What ActiLingua Academy does

ActiLingua Academy is a privately held, Vienna-based German language school founded in 1984, operating across three locations in the city — its main school in the diplomatic district near Belvedere Palace, the ActiLingua Dependance at Sacré Coeur, and the Summer School venue at the historic Theresianische Akademie. The school delivers structured classroom instruction aligned with the CEFR A1–C2 framework using textbooks from Hueber and Klett publishers, combined with cultural immersion activities (city walks, Viennese waltz, museum visits, excursions to Salzburg and Wachau) and 5 dedicated culture/language acquisition lessons per week as part of all group courses.

Its portfolio spans four customer segments. The adult (16+) core program offers Standard (€342/week, 25 lessons), Intensive (€496/week, 35 lessons), and Super-Intensive (€860/week, with individual tuition) courses, plus a Long-Term Standard track at €185/week for 12+ week enrollments. Youth programs include the Holiday Course for ages 16–19 (€1,642–€2,296 per 2-week package) and the Summer School for ages 12–17 (€1,480–€1,751 per week with full board) at Theresianische Akademie. Children's German Training targets ages 6–12 via after-school and Saturday blocks (€240–€390), and specialized offerings include German Teacher Training, University Preparation, German and Music, and Individual Online Tuition from €69/lesson.

Revenue is generated through course tuition (weekly or packaged), accommodation add-ons (host family €315/week, on-site Penthouse/Apartment €350–400/week, partner hotels including B&B, The Social Hub, HANS-Y), ÖSD exam fees (€160–€350 depending on level), and ancillary extras such as airport transfers, excursions, and travel insurance. Go-to-market is hybrid direct-to-consumer via a 9-language website booking portal requiring a €198 deposit, plus a global network of travel agency partners providing native-language sales support. The business holds defensible accreditations — official ÖSD exam center status (certificates recognized across Austria, Germany, and Switzerland), IALC membership, University of Vienna partnership, and CSN accreditation by the Swedish Ministry of Education — which collectively anchor the school within established university admission and government funding pathways. The firm employs approximately 14 people and is owned by Mitar Pitzek (Owner & Managing Director) with Daniela Pitzek serving as Strategic Advisor.

Name

ActiLingua Academy

Legal name

ActiLingua Academy

Website

https://actilingua.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna, Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Adult German Language Courses: Core revenue from year-round German language courses for adults (16+) including Standard, Intensive, Super-Intensive, and Long-Term courses. Courses priced per week with various intensity levels.
2. Youth Summer Programs: Seasonal German courses for teenagers (16-19 Holiday Course) and kids/teens (12-17 Summer School) including accommodation, meals, activities, and supervision in all-inclusive packages.
3. Children's German Training: German language courses for children aged 6-12 offered as after-school or Saturday programs in 10-week blocks.
4. Accommodation Services: On-campus and partner hotel accommodation options including ActiLingua Penthouse, Apartment, Host Families, B&B Hotel, The Social Hub, and HANS-Y Apartments offered as add-on to courses.
5. ÖSD Exam Fees: Examination fees for Austrian German Language Diploma certificates at various levels (A1: €160, A2: €170, B1: €195, B2: €225, C1: €290, C2: €350).
6. Optional Extras: Additional revenue from airport transfers, half-board dinner, travel insurance, excursions, concerts, tennis training, and acting modules.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ActiLingua Academy is a German language school based in Vienna, Austria, delivering on-site German language courses for international students aged 6 and above. It offers group courses, individual tuition, and specialized programs for adults, teens, and children, combined with accommodation services, cultural/excursion programs, and preparation for the ÖSD German certificate.

Product overview

ActiLingua Academy offers a comprehensive portfolio of German language education products and services centered around its flagship campus in Vienna, Austria. The core offering consists of adult German courses ranging from Standard (25 lessons/week), Intensive (35 lessons/week), and Super-Intensive (with individual tuition) formats, available as short-term (1-11 weeks) or long-term (12+ weeks) options. Specialized courses include Vienna's Finest cultural immersion, ÖSD exam preparation, German Teacher Training, University Preparation, and German and Music programs. Youth programs encompass the Holiday Course for ages 16-19 and Summer School for ages 12-17, both featuring accommodation and cultural activities. A dedicated German Training for Children program serves ages 6-12. Accommodation options include ActiLingua Penthouse, ActiLingua Apartment, The Social Hub Hotel, HANS-Y Serviced Apartments, Premium Partner B&B Hotel, and Host Family stays. The offering is complemented by free Online German with Sisi video lessons. The school operates with 40+ years of experience and has been recognized for 40 years of excellence in German language education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Online German with Sisi: Free video lessons for German grammar available on the website
• ActiLingua Summer School
• ActiLingua Holiday Course
• ActiLingua Penthouse
• ActiLingua Apartment

