Association Française des Conférenciers Professionnels

What Association Française des Conférenciers Professionnels does

The Association Française des Conférenciers Professionnels (AFCP) is a French non-profit association governed by the law