees for in-person workshops such as 'Coaching Plain and Simple' two-day training and 'The Guide on the Side' supervision program. Pricing varies by program duration and certification level.
3. ICF Certification Preparation: Certification programs (ACC PRO, PCC PRO) that prepare coaches for International Coaching Federation credentialing exams, including mentor coaching sessions and performance evaluations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SolutionSurfers delivers ICF-accredited online training programs in solution-focused Brief Coaching, leading to internationally recognized ACC and PCC coach certifications. The portfolio spans foundational (Coaching PURE, 64 hours), advanced (Coaching PLUS, 37 hours), introductory (Coaching Plain & Simple, 14 hours), and certification preparation (ACC PRO, PCC PRO) programs, plus supervision training and organizational development workshops.

Product overview

SolutionSurfers offers a comprehensive suite of ICF-accredited coaching education programs delivered primarily online. The portfolio comprises foundational training (Coaching PURE, 64 hours), advanced coaching (Coaching PLUS, 37 hours), introductory coaching (Coaching Plain and Simple, 14 hours), and certification preparation programs (ACC PRO, PCC PRO). Supporting offerings include The Guide on the Side for supervision training, the Go Beyond Project for organizational development, and a resource library. All programs lead to or support International Coach Federation (ICF) certification at ACC or PCC levels and are facilitated through an online learning platform with live webinars and study buddy groups.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Coaching PURE: Brief-Coach Training program - foundational training in individual coaching, the first step towards ICF certification.
• Coaching PLUS
• Coaching PLAIN & SIMPLE
• Go Beyond Project

Products and services

• Coaching PURE A 9-day (64 hours) fully online foundational training in solution-focused brief coaching, covering five phases of coaching, the Miracle Question, scaling techniques, and solution-building. Serves as the first step toward ICF ACC or PCC certification and is accredited for ACSTH coach-specific training hours. Intended for aspiring and current coaches seeking ICF credentials.
• Coaching PLUS An advanced 37-hour online coaching program conducted over five months (8 webinars of 3.5 hours each), deepening understanding of ICF core competencies and developing a personal coaching style. Provides 37 ACSTH-approved training hours for ICF credential renewal and is designed for experienced coaches and managers.
• Coaching Plain and Simple A compact two-day online training (4 webinars of 3.5 hours each, 14 ACSTH hours) that introduces the three basic principles of solution-focused coaching, individual phases of coaching conversations, and essential tools. Serves as an entry point to the Coaching PURE program and is suited for first-time exposure to the methodology.
• ACC PRO A certification preparation program leading to the ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential. Includes 2 workshop days, 3 hours of mentor coaching, exam preparation, a final performance evaluation, and access to the learning platform. Prerequisites include completion of Coaching PURE and 100 hours of coaching experience.
• PCC PRO A certification preparation program leading to the ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential. Includes 2 seminar days, 3 individual feedback sessions, 2 hours of mentor coaching, formal final examination, and learning platform access. Prerequisites include a minimum of 110 training hours and 500 hours of documented coaching experience.
• The Guide on the Side (Solution-Focused Supervision) A 4-module online program (four half-day webinars of 3.5 hours each) for coaches, supervisors, managers, and mentors seeking to deepen supervision skills through a solution-focused lens. Covers supervision dilemmas, ethics, boundaries, role clarity, and structured supervision conversations.
• Go Beyond Project Organization development training programs that merge the solution-focused approach with contemporary Organisation Design and Development knowledge. Designed to enable company leaders, HR professionals, and work (r)evolutionists to support organizations in their transformation processes, with workshops delivered under the Go Beyond brand at gobeyond-project.com.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trained 6000+ coaches globally since 1997
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 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

Feature4 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Newfield Network: Newfield Network is an ICF-accredited coach training school with a somatic coaching approach and global delivery. It competes with SolutionSurfers in the premium coach certification market with similar target audience of professionals building coaching practices.
• Meyler Campbell: Meyler Campbell is a UK-based ICF-accredited coach training provider focused on executive and business coaching. It targets similar professional segments as SolutionSurfers with comparable premium pricing in European markets.
• iPEC Coaching: iPEC is an ICF-accredited coach training institute offering CERTIFIED Coach, Master Practitioner, and certification programs both live-online and in-person. It competes with SolutionSurfers for aspiring professional coaches globally.
• Coaches Training Institute (CTI): CTI is one of the largest ICF-accredited coach training institutes globally, offering foundational and advanced coach certification programs. It directly competes with SolutionSurfers for aspiring coaches seeking internationally recognized credentials, though CTI uses a co-active coaching methodology rather than solution-focused.
• Erickson Coaching International: Erickson is a major ICF-accredited coach training provider with global reach, offering solutions-focused and other coaching methodologies. It competes directly for both individual coach trainees and corporate/organizational development clients seeking ICF credentials.
• International Coaching Academy (ICA): ICA is an ICF-accredited coach training school delivering programs online globally, focused on team coaching and personal coaching certification. It competes in the same direct-to-consumer online coach training space as SolutionSurfers.
• Academy of Executive Coaching (AoEC): AoEC is a UK-headquartered ICF-accredited coach training provider with strong European and Middle East presence, offering accreditation and organizational coaching programs. It competes regionally with SolutionSurfers in European markets.
• CRR Global (ORSC): CRR Global offers the Organization and Relationship Systems Coaching program, ICF-accredited pathways with a distinct methodology. It competes with SolutionSurfers in the systems/relational coaching certification space targeting coaches and organizational consultants.

Broad incumbents

• Center for Creative Leadership (CCL): CCL is a globally established leadership development organization offering coach training and executive coaching programs. It competes with SolutionSurfers' Go Beyond offering in the higher-ticket B2B organizational development space but at much larger scale and broader portfolio.

Regional players

• SOLworld: SOLworld is the international solution-focused organization network hosting conferences and community for solution-focused practitioners globally. It is closely adjacent to SolutionSurfers' methodology and faculty (multiple Solutionsurfers trainers are SOLworld enthusiasts), representing both a peer community and a competitive ecosystem for SF training.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/solutionsurfer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/12584237/admin
• Instagraminstagram.com/solutionsurfers.ch

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 SolutionSurfers