Products and services

• German Standard Course
• German Premium Course
• German Combination Course
• German Crash Course
• Individual German Course
• ÖSD Certificate Preparation Course
• German for Teens (16-19)
• German for Kids and Teens (12-17)
• Children's German Training (6-11)
• Accommodation Service
• Online German with Sisi

Quantifiable outcome

• ÖSD certificates recognized for university admission in 40+ institutions across Austria, Germany, and Switzerland
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• IALC (International Association of Language Centers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of IALC, an international association of language schools committed to quality language education standards worldwide.
• ÖSD (Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficially authorized to administer ÖSD German language diploma exams. ÖSD has 380 examination centers in 30 countries. Certificates B2, C1, C2 accepted for university admission in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.
• University of ViennaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner of University of Vienna. School recognized and trusted by students, parents, and partners worldwide for over 40 years.
• CSN (Swedish Ministry of Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSN accredited by the Swedish Ministry of Education, allowing Swedish students to receive financial support for language courses abroad.
• Campus Sacré Coeur WienminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner school providing additional classrooms at ActiLingua Dependance location, 10 walking minutes from main school. Used for summer youth courses.
• Theresianische AkademiecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHistoric private school (founded 1746 by Empress Maria Theresa) hosting Summer School program with enclosed campus, accommodation, and sports facilities.
• B&B Hotel Wien-St. MarxminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium partner hotel for Holiday Course accommodation. Modern air-conditioned rooms, breakfast included, 15 minutes to school by public transport. Single, twin, and triple room options.
• The Social HubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner accommodation offering private studios with bathroom and kitchenette. Free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, gym, and bike rental. Vibrant student atmosphere in central location.
• HANS-Y Serviced ApartmentsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner accommodation with rooftop pool, gym, and sports areas. Fully equipped apartments with starter package. Flexible stays, 17 minutes to school.
• TheresianumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner with long-standing relationship for language education collaboration.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GLS Sprachenzentrum: Berlin-based German language school offering adult intensive courses, exam preparation, and summer teen programs; comparable product mix and target customer base of international adults and university-bound students.
• Alpadia Language Schools: Multi-city language school operator (formerly LSI/ESL) with German programs in Berlin, Freiburg, and Frankfurt; offers adult, junior, and teacher-training tracks with similar all-inclusive accommodation packages.
• DeutschAkademie: Vienna-based German language school operating since 1998; offers adult courses, ÖSD preparation, and evening classes with similar pricing band and ÖSD-cert pathway. Closest same-city direct competitor to ActiLingua.
• TANDEM International: Network of language schools including TANDEM Köln and TANDEM Berlin offering adult German courses with cultural immersion components; similar small-group, communicative-teaching methodology.
• did deutsch-institut: German language school with multiple German city locations including Munich, Berlin, and Frankfurt; offers similar adult standard/intensive courses, exam prep, and university pathways. Closely comparable course catalog and target market.
• Humboldt-Institut: German language school chain focused on intensive youth and adult programs with residential accommodation across multiple German locations; comparable teen summer program offering and exam prep.

Broad incumbents

• Goethe-Institut: Global German cultural and language institution with 150+ centers worldwide; offers German courses and administers its own Goethe-Zertifikat. Indirect competitor for adult learners but vastly larger scale and brand recognition.
• Carl Duisberg Centren: Larger German language and intercultural training provider offering adult German programs plus corporate/international youth programs; broader portfolio (cursos, internships) but overlaps in German-language instruction and exam prep.
• Berlitz Corporation: Global language instruction brand offering German courses via in-person and online formats; established immersive-method pedagogy comparable to ActiLingua's communicative approach but operating at much greater scale across many languages.
• inlingua: International language school franchise network including German instruction across multiple countries; broad incumbent with overlapping adult and corporate language training but less specialized in German-only DACH immersion.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PL5aYceSQaB5hyOYnvr1bFI6L1OuCKKO4h
• Facebookfacebook.com/actilingua.at
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/actilingua-academy

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 ActiLingua Academy