What Holger Schlafhorst does

Schlafhorst Kommunikation is a sole proprietorship (Inhaber: Holger Schlafhorst) based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, that delivers anti-violence, de-escalation, and self-assertion training services. The offering is delivered entirely in person using theatrical pedagogy, role-playing, body language training, and structured de-escalation exercises; there is no underlying technology platform, no digital product, and no AI component. The product portfolio covers nine named programs, including anti-violence training for court-ordered juveniles and inmates (§10 JGG), classroom team training for students, conflict management training for educators, parent training, employee training for public institutions, specialized justice-sector trainings for judges and correctional staff, self-assertion training, and a certified aggression-trainer qualification program. A supplementary revenue stream comes from direct online sales of the book 'Umgang mit Menschen', co-authored with Christoph Schlegel and Detlev Schürmann, priced at €10 plus €1 postage.

The business operates as a single-individual practitioner. Revenue is generated through three streams: professional services (direct delivery of training programs ranging from 1.5-hour sessions to 40+ hour programs), trainer certification (continuing education delivered via Aktivzentrum-Dortmund in partnership with DVGP), and one-time book sales. Pricing for training is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; gtm_motion is sales-led with a strong community/referral layer. Customers span education (primary, secondary, and comprehensive schools in NRW cities), social services (AWO branches in Essen/Köln/Düsseldorf, Kinderschutzbund Düsseldorf, ViA e.V.), government (Jugendämter in Essen and Recklinghausen, Jugendgerichtshilfen in Essen, Wuppertal, and Siegkreis), and trade/professional bodies (IHK Köln). The geographic footprint is confined to NRW, with no global footprint claim.

Schlafhorst also serves as 1st Chairman of the Deutscher Verein für Gewaltprävention (DVGP) since 2009, an industry association that operates the Aktivzentrum-Dortmund training center and underwrites the trainer certification program. The company has no parent, no subsidiaries, no funding rounds, and no external investors. Marketing is conducted primarily through the company website (holger-schlafhorst.de) and institutional referrals; no paid advertising channels are identified. The firm is structurally a lifestyle consulting practice whose growth ceiling is set by the billable capacity of a single trainer.

Name

Holger Schlafhorst

Legal name

Schlafhorst Kommunikation

Website

https://holger-schlafhorst.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Schlafhorst Kommunikation is a sole proprietorship based in Dortmund, Germany, run by Holger Schlafhorst, delivering in-person anti-violence, de-escalation, and self-assertion training to schools, public institutions, NGOs, and judicial clients across the North Rhine-Westphalia region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Violence Prevention Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Defensive Tactics, Use-of-Force & De-escalation Training (EDAOAMAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Law Enforcement / Military / Security Defensive Tactics Training (HSADADAI)

Keywords

• Anti-violence training
• De-escalation training
• Conflict management training
• Self-assertion training
• Violence prevention

Headquarters

HQ city

Dortmund

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Training Services: Direct delivery of anti-violence and de-escalation training programs for various target groups including students, educators, parents, employees, and justice sector personnel. Training programs range from 1.5-hour sessions to 40+ hour programs.
2. Book Sales: Sale of specialized book 'Umgang mit Menschen' (Handling People) covering communication, conflict management, and de-escalation topics, co-authored with Christoph Schlegel and Detlev Schürmann. Priced at 10€ plus 1€ postage.
3. Trainer Certification Programs: Berufsbegleitende Weiterbildung (continuing education) for certified aggression trainer/in, delivered through Aktivzentrum-Dortmund in partnership with DVGP.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Holger Schlafhorst Kommunikation provides in-person anti-violence and de-escalation training programs, self-assertion training, conflict management coaching, and a certified aggression-trainer continuing education program, delivered to schools, companies, public institutions, the judiciary, social organizations, and court-referred individuals in Germany. Offerings range from short 1.5-hour sessions to 40+ hour certified trainer programs and are accompanied by a co-authored book on communication and conflict management. The portfolio is built around experiential, theatre-based pedagogy (role-play, body language work, acting exercises) rather than any technology platform.

Product overview

Holger Schlafhorst offers a portfolio of violence prevention and de-escalation training services targeting schools, families, businesses, and judicial institutions. The core offerings include specialized anti-violence training (Anti-Gewalt-/Aggressionstraining) for court-ordered youth and inmates, student team training, educator conflict management, parent training, employee communication programs, and self-assertion courses. Training for judicial professionals covers judges and correctional staff. The company also provides a certified aggression trainer program for professional qualification and sells a companion book on communication and de-escalation. All training utilizes experiential methods including role-playing, body language exercises, and de-escalation techniques.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Anti-Gewalt-/Aggressionstraining (Antigewalttraining)

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Deutscher Verein für Gewaltprävention (DVGP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Holger Schlafhorst serves as 1st Chairman of the German Association for Violence Prevention (DVGP). The association offers trainer certification programs and coordinates violence prevention efforts. DVGP operates the Aktivzentrum-Dortmund training center where certification programs are conducted.
• Aktivzentrum-DortmundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining and seminar center of DVGP e.V. Serves as the primary venue for aggression trainer certification programs. Hosts current training dates and downloadable program flyers.
• Amiga InternetminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWebsite development and digital marketing partner responsible for website implementation, new media, web videos, and Google AdWords marketing.
• VdS Schadensverhütung, KölnminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for delivering lectures on psychology and personnel management in the Security-Management training program. Provides professional development credits for security industry professionals.
• Justizakademie RecklinghausenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivers training on body language in judicial mediation at the Recklinghausen Justice Academy. Engages directly with judges and judicial mediators.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• DEKRA Akademie: Large German vocational and continuing education provider offering certified safety, security, and personnel training courses. Operates at national scale with brand-recognized credentials; comparable buyer overlap (corporate safety officers, security professionals) but de-escalation is one small slice of a broad catalog.
• Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI): US-founded international training organization specializing in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, serving healthcare, education, and human services. A broader incumbent with certified instructor networks across multiple countries; comparable curriculum area (de-escalation, behavior management) but at much larger scale and with standardized curricula.
• TÜV SÜD Akademie: Major German continuing education and certification body with courses in occupational safety, security, and personnel development. Comparable buyer base (corporate HR, security managers, schools) but operates at industrial scale with hundreds of standardized offerings rather than bespoke anti-violence methodology.

Direct peers

• ProDeMa GmbH: Germany's leading provider of professional de-escalation training (Deeskalationstraining/Aggressionsmanagement) for healthcare, social services, education, and justice-sector clients. Most direct comparable — same training content, same buyer segments, same methodology emphasis on practical de-escalation, but with a multi-trainer delivery model and national scale that Holger Schlafhorst lacks.

Others

• VdS Schadensverhütung GmbH: German security industry association offering certified training (including security management and personnel leadership). Already a Holger Schlafhorst partner for lectures on psychology/personnel management; comparable end-buyer (security companies, IHK licensing) but with broader portfolio of fire, security, and risk content.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/holger-schlafhorst

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Holger Schlafhorst