GENEVA FORUM
Geneva Forum is a Geneva-based convening platform founded in 2001 that runs annual forums across six continents and an Impact Project Accelerator, connecting UN agencies, NGOs, impact investors, and mission-driven companies to transform sustainable development ideas into fundable projects.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersGeneva, Switzerland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What GENEVA FORUM does
Geneva Forum is a Geneva-based convening and project acceleration platform founded in 2001 by Thomas Egli, who also founded NGO Objectif Sciences International (OSI, holder of special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council). The organization operates annual international forums held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva and across six continents — New York (April), Santiago (May), Bangkok (September), Cairo (October), and Nairobi (November) — covering themes including Impact Finance, Rights of Nature, Citizen and Participatory Science, Regenerative Tourism, Project-Based Learning, Conflict Mediation, and Ethical Currencies. It also runs monthly Sustainable Management Workshops in Geneva, monthly networking dinners in at least 13 global cities, and a Youth Geneva Forum for participants aged 13-25.
The core service offering is the Impact Project Accelerator, which provides a structured before-during-after methodology that transforms ideas into measurable, fundable impact projects, supplemented by the proprietary AGILE assessment tool (Alignment, Governance, Intention, Leadership, Efficiency — developed with the Geneva Foundation for the Future) and the Logical Framework Tool. The public project platform currently lists 42 active projects. Outputs are documented through the Geneva Forum Revue, a digital publication carrying proceedings, position papers, and white papers. Customer bases include International Geneva organizations (UN agencies, WHO, UNHCR, ITU, WTO), NGOs, mission-driven companies, impact investors and family offices, and youth participants.
The business model combines annual membership subscriptions required for forum participation, individual paid training programs (e.g., Participatory Science Step 1 at EUR 800), and professional services for project coaching and acceleration. The organization is privately held and founder-led with only 5 employees, indicating a lean operating model dependent on Thomas Egli's relationships across the UN system and impact finance ecosystem. No external funding rounds, revenue figures, or legal entity details are publicly disclosed.
GENEVA FORUM firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GENEVA FORUM
- Legal name
- Geneva Forum
- Website
- https://geneva-forum.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Geneva Forum is a Geneva-based convening platform founded in 2001 that runs annual forums across six continents and an Impact Project Accelerator, connecting UN agencies, NGOs, impact investors, and mission-driven companies to transform sustainable development ideas into fundable projects.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GENEVA FORUM industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Development Forums and Impact Project Acceleration
- NAICS
- Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Business Associations (813910), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Training, Enablement & Talent Development Summits (THAHAMAH)
Keywords
Where GENEVA FORUM is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Geneva
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
GENEVA FORUM business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Event Memberships: The organization operates on a membership model where participants must subscribe to attend forums and conferences. Membership provides access to events, workshops, and networking opportunities.
- Training Programs: The Geneva Forum provides training programs such as Participatory Science Step 1 at EUR 800 per individual, with unlimited access to training resources.
- Project Acceleration Services: Coaching and support services for impact projects through the Impact Project Accelerator, connecting projects with investors and philanthropists.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Participatory Science Step 1 Individual Training |
| Subscription | Annual | Event Membership Required |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
GENEVA FORUM product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Geneva Forum organizes annual international forums across six continents (Geneva, New York, Santiago, Nairobi, Bangkok, Cairo) plus monthly workshops and networking dinners in major cities to transform sustainable development ideas into viable, measurable, and fundable impact projects aligned with the SDGs. It operates an Impact Project Accelerator that provides before-during-after coaching and uses the AGILE assessment tool to make projects structurally legible to impact investors. Membership is required for participation in conferences, with thematic tracks covering Impact Finance, Rights of Nature, Citizen Science, Regenerative Tourism, Project-Based Learning, Conflict Mediation, and Ethical Currencies.
Product overview
The Geneva Forum is a conference and networking platform for sustainable development that has been operating since 2001. It consists of a main platform hosting annual world and continental forums, an Impact Project Accelerator for project development, a Youth Geneva Forum for participants aged 13-25, and the Geneva Forum Revue for publications. The platform organizes themed conferences including Rights of Nature, Impact Finance (using the AGILE assessment tool), Citizen Science, Regenerative Tourism, Project-Based Learning, Conflict Mediation, and Ethical Currencies. It also offers training programs including Participatory Science Step 1 training and monthly Sustainable Management Workshops. Currently, the project platform hosts 42 active impact projects, and the Global Impact Projects program creates multi-stakeholder mechanisms for funding international organizations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Geneva Forum Conference & Networking Platform A global convening and networking platform connecting researchers, NGOs, companies, local authorities, and international agencies to transform ideas into viable, measurable, and fundable projects aligned with the SDGs; structured as annual international forums plus monthly workshops and networking dinners.
- Impact Project Accelerator
Quantifiable outcome
- Projects can access funding ranging from 250-500 million to several billion through structural umbrella mechanisms
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use GENEVA FORUM
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
GENEVA FORUM technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
GENEVA FORUM partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Geneva Forum Continental Forums PartnerscoreRegional forums are held in partnership with local organizations in New York (April), Santiago (May), Nairobi (November), Bangkok (September), and Cairo (October). These partnerships enable the Forum to operate across six continents and adapt programming to regional contexts.
- Objectif Sciences International (OSI)coreOSI is the parent organization of the Geneva Forum, founded by Thomas Egli. OSI holds special consultative status with ECOSOC at the United Nations. The Geneva Forum is an initiative of OSI, and the two organizations work together on conferences, workshops, and project acceleration. Thomas Egli is founder and CEO of both Geneva Forum and OSI.
