ELLLA, een leven lang leren academie

What ELLLA, een leven lang leren academie does

ELLLA, een leven lang leren academie is a Dutch private limited company (B.V.) based in Zwolle, founded in 2008, that designs and delivers leadership and talent development programs for professionals in HR, learning & development, and executive roles across the Netherlands. Its core curriculum is delivered through branded programs — including Topleergang Leiderschap, Bronnen van Leiderschap, Young Potentials, and the HRD Business Partner trajectory — supplemented by TMA-method certifications (TMA Professional at €1,795 and the newer TMA Team Professional at €1,495), an annual congress, regional masteravonden, and alumni engagement. The business model is a high-touch professional services offering: published per-seat program pricing for individual enrollments plus bespoke in-company trajectories for corporate clients such as certe groep, Kruitbosch Zwolle, Gemeente Westerkwartier, GGD IJsselland, Hemmink BV, and the Venture Group (Vadain, VConsyst). The firm operates a lean, network-based delivery model of roughly 20 people, supplemented by a broader ambassador and moderator ecosystem, and generates ancillary revenue from room rental and event hosting at its Zwolle facility.

Delivery is built around live facilitation by senior moderators and licensed third-party methodologies (notably the TMA method), not around proprietary software, AI systems, or digital product infrastructure. Customer acquisition relies on direct relationships, alumni referrals, regional community presence through partnerships (including Regio Zwolle United and PEC Zwolle), and thought-leadership publications by founder Mienke Schinkel. The company is CRKBO-registered as a Dutch short professional education provider, underscoring its positioning in the regulated Dutch lifelong-learning market. In 2025 ownership transitioned fully to Karin Raaijmakers following the buyout of co-owner Arjan Gosker, while Schinkel remains active in delivery.

The company's economic profile is consistent with a small, mature, self-funded Dutch professional services boutique: limited headcount, regional concentration in Zwolle and the broader Netherlands, no external funding, and a curriculum-IP-led value proposition. Growth levers visible in current activity are product-line extensions (notably TMA Team Professional), ambassador network expansion, and deeper regional sponsorship partnerships rather than platform scaling, geographic expansion, or technology-enabled delivery.

Name

ELLLA, een leven lang leren academie

Legal name

ELLLA Ondernemers Academy B.V.

Website

https://ellla.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ELLLA is a Dutch lifelong-learning academy based in Zwolle that delivers leadership, talent development, and TMA-method certification programs to HR professionals and corporate clients across the Netherlands via a network of senior moderators and ambassadors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Zwolle, Overijssel

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Leadership and Talent Development Programs: ELLLA generates revenue primarily through multi-session leergangen (programs) and maatwerktrajecten (custom programs) for organizations. Programs such as Topleergang Leiderschap, Bronnen van Leiderschap, and Young Potentials are sold as group enrollment packages to organizations or individuals. Pricing varies by program.
2. TMA Certification Programs: ELLLA offers TMA Professional (€1,795 excl. VAT) and TMA Team Professional (€1,495 excl. VAT) certification programs. These are delivered as blended learning trajectories with training days and practical assignments.
3. Meeting Room Rental: ELLLA rents out two meeting/training rooms (Sassenpoort for up to 15 persons, Peperbus for up to 10 persons) at their office in Zwolle, available per day or half-day. This is an ancillary revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ELLLA is a Dutch lifelong learning academy that delivers multi-session leadership and talent development leergangen (learning programs) for experienced leaders, senior leaders seeking philosophical deepening, and young professionals, alongside custom maatwerktrajecten, HRD Business Partner programs, and TMA (Talenten Motivatie Analyse) certification programs for organizations and individuals. The company also rents two characterful meeting/training rooms at its Zwolle headquarters and hosts public master evenings, an annual congress, and alumni events.

