Innovation Leaders Club

What Innovation Leaders Club does

Innovation Leaders Club, founded in 2013 and headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, is a private, curated membership organization that convenes approximately 4,500 corporate innovation leaders across 14 regional clubs on 2 continents. The company commercializes a 25+ year proprietary innovation methodology through three product lines: tiered annual membership subscriptions (Individual 1,500 CAD, Tandem 3,000 CAD, Trio 4,000 CAD), specialized training programs at 2,000 CAD per participant delivered through Innovation Leaders Club Academy, and an annual Summer School offered at both full (4,000 CAD) and subsidized (725 CAD) price points.

The core deliverable is a peer-to-peer network combined with structured methodology for innovation practice, recently augmented with AI prompt libraries and synthetic customer validation tools that are integrated into the training curriculum. The methodology, which has been cultivated over more than two decades, is the primary intellectual asset and is delivered both to members and to external clients through the Academy and Audax Innovation subsidiaries.

The business model is bootstrapped and cash-flow funded, with no disclosed external financing. The go-to-market relies on institutional partnerships (Centech, Université Concordia, ADRIQ, Ericsson, IVADO), government and sector-association channels (CSMO Alimentaire, CSMO Textile, Gouvernement du Québec), and a long tail of corporate members spanning financial services, manufacturing, aerospace, gaming, food, and transportation. A 95% annual renewal rate supports revenue durability, and the lean team of approximately 14 people (5 core plus 9 extended) operates a high-margin professional services and membership model.

Name

Innovation Leaders Club

Legal name

Innovation Leaders Club

Website

https://innovationleaders.club

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Innovation Leaders Club is a Montreal-based private membership organization of approximately 4,500 corporate innovation leaders across 14 clubs on 2 continents, commercializing a 25+ year proprietary methodology through membership subscriptions, specialized training, and an annual Summer School.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Innovation Management Consulting & Executive Peer Network

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Innovation Leadership & Leading Growth (EDABAAAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Product & Innovation Summits (Roadmap, Launch Readiness, Innovation Days) (THAHAMAG), Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

Keywords

• Innovation management consulting
• Executive peer network
• Professional training services
• Innovation leadership coaching
• Membership community services

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Club Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees providing access to two in-person meetings per year, 24/7 digital platform access, summary videos from meetings, annual network access, innovation management watch service, international meeting participation, member-only coaching program access, and privileged access to biennial events and Summer School. Pricing tiers: Individual (1,500 CAD/1,400 EUR), Tandem (3,000 CAD/2,800 EUR), Trio (4,000 CAD/3,700 EUR).
2. Specialized Training Programs: In-person specialized training programs in Montreal covering: Innovation Strategy Development, Innovation Front-End Enhancement, Innovation Program Implementation, and Applied Creativity Facilitation. Each training includes implementation bundles with videos, editable tools, methodology, and lifetime platform access. Standard pricing at 2,000 CAD per participant (1,500 CAD training + 500 CAD toolkit access), with 20% discount for additional participants from same organization.
3. Innovation Leaders Summer School: Intensive 5-day Summer School program split across two sessions in summer 2026, held at Ax.C downtown Montreal. Regular price: 4,000 CAD per participant. Heavily subsidized at 725 CAD with government contribution from CSMO Alimentaire, CSMO Textile, Elexpertise, PERFORM, and Quebec government. Includes lifetime digital platform access.
4. Signature Event Participation: Revenue from the biennial 'Célébrons les leaders de l'innovation' event. Included with membership; additional participants pay 600 CAD. Non-members must apply and pay 750 CAD per participant if admitted.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Innovation Leaders Club operates a private, curated membership network connecting more than 4,500 experienced innovation executives across 14 regional clubs in North America and Europe for peer knowledge exchange, best-practice sharing, and confidential moderated discussions. It monetizes this community through annual membership subscriptions and layers on paid specialized in-person training programs (the Academy), an annual Summer School, a biennial signature event, and innovation management consulting services delivered through its Audax Innovation subsidiary. The combined offering pairs a recurring community-based subscription with project-based training and advisory services for enterprise innovation functions.

Product overview

Innovation Leaders Club is a private elite network with three core offerings: (1) the Innovation Leaders Club itself—a network of 14 clubs across 2 continents connecting 4,500+ innovation leaders; (2) the Innovation Leaders Club Academy—offering specialized in-person training bundles, coaching, and the annual Summer School; and (3) Audax Innovation—providing advisory services for innovation strategy implementation. The organization integrates AI throughout its training programs via prompt libraries for creativity and program development, and maintains an innovation benchmark database. Regional clubs meet in Montréal (multiple sectors including Technology & Software and Consumer Products), Québec City, Drummondville, Montérégie-Estrie, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, New York, and Paris.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Innovation Leaders Club Academy: Complete training bundles, in-person training and coaching to implement or optimize innovation management based on the Club's shared best practices
• Audax Innovation
• Innovation Leaders Summer School / École d'été des leaders de l'innovation
• Célébrons les leaders de l'innovation

Products and services

• Regional Club Membership Annual subscription membership providing two in-person meetings per year, 24/7 access to the digital platform with recap videos, annual innovation watch service, international meeting access, member-only coaching program access, and privileged access to biennial events and Summer School. Available in Individual (1,500 CAD), Tandem (3,000 CAD), and Trio (4,000 CAD) tiers. Designed for experienced innovation executives at mid-to-large enterprises.
• Innovation Leaders Club Academy (Specialized Training Programs)
• Innovation Leaders Summer School (École d'été des leaders de l'innovation)
• Audax Innovation (Consulting and Implementation Advisory)
• Célébrons les leaders de l'innovation (Biennial Signature Event)
• Innovation Benchmark

