What Impro Suisse does

Impro Suisse is a Lausanne-based theatrical improvisation company operating the leading inter-cantonal federation for improv arts in French-speaking Switzerland. Founded in 2011 by Maxime Dufresne and Juan-Sébastien Rial following the dissolution of the Ligue d'Impro Suisse (LIS) in 2004, the company runs a community-led ecosystem combining a performing-arts school, a professional and amateur entertainment business, and a corporate training practice. Its core offering includes regular weekly improv courses for adults and youth (delivered online and in-person across Lausanne, Geneva, Fribourg, Sion, Aigle, and Neuchâtel), two-hour introductory workshops, vacation camps for children, professional and amateur matches, themed concept shows, and international competitions such as the Coupe du Monde d'impro, Choc des Nations, Mondial d'Impro Junior, and Impro Voice. The company operates Théâtre Tais-toi!, an affiliated café-théâtre venue in Neuchâtel, and is organized under two legal entities — IMPRO SUISSE Sàrl (courses and commercial services) and IMPRO SUISSE ASSOCIATION (performances).

Revenue is generated across five streams: quarterly subscription course fees (with a 7-day trial cancellation window), ticket sales for 250+ annual spectacles, gift cards (Bons Cadeaux), corporate training and team-building engagements (clients include Richemont, Alpiq, TGV Lyria, Interface, TL, DFAE, OFSPO, mudac, ESSanté), and summer/youth camp fees. Go-to-market is multi-channel: a direct e-commerce storefront at impro-suisse.ch for B2C ticket and course sales, an on-site box office at venues, and a dedicated enterprise sales motion for B2B training. Distribution and marketing rely on organic social (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok), earned media coverage (Le Temps, Tribune de Genève, 24 heures, RTS, LFM), and community-event flywheels (the annual championships and league matches). Scale signals include 600+ weekly course participants aged 7 to 85, 10,000+ spectators per season, 50+ weekly courses, and 5 regional divisions consolidated through the 2018 merger with Story Factory.

The underlying technology is largely non-digital: Impro Suisse's competitive offering rests on proprietary theatrical improvisation methodology, a curated curriculum developed over 13+ years, and a talent network of professional players, trainers, and comedians spanning Switzerland, France, Belgium, and Quebec. Digital infrastructure is limited to a transactional website, social media, and ad-hoc Facebook Live streaming during the pandemic — no mobile app, no API, no proprietary software platform, and no disclosed AI capability. The business is privately held by its two co-founders with no external investment, parent company, or funding rounds reported.

Name

Impro Suisse

Legal name

IMPRO SUISSE Sàrl / IMPRO SUISSE ASSOCIATION

Website

https://impro-suisse.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Impro Suisse operates a French-speaking Swiss theatrical improvisation federation offering weekly courses, youth camps, professional spectacles, international championships, and corporate training across five cantons, serving 600+ weekly participants and 10,000+ annual spectators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theatrical Improvisation Arts and Entertainment

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (7139)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Improvisational Theatre (MPAGABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Improv Comedy Performances (MPAGACAB)

Keywords

• Theatrical improvisation courses
• Improvisational theater performances
• Corporate team building
• Youth creative camps
• Professional improv league

Headquarters

HQ city

Lausanne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

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. Course Fees: Revenue from regular weekly courses for adults and youth (beginners to advanced), with quarterly subscription-based billing and automatic renewal. Trial lessons available with 7-day cancellation policy.
2. Spectacle Tickets: Ticket sales for professional matches, concept shows, Impro Voice competitions, and championship events held at various venues across Switzerland.
3. Gift Cards (Bons Cadeaux): Gift certificates sold for courses and spectacles, providing flexible access to Impro Suisse offerings.
4. Corporate Training & Animations: Team building workshops, conflict management training, communication skills development, and event animations for enterprises and public institutions.
5. Summer Camps & Youth Programs: Vacation camps for children and teenagers in Geneva, Lausanne, and Neuchâtel, led by professional instructors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Impro Suisse delivers theatrical improvisation services across French-speaking Switzerland through weekly courses for adults and youth, initiation workshops, vacation camps, professional and amateur shows and matches, international competitions, and corporate training programs. The company combines an education business (regular recurring courses) with an entertainment business (spectacles, championships, themed performances) and a B2B training business (team building, communication, conflict management).