Product overview

ELLLA is a Dutch lifelong learning academy offering a portfolio of face-to-face leadership and talent development programs. The core portfolio consists of three flagship leergangen (learning programs): the Topleergang Leiderschap (top leadership development), Bronnen van Leiderschap (leadership sources and philosophy), and Young Potentials (early-career development). These are complemented by organizational programs (Talentontwikkeling, HRD Business Partner, and custom maatwerktrajecten) and two TMA certification programs (TMA Professional at €1,795 and TMA Team Professional at €1,495). The company also rents out two meeting rooms at its Zwolle office and hosts public master evenings and annual congress events. A participant portal (Mijn ELLLA) provides digital access to enrolled program members. The offering is a suite of standalone educational programs and services, not a unified software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Topleergang Leiderschap Flagship multi-session leadership development leergang for experienced leaders, focusing on personal leadership, organizational development, and navigating change in a rapidly evolving world. Designed for mid-career leaders and executives.
• Bronnen van Leiderschap Philosophical leadership leergang exploring sources of wisdom, self-knowledge, and meaning for experienced and senior leaders, combining guest lectures, intervision, and personal reflection.
• Young Potentials Development program for young professionals focused on recognizing personal talents and pitfalls, building self-awareness, and taking the next step in their career trajectory.
• Maatwerktrajecten (Custom Programs) Customized organizational programs developed in partnership with organizations to address specific leadership development and talent needs, sold to Dutch organizations through consultative sales.
• Talentontwikkeling Talent development services for organizations incorporating the TMA (Talenten Motivatie Analyse) methodology, helping individuals and teams understand and activate talents for improved performance and engagement.
• HRD Business Partner Program designed for HR professionals to develop strategic HRD business partnering competencies, bridging HR and organizational development.
• TMA Professional Certificering Blended certification program training professionals to apply the TMA (Talenten Motivatie Analyse) method, including 5 sessions (kick-off, 2 training days, 2 supervision sessions), 2 TMA games, 4 talent analyses, a feedback analysis, and approximately 40 hours of total study load. Priced at €1,795 (excl. VAT).
• TMA Team Professional Certificering Advanced certification building on TMA Professional, training professionals to apply the TMA method at team level, facilitating team sessions and conducting team analyses. Includes online kick-off, one live training day, online intervision, and 3 hours of e-learning, plus 1 TMA Teamgame. Priced at €1,495 (excl. VAT). Prerequisite: TMA Professional certification.
• Vergaderruimte Verhuur (Meeting Room Rental) Rental of two characterful meeting/training rooms at the Zwolle headquarters — Sassenpoort (up to 15 persons) and Peperbus (up to 10 persons) — including WiFi, TV screen, flip-over, and adjacent pantry. Available per day or half-day to external organizations.
• Masteravonden en Events Recurring event program including Masteravond on Tour (€95 per ticket), the Jaarcongres Veranderen met Impact annual congress (€495 per ticket with discount for ELLLA relationships), and exclusive Alumnidagen (€295 per ticket) for alumni of Bronnen van Leiderschap, Topleergang Leiderschap, and Young Potentials, featuring guest speakers on leadership, generational diversity, and organizational change.

Quantifiable outcome

• Organizations investing in lifelong learning show lower sick leave rates than comparable organizations without such programs.

Named customers6 records

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

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• PEC ZwolleminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2018ELLLA partnered with PEC Zwolle and Regio Zwolle United to deliver the PEC Zwolle Startersprogramma, providing three masterclasses for 20+ start-up entrepreneurs in the Zwolle region, aligned with home matches of the football club.
• TMA (Talenten Motivatie Analyse)coreTechnology or IntegrationELLLA is a certified TMA partner offering TMA Professional and TMA Team Professional certification programs. TMA is a talent motivation analysis methodology used by ELLLA coaches and moderators in their client engagements.
• Ambassador Network (Zwolle Region)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerELLLA is supported by regional ambassadors from the Zwolle area including Bert Beun (Goldschmeding Foundation), Ingrid Geveke (BMC), Martin Hemmink (Hanzestrohm and Kairos Innovation), Trudy Huisman (Reggecate), Guus Janse (LeoZn BV), Arjan Jansen (Regionaal Techniek Centrum), and Jacco Vonhof (Novon Schoonmaak). Ambassadors support ELLLA's regional visibility and provide strategic input on direction.
• Regio Zwolle UnitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with ELLLA and PEC Zwolle in the Startersprogramma for regional entrepreneurship development.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Veldhoen + Company: Dutch-origin consultancy specializing in organizational transformation, new ways of working, and leadership development. Comparable to ELLLA in its focus on organizational change and continuous transformation themes.
• Schouten & Nelissen: One of the largest Dutch training and leadership development providers, offering open enrollment programs, certifications, and custom corporate learning. Closely comparable to ELLLA in delivery model and certification revenue logic, but at significantly larger national scale.
• Beeckestijn Business School: Dutch business school offering post-HBO management and leadership programs for working professionals. Comparable to ELLLA in delivering multi-session certificate programs to Dutch professionals, though with a stronger marketing/digital orientation.
• Nyenrode Business Universiteit: Largest Dutch executive education provider offering leadership programs and MBAs to Dutch executives. Directly comparable to ELLLA's Topleergang Leiderschap in target audience and methodology depth, though at substantially larger scale and with degree-granting authority.
• SIOO (Interuniversitair Studiecentrum voor Organisatiekunde en Organisatieontwikkeling): Dutch interuniversity center for organizational change and leadership development with strong philosophical/action-learning tradition. Directly comparable to ELLLA in the integration of organizational development with personal leadership development.
• TIAS School for Business and Society: Dutch executive education school affiliated with Tilburg University offering leadership and management development programs for mid-career and senior professionals. Comparable to ELLLA in its custom program offerings and executive audience, with broader program portfolio.
• Krauthammer: European leadership and sales development firm with strong Dutch presence, offering open enrollment programs and corporate training. Comparable to ELLLA in leadership development methodology and Dutch enterprise client base.
• TwynstraGudde: Dutch consulting firm combining management consulting, leadership development, and organizational change programs. ELLLA's team bios reference TwynstraGudde alumni, indicating direct overlap in talent pool and methodology.
• Boertien & Partners: Dutch boutique consultancy specializing in leadership development and executive coaching for senior leaders and boards. Comparable to ELLLA in target audience (Dutch senior executives) and in delivering custom development trajectories.

Broad incumbents

• IMD Business School: Top-tier international executive education provider based in Switzerland with global programs. Comparable to ELLLA at the high end of executive leadership development, but serves a much broader international market and operates at materially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elllazwolle

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 ELLLA, een leven lang leren academie