All on Board

What All on Board does

All on Board is a Berlin-based private language school operating as a civil-law partnership (GbR) under three managing partners: Carlos Martinez, Jason Zuzak, and Laurence Bardout. Founded in 2001, the company delivers German, English, and Mandarin Chinese language courses to two principal customer segments: individual learners (expats, international professionals, language enthusiasts in Berlin) and corporate/enterprise clients seeking employee language training. The course portfolio spans CEFR levels A1 through C2 and includes group courses, one-to-one private instruction, business German, telc exam preparation, conversation courses, and experiential walking tours, delivered either in-person at the Rosenthaler Platz school in Berlin-Mitte or live online via Google Meet.

The technology stack is intentionally lean and built on commodity SaaS: Arlo for course management and booking, Stripe for payments, Google Meet for live online delivery, Typeform for forms and newsletter capture, CookieFirst for consent management, and Google Analytics for traffic analytics. The company has no proprietary mobile app, no API, and no disclosed AI/ML capabilities. Differentiation rests on a human-teacher-led methodology, small group sizes of 8-12 participants, CEFR-aligned curriculum, and a teaching team that includes Cambridge CELTA and DELTA-certified trainers. Distribution combines a self-serve learning platform for individual bookings with direct, relationship-based sales for corporate accounts, supported by client testimonial pages and named-logo social proof.

The business model is pay-as-you-go course fees priced per course or per session: group courses range from €203-€336, one-to-one sessions at €80/90-minute unit, business German packages from €476-€1,280, and walking tours at €18. The company is bootstrapped with no external venture or private equity funding, and in September 2024 expanded via a merger with Expath-Sprachschule, absorbing its student base and operations under the All on Board brand at the new Berlin-Mitte location.

Name

All on Board

Legal name

All on Board GbR

Website

https://allonboard.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

All on Board is a Berlin-based private language school, founded in 2001, offering German, English, and Mandarin courses in-person and online to individual learners and corporate clients. The school operates a CEFR-aligned curriculum, small-group format, and corporate B2B training programs, having merged with Expath-Sprachschule in 2024.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin, BE

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Language Course Fees: Primary revenue from course fees for German, English, and Mandarin language courses. Courses offered in multiple formats: group courses, one-to-one sessions, intensive workshops, and conversation courses. Pricing varies by course type and duration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

All on Board is a Berlin-based language school (All on Board GbR) delivering German, English, and Mandarin language courses to individuals and corporate clients. Courses follow the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) from A1 to C2, delivered in small group, one-to-one, intensive, and conversation formats, both in-person at the Berlin-Mitte school and online via Google Meet. Corporate offerings include tailored group courses, private lessons, and intensive workshops with a dedicated administration portal for employee enrollment and tracking.