- Harmony With Nature Programme (United Nations)coreThe UN Harmony With Nature Programme partners with the Geneva Forum on the Annual International Conference on the Rights of Nature for Peace and Development. Thomas Egli serves as an Expert for the Harmony With Nature Programme of United Nations. This partnership connects the Forum with UN-level environmental initiatives and provides legitimacy for rights of nature discussions.
- Eco Jurisprudence MonitorminorEco Jurisprudence Monitor is a partner in the Annual International Conference on Rights of Nature for Peace and Development, co-organized with the Geneva Forum. The organization contributes expertise on legal frameworks for rights of nature.
- University of OregonminorThe University of Oregon is a partner in the Rights of Nature conference, contributing academic research and perspectives on legal frameworks for ocean and nature rights.
- Geneva Foundation for the FuturecoreThe Geneva Foundation for the Future developed the AGILE tool (White Book published) in collaboration with the Geneva Forum. Thomas Egli serves as Steering Committee member and coordinator of this foundation. The foundation provides the analytical framework used to assess impact projects presented at the Forum, making projects legible to investors.
- Fab FoundationminorThe Fab Foundation (global federation of approximately 100,000 fab labs) partnered with the Geneva Forum in 2019-2021 to refine impact measurement tools. The collaboration focused on ensuring tools remained simple and accessible for local chapters to assess real effects of their actions.
- United Nations (Palais des Nations, Geneva)coreThe Geneva Forum holds its World Forum events at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, the European headquarters of the United Nations. The UN provides venue access and institutional legitimacy. The December 2025 and 2026 forums were held at the Palais des Nations.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
GENEVA FORUM competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- World Economic Forum: The premier multi-stakeholder convening platform for global issues at Davos and beyond. Operates the same fundamental model (invitation-only executive forums producing initiatives) as Geneva Forum but at vastly larger scale and with broader topic coverage; Geneva Forum's niche is the UN-sited impact-finance slice of this template.
- Aspen Institute Ideas Festival: A flagship invitation-only executive forum on global issues with a strong sustainability and social-impact track. Same format (curated leaders, single venue, multi-day), broader thematic scope, and substantially larger resource base than Geneva Forum.
Direct peers
- Clinton Global Initiative: CGI pioneered the "ideas-to-commitments" convening format for global leaders, with explicit focus on translating dialogue into funded impact projects — the exact value proposition Geneva Forum markets with its Impact Project Accelerator.
- SOCAP (Social Capital Markets): The most established annual convening specifically for impact investors, philanthropic capital, and social enterprises. Directly comparable to Geneva Forum's Impact Finance conference in audience (capital allocators + project leaders) and intent (channeling capital to social/environmental outcomes).
- NetHope Global Summit: An annual convening of international NGOs and humanitarian technology leaders, often hosted in or near Geneva. Targets an overlapping International Geneva / development-sector audience and offers a similar invitation-only, ecosystem-bridging event model.
- Skoll World Forum: Annual gathering of social entrepreneurs and impact funders hosted alongside the Skoll Award. Combines invitation-only convening with explicit focus on accelerating impact ventures, mirroring Geneva Forum's project accelerator and impact-finance thesis on a similarly modest scale.
- BSR (Business for Social Responsibility): Member-based sustainability organization that convenes corporate sustainability leaders through working groups and annual events. Closely mirrors Geneva Forum's member-driven model serving companies integrating sustainability into their strategy.
- OECD Forum: Multilateral institution's flagship stakeholder convening on international policy, sustainable development, and economic cooperation. Comparable to Geneva Forum in drawing legitimacy from an intergovernmental host and in audience mix of policy + business + civil society.
- Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship: WEF-affiliated foundation curating a community of social entrepreneurs and impact partners, with award and convening programs. Closest direct comparator on combining executive-level convening with social-enterprise pipeline curation.
- Impact Hub: A global network of impact-entrepreneur hubs co-located with Geneva Forum's Maison de l'Avenir venue in Geneva. Impact Hub provides the operating infrastructure (workspace, programs) for the same impact-entrepreneur audience that Geneva Forum serves through its accelerator and forums.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
GENEVA FORUM social profiles
Digital presenceGENEVA FORUM financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GENEVA FORUM leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
GENEVA FORUM funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GENEVA FORUM M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GENEVA FORUM
What does GENEVA FORUM do?
Geneva Forum organizes annual international forums across six continents (Geneva, New York, Santiago, Nairobi, Bangkok, Cairo) plus monthly workshops and networking dinners in major cities to transform sustainable development ideas into viable, measurable, and fundable impact projects aligned with the SDGs. It operates an Impact Project Accelerator that provides before-during-after coaching and uses the AGILE assessment tool to make projects structurally legible to impact investors. Membership is required for participation in conferences, with thematic tracks covering Impact Finance, Rights of Nature, Citizen Science, Regenerative Tourism, Project-Based Learning, Conflict Mediation, and Ethical Currencies.
Is GENEVA FORUM a public or private company?
GENEVA FORUM is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was GENEVA FORUM founded?
GENEVA FORUM was founded in 2001. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is GENEVA FORUM based?
GENEVA FORUM is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does GENEVA FORUM make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Event Memberships are the primary driver. The others are training Programs and project Acceleration Services.
Who are GENEVA FORUM's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are World Economic Forum and Aspen Institute Ideas Festival. Direct peers are Clinton Global Initiative, SOCAP (Social Capital Markets), NetHope Global Summit, Skoll World Forum, BSR (Business for Social Responsibility), OECD Forum, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Hub.
Does GENEVA FORUM have an API?
No public API is recorded for GENEVA FORUM.
What industry is GENEVA FORUM in?
GENEVA FORUM's product category is Sustainable Development Forums and Impact Project Acceleration. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAGAK, Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums, with a secondary code of BPADAAAA, United Nations System & Specialized Agencies. Its NAICS code is 561920 and its SIC code is 8600.