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% annual membership renewal rate demonstrates high member satisfaction and perceived value
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CentechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentech serves as a strategic collaborator on the Innovation Leaders Summer School program and hosts technology/startup-focused club meetings. The partnership leverages Centech's innovation ecosystem expertise and provides cross-promotional networking opportunities.
• Université ConcordiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership providing access to university innovation resources, research insights, and student talent. Supports the club's educational mission and methodology development.
• ADRIQcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation pour le développement de la recherche et de l'innovation du Québec (ADRIQ) collaborates on innovation development initiatives and provides access to their extensive Quebec innovation network.
• EricssonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member participating in Paris regional club. Ericsson brings global technology and innovation management perspectives to the European chapter.
• IVADOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitute for Data-Driven Value Creation partnership providing access to AI and data science innovation expertise, particularly relevant for AI-enhanced innovation management practices.
• Rio TintominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member in Saguenay regional club bringing mining and materials innovation perspectives. Active participant in regional innovation discussions.
• Conseil de l'innovation du QuébeccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment innovation council partnership supporting Quebec's innovation ecosystem development. Benoît Labbé, Deputy General Director, presented at 2026 event on innovation funding levers.
• Apogée ConseilminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConsulting firm partner participating in Montérégie-Estrie regional club, providing innovation consulting services and client referrals to the network.
• HumanceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHuman-centered innovation consulting firm participating in Montreal Consumer Products club. General Director Marie-Josée Lareau presented at 2026 event.
• JACOBBminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInnovation consulting partner participating in Montreal Technology & Software club, providing software and technology sector innovation expertise.
• Mews PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecutive search and leadership advisory firm partnership bringing senior innovation talent perspectives to the network.
• SMT IntelligenceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTechnology intelligence firm participating in Montreal Technology & Software and Quebec Multisector clubs, contributing technology trend insights.
• Studio AugmentécoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAI and generative AI consulting firm co-developing training content and presenting at events. Jonathan Hardy, founder, serves as AI expert instructor at Summer School and presents at 2026 event on agentic AI in innovation.
• inBecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCustomer voice expertise firm co-developing front-end innovation content. Daniel Leblanc, co-founder, serves as instructor at Summer School and presents at 2026 event on testing innovations with synthetic customers.
• Alto DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial design firm co-developing innovation development training content. Patrick Mainville, President and Design Director, serves as instructor at Summer School on design thinking and UX in innovation.
• CSMO AlimentairecoreOthersSectoral workforce management committee co-subsidizing Summer School training for food processing sector organizations, enabling heavily subsidized participant rates.
• CSMO TextilecoreOthersSectoral workforce management committee co-subsidizing Summer School training for textile sector organizations.
• Gouvernement du QuébeccoreOthersProvincial government providing training subsidies through various programs, enabling subsidized Summer School pricing (regular 4,000 CAD reduced to 725 CAD with subsidies).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PDMA (Product Development and Management Association): PDMA is the professional association for product development and innovation management practitioners, offering certifications, conferences, chapters, and member services. It overlaps with Innovation Leaders Club's association, conference, and training activities targeting innovation professionals.
• InnoLead: InnoLead is a membership community and research platform for corporate innovation leaders, offering benchmarking, peer groups, and an annual conference. It overlaps directly with Innovation Leaders Club on the innovation-executive membership, benchmarking, and conference pillars.
• Vistage: Vistage operates the world's largest CEO and executive peer advisory membership network, with groups that meet regularly for facilitated peer exchange. It is directly comparable to Innovation Leaders Club's private regional club model and recurring membership model, though Vistage focuses on general CEOs rather than innovation executives.
• Board of Innovation: Board of Innovation is an innovation consulting firm that advises corporates on innovation strategy and runs capability-building programs. It is comparable to the Audax Innovation consulting arm and to Innovation Leaders Club Academy's strategy and applied creativity trainings.
• TEC (The Executive Committee): TEC is a global peer advisory organization for CEOs and senior leaders running small-group meetings, one-on-one coaching, and signature events. Its membership-driven, facilitated peer-group format is structurally identical to Innovation Leaders Club's regional clubs and Academy coaching offering.
• YPO (Young Presidents' Organization): YPO is a global peer network of senior executives and CEOs organized into chapters with regular in-person meetings, forums, and events. It mirrors Innovation Leaders Club's model of selective admission, premium membership tiers, in-person regional meetings, and exclusive signature events.

Broad incumbents

• Innosight: Innosight, founded by Clayton Christensen and now part of Huron, is a strategy and innovation consulting firm serving large enterprises. It competes broadly with Audax Innovation on innovation strategy engagements and overlaps with Innovation Leaders Club Academy's strategy training curriculum.
• Doblin (Deloitte): Doblin is Deloitte's dedicated innovation practice offering strategy, design, and capability-building services to global enterprises. It is a broad incumbent whose innovation training and advisory offerings compete with Audax Innovation and Innovation Leaders Club Academy at the larger end of the market.
• C2 International: C2 International produces high-end business conferences (e.g., C2 Montréal) for senior executives and innovation leaders, combining talks, workshops, and networking. It is comparable to Innovation Leaders Club's 'Célébrons les leaders de l'innovation' biennial event and the broader event-driven GTM motion.

Emerging players

• HYPE Innovation: HYPE Innovation is a software and services provider of innovation management platforms, idea management, and corporate training. It overlaps with Innovation Leaders Club's cloud-based digital toolbox and Academy methodology delivery, though from a software-led rather than community-led starting point.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@innovationleadersclub3149/videos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/innovation-leaders-club

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Innovation Leaders Club