Virtual Speakers Association (International)

What Virtual Speakers Association (International) does

Virtual Speakers Association International (VSAI) is a non-profit, volunteer-operated membership association founded in 2018 to serve professional speakers, trainers, coaches, and consultants based in the 170+ countries without national speaker associations affiliated with the Global Speakers Federation (GSF). Originally registered in the Netherlands, the association was re-domiciled to Australia in 2024-2025 and operates without any full-time staff, relying instead on a volunteer Presidential Leadership Team, Board, Ambassadors, and Buddy-Programme members. VSAI became the 17th member association of the GSF in 2024, positioning itself as the de facto international home for unaffiliated speakers and offering a dual-membership pathway alongside GSF-affiliated national associations.

The association's core offerings center on a €49 annual membership (reduced from €379 during the pandemic) that grants access to a Learning Management System, an eSpeaker Directory, awards and recognition programs, and a calendar of events including 26 live webinars, 2 virtual summits per year, Think Tank troubleshooting sessions, and quarterly networking events hosted on Zoom. A higher-tier Professional Membership requires demonstrated speaking activity, income thresholds, and LMS completion, while the flagship Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) accreditation carries a €400 non-refundable application fee and requires video assessment, external audit, and multi-year speaking and income criteria. Members also access a Treasure Trove resource library, session replays, eBooks, and a code of professional ethics, with chapters active in Jersey and Belgium and additional chapters forming.

VSAI's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on volunteer ambassadors, social media channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube), member referrals, and the GSF network rather than paid acquisition. Revenue is derived almost entirely from membership subscriptions and CSP application fees, processed through Stripe on a Wix-hosted website. The association has no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, or external funding, and operates with minimal fixed cost owing to its volunteer model, with a modest pricing adjustment anticipated by 2026 to support expanded programming.

Name

Virtual Speakers Association (International)

Legal name

Virtual Speakers Association International

Website

https://vsainternational.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

VSAI is a non-profit, volunteer-run global membership association founded in 2018 that serves professional speakers, trainers, coaches, and consultants in 170+ countries without national speaker associations, offering €49 annual memberships, CSP accreditation, virtual events, and GSF federation affiliation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Speaking Association

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Professional speaking association
• Speaker membership organization
• Speaker certification programs
• Virtual networking events
• Speaker training services

Headquarters

HQ city

Schiphol

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Annual Membership Fees: VSAI's primary revenue stream is annual membership subscriptions. Members pay €49 per year (reduced from original €379 during pandemic). The membership auto-renews annually and provides access to events, training, directory listing, and member resources.
2. CSP Certification Fees: Non-refundable €400 application fee for the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) accreditation program. This covers the assessment and review process including video assessment by current CSPs and external audit of credentials.
3. Event Registration Fees: Some events offer free access for members while select premium events or external partnerships may have paid registration. Events include webinars, virtual summits, Think Tank sessions, and networking gatherings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

VSAI is a global non-profit membership association for professional speakers, trainers, coaches, and consultants, providing annual memberships at €49/year that unlock training through a Learning Management System, virtual events (webinars, summits, Think Tanks, networking sessions), listing in a Global Speaker Directory, and a pathway to Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) accreditation. Members also gain access to mentorship, mastermind groups, awards, and a code of ethics framework.

Product overview

VSAI operates as a membership-based professional association for speakers rather than a traditional software product. The core offering is the Annual Membership (€49/year) providing access to training, events, and community, supplemented by a Professional Membership tier for established speakers. The Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) certification is a flagship credential program requiring €400 application fee with rigorous criteria. Members access the eSpeaker Directory for visibility, VSAI Awards for recognition, and participate in regular events including Think Tanks, Quarterly Networking, and bi-annual Virtual Summits. Resource offerings include a Treasure Trove library, Session Replays, and eBooks. The organization runs an Ambassador Program with Buddy system, maintains local chapters (Jersey, Belgium), and hosts an annual Professional Speakers' Celebration Day. A Learning Management System supports speaker development, and the community connects via a private Facebook group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• 26 live webinars and 2 Virtual Summits delivered annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Global Speakers Federation (GSF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVSAI is the 17th member association of the Global Speakers Federation. GSF connects professional speaking associations globally, sharing best practices and creating collaboration across borders. VSAI's GSF Liaison is Dr. Wendy Lee. Through this partnership, VSAI members gain access to GSF events including the Global Speakers Summit (GSS), international visibility, and dual membership opportunities with national associations.
• PSA BelgiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPSA Belgium is VSAI's official chapter partner in Belgium, representing the local professional speaking community and providing regionally-relevant experiences, training, and connections aligned with the Belgian market and culture.
• VSAI Jersey ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVSAI Jersey Chapter serves as a local hub for professional speakers on Jersey island, led by Claire Boscq. The chapter provides interactive workshops, networking opportunities, inspiring keynote speakers, and open mic sessions at Kingsman Executive Office Suites in St. Helier.
• Indie Experts PublishingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative book project partnership for VSAI's first collaborative book initiative, backed by a $10,000 in-kind sponsorship from Dixie Carlton. The partnership enables VSAI members to participate in a co-authored book project.
• Speakervideos (Vaibhav Nahata)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVaibhav Nahata of Speakervideos provided VSAI's first-ever sponsored webinar, supporting the association's educational programming and member value.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Toastmasters International: The world's largest membership organization for public-speaking skill development with 300,000+ members across 14,000+ clubs. Differs from VSAI by focusing on amateur skill-building rather than professional speaking as a business, but addresses a closely adjacent audience.

Direct peers

• National Speakers Association (NSA): The largest US-based professional association for paid speakers, offering the CSP/CSAE certification, member directory, and live conferences. Most directly comparable to VSAI in mission, member benefits, and certification framework.
• Professional Speakers Australia (PSA Australia): The Australian national speakers association, GSF-affiliated, and relevant because VSAI is now headquartered in Australia and shares overlapping speaker markets and partnership pathways.
• Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS): Canada's national professional speakers association, GSF-affiliated, providing membership, certification, and an annual conference. Comparable membership model and credentialing structure to VSAI.
• Professional Speakers Association (PSA) UK & Ireland: A GSF member association serving professional speakers in the UK and Ireland with membership tiers, accreditation, and live events. VSAI has a formal partnership pathway via PSA Belgium and shares GSF affiliation.

Regional players

• Professional Speakers Association of India (PSA India): India-focused GSF-affiliated speakers association providing membership and events in the Indian market. Comparable member offerings but operates regionally where VSAI positions itself as a global/virtual complement.

Emerging players

• eSpeakers: A speaker directory and bureau software platform that competes with VSAI's Global Speaker Directory offering on the discovery/visibility side, while VSAI competes with eSpeakers on the association/certification side.

Others

• Global Speakers Federation (GSF): The umbrella federation of national speaker associations of which VSAI is the 17th member. Comparable as the parent organizing body coordinating international speakers' associations and global events like the GSS Summit.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@virtualspeakersassociation
• Facebookfacebook.com/virtualspeakersassociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/virtualspeakersassociation
• Instagraminstagram.com/virtualspeakersassociation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Virtual Speakers Association (International)