Product overview

Impro Suisse is a theater and theatrical improvisation company offering a comprehensive ecosystem of services centered around improvisation arts. The portfolio includes regular courses and workshops for adults and youth, vacation camps for children, professional and amateur shows including matches, themed performances and competitions (Impro Voice, Choc des Nations, Coupe du Monde, Mondial Junior), corporate training and team building services, cultural mediation workshops, and gift cards. The company operates as a multi-regional organization with presence in Geneva, Lausanne, Neuchâtel, Aigle, Sion, and Fribourg, reaching over 600 weekly students and 10,000+ annual spectators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cours d'improvisation (Regular Improvisation Courses) Regular weekly theatrical improvisation courses for adults and youth covering improv, acting, and musical comedy, offered online and in-person across Lausanne, Geneva, Fribourg, Sion, Aigle, and Neuchâtel. Billed quarterly with prorated pricing based on registration timing.
• Stages d'initiation à l'impro (Initiation Workshops) Two-hour introductory workshops for individuals and small groups to discover theatrical improvisation and unlock creativity.
• Camps d'impro (Impro Camps) Creative vacation camps for children and teenagers (ages 7-18) held in Geneva, Lausanne, and Neuchâtel, developing confidence, creativity, and social skills under professional supervision.
• Spectacles et matches d'impro (Shows and Impro Matches) Theatrical improvisation performances including professional matches, concept shows, and themed performances for various audiences including youth and amateurs, held across multiple venues in French-speaking Switzerland.
• Impro Voice Singing competition featuring improvised songs performed live with musicians, where audiences vote on blind selections and compete in vocal battles.
• Choc des Nations Major international impro tournament bringing together professional improvisers from Switzerland, France, Quebec, Belgium, and beyond.
• Coupe du Monde d'impro (World Cup of Impro) Professional international competition held at Villars Palace theater featuring teams from Switzerland, France, Quebec, and Belgium, hosted in partnership with Office du Tourisme de Villars and AVLI.
• Mondial d'Impro Junior Youth world championship for improvisers aged 14-18, gathering teams from Switzerland, Belgium, France, and Quebec.
• Ligue d'impro professionnelle Swiss professional theater improvisation league with matches held across Lausanne, Geneva, Valais, Fribourg, and Neuchâtel, forming the backbone of the regional professional competition circuit.
• Formations et animations en entreprise (Corporate Training & Animations) Professional development services for businesses including team building, corporate events, presentations, coaching, conflict management, confidence building, and active listening workshops, delivered with custom quotes based on client requirements.
• Médiation Ligue professionnelle (Professional League Mediation Workshops) Cultural mediation workshops exploring the secrets of professional impro matches, including workshops on play, refereeing, animation, and scenography, offered at unit pricing (e.g., 50 CHF including evening match access).
• Bons Cadeaux (Gift Cards) Flexible gift certificates redeemable for any Impro Suisse offering, including hilarious shows and engaging courses.

Quantifiable outcome

• 600+ participants train weekly across the network
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Story Factory (Laure Piguet and Eric Lecoultre)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Merger in summer 2018 that created Impro Suisse – Vaud and Impro Suisse – Genève regional divisions, significantly expanding the company's geographic footprint.
• Théâtre Tais-toi!coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated café-théâtre venue in Neuchâtel operated by Impro Suisse, expanding their physical performance presence and creating a dedicated venue for improvisation and comedy performances.
• MyTeam SAminorOthersRelated organization listed as connected partner, nature of relationship not explicitly detailed in available sources.
• Association Vaudoise des Ligues d'Impro (AVLI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the Coupe du Monde d'impro professionnelle in Villars, representing the historical Vaud improvisation league that predates Impro Suisse.
• Office du Tourisme de VillarscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHost venue partner for the annual Coupe du Monde d'impro professionnelle, collaborating on international championship events.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Théâtre de Vidy-Lausanne: Lausanne-based contemporary theater and performance venue. Comparable Swiss Romande performing arts venue, competing for the same adult and corporate entertainment budgets in the Lausanne catchment area.
• Match d'impro (Quebec): Quebec-based professional improv match organizer. Operates a Ligue d'impro majeure in Quebec with similar match format and audiences, but geographically separate from Impro Suisse's Switzerland footprint.

Direct peers

• The Second City: Chicago-based improv comedy institution with training centers, touring companies, and corporate programming. Comparable mix of consumer courses, professional shows, and B2B corporate training that Impro Suisse replicates at smaller scale.
• iO Theater: Chicago improv theater offering long-form classes, shows, and corporate team-building. Parallel hybrid model of paid training programs with live performance programming.
• Upright Citizens Brigade Training Center: New York improv training and performance institution. Comparable curriculum, level-based progression, and venue-based show model serving consumer and corporate clients.
• Ligue d'Improvisation Professionnelle (LIP): French professional improv league staging matches across France. Closest comparable model to Impro Suisse's Ligue d'impro professionnelle, with similar course, league, and spectacle structure targeting French-speaking audiences.
• Ligue Universitaire d'Improvisation (LUI): Quebec university improv league founded in 1979. Directly comparable league-based improv format with matches, championships, and youth divisions, anchored in the French-speaking world.
• The Groundlings: Los Angeles improv and sketch comedy theater with a structured training center. Operates a similar tiered course system feeding into professional-level performances, just as Impro Suisse does.

Broad incumbents

• Cours Florent: Major French-speaking performing arts school offering drama, cinema, and music training. Strongly comparable on the training-course side, though much broader in scope and far larger in scale than Impro Suisse.
• Comédie de Genève: Geneva-based theatrical institution with a permanent venue and broader programming. Shares Impro Suisse's French-Switzerland performing arts ecosystem and occasional overlap in corporate and youth audiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCERU1_M9Z6SoKqSAXZYgAuQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/improsuisse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/impro-suisse
• Instagraminstagram.com/improsuisse
• TikToktiktok.com/@improsuisse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Impro Suisse