Product overview

All on Board is a language school in Berlin offering a comprehensive portfolio of language courses for individuals and corporate clients. The core offerings include German courses (online via Google Meet or in-person at Berlin-Mitte location), English courses, and Mandarin Chinese courses. Individual products range from group courses (A1-C2 levels), one-to-one private instruction, specialized telc exam preparation, conversation courses for advanced speakers, business German programs, and cultural walking tours combining German practice with city exploration. For corporate clients, the company provides group courses, one-to-one training, and intensive workshops tailored to business needs. All courses follow the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online German Courses Live German language courses in small groups (8-12 participants) conducted via Google Meet, available for beginners to advanced learners across CEFR levels A1 to C2. Targeted at individuals who want flexible remote learning from anywhere.
• German in Berlin (In-Person Courses) Face-to-face German courses at the school location in Berlin-Mitte near Rosenthaler Platz, covering CEFR levels A1 to C2 with morning intensive (10:00-13:00) and evening course (18:30-20:45) options. Aimed at individuals residing in Berlin.
• One-to-One Language Courses Private, personalized language instruction tailored to individual needs and schedules, with standard sessions lasting 90 minutes. Offered to individuals seeking customized learning at €80 per session, with a partner rate option.
• One-to-One Business German Tailored private courses for professionals focusing on work-related German language skills including presentations and meetings. Standard course consists of 5 x 90 minute sessions, with options for focused conversation (10 units for €476) or full level training (32 units for €1,280).
• telc Exam Preparation Courses Preparation courses for official telc language examinations at B1, B2, and C1 levels, offered in Berlin-Mitte or online. Priced at €336 per course, aimed at individuals preparing for certification.
• Conversation Courses Interactive conversation courses for upper-intermediate and advanced speakers at B2 to C1 levels, focusing on vocabulary practice and natural speaking. Available online or in Berlin at €203 per course.
• Mandarin Chinese Courses Mandarin Chinese language instruction available in group or one-to-one format for all levels, with group courses from €238 and one-to-one at €53 per 45-minute unit. Targeted at individuals interested in learning Mandarin.
• Practice Your German Walking Tours Guided walking tours through Berlin combined with German language practice, consisting of a 2-hour guided walk followed by a discussion in German. Led by certified guides who are also trained German teachers, priced at €18 per tour, in partnership with Gaia Tours Berlin.
• Corporate Group Courses Language courses for business teams held at company offices or remotely, focusing on work-related topics with small groups of employees. Sessions are 90 minutes long. Designed for companies seeking to upskill their workforce.
• Corporate One-to-One Courses Private language instruction for employees providing maximum flexibility, speaking time, and personalized learning experience. Targeted at companies wanting individualized training for staff.
• Corporate Intensive Courses and Workshops Accelerated language training programs and workshops for businesses focusing on real-life situations like meetings and presentations. Fit for busy schedules with learning and practice tailored to corporate needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Small group learning environment with 8-12 participants per class
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Expath-SprachschulecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Merged with Expath-Sprachschule in September 2024 after many years at Berlin-Wedding location. Combined operations under All on Board name at Rosenthaler Platz in Berlin-Mitte, expanding market presence and inheriting established student base and teaching staff.
• Gaia Tours BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Practice Your German Walking Tours. Gaia Tours Berlin presents alternative Berlin tours (Kreuzberg 36) combined with German language practice. Tour led by certified guides who are also trained German teachers.
• ALIF - Arabic Language Institute in FezminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLanguage education partner offering Arabic courses. Since 1982, ALIF has offered courses in Modern Standard Arabic and Colloquial Moroccan Arabic both in-person and online. Part of All on Board's network of language education institutions.
• Bernd Hendricks (Author)minorOthersGerman teacher and author who has written German textbooks for opera singers. Published 'Stromer - Storys und Reportagen von den Straßen New Yorks' and novel 'wir'. Contributes content to All on Board's blog.
• Karl Kelschebach (Writer)minorOthersGerman teacher and writer contributing articles on German language curiosities and culture to the blog. Also runs podcast 'Granteln mit Charme', performs at reading events (Billiger als Kino, Vier Farben Prosa), and organizes Slam des Westens.
• Sarah Dudley (Relocation Consultant)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRelocation consultant, coach, and translator helping expats navigate Berlin bureaucracy. Offers services including appointment interpretation, work permit assistance, freelancer registration help, and Anmeldung support. Partner for referring students needing language education alongside relocation services.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Goethe-Institut: The global standard-bearer for German language instruction, offering CEFR-aligned courses, telc examinations, and teacher training across 150+ locations. Directly comparable to All on Board in curriculum framework and learner target, though operating at vastly greater scale and as a publicly funded institution.
• Lingoda: Berlin-based online language school offering live small-group and 1:1 classes in German, English, and other languages, with CEFR alignment and corporate programs. Closely comparable to All on Board in live online delivery, small-group pedagogy, and corporate B2B motion.
• DeutschAkademie: Munich-headquartered German language school chain with multiple in-person locations across Germany and Austria, offering CEFR-aligned courses and telc preparation. Directly comparable to All on Board in curriculum framework, target learner, and in-person delivery model.
• Carl Duisberg Centren: German provider of language courses, including German for adults and corporate clients, with multiple German locations and teacher training programs. Comparable to All on Board in CEFR-aligned curriculum, corporate training offering, and teacher training expertise.

Broad incumbents

• Berlitz Corporation: Global language school chain with corporate and individual offerings across multiple languages, including German. Comparable as a long-established premium live-instructor language education brand, though operating at much larger scale and across broader geographies than All on Board.
• Inlingua International: Worldwide network of language schools offering in-person and online instruction across many languages, including German. Overlaps with All on Board in small-group, teacher-led methodology and corporate B2B focus, though with global franchised scale.

Emerging players

• Babbel: Berlin-based subscription language learning app, including a German product, targeting self-directed learners and corporate L&D buyers. Competes with All on Board for the same expat and corporate German-learner demand, but via a self-serve digital product rather than live instruction.
• italki: Global online marketplace connecting language learners with individual tutors, including German teachers. Competes with All on Board for one-to-one German tutoring demand, especially among expats, though via an open marketplace rather than a curated school.
• Duolingo: Freemium mobile language learning app with a large German course and an emerging English test accepted for immigration purposes. Adjacent competitor that pressures All on Board's entry-level and casual-learner demand, though it does not offer live instruction.

Regional players

• TANDEM Sprachschule: Berlin-based language school offering group and individual German and other language courses with a strong cultural and community orientation. Direct local peer to All on Board in target segment (Berlin expats), in-person delivery, and conversational pedagogy, though with a distinct brand identity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AllonBoardLanguageSchoolBerlin/shorts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/all-on-board-gbr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 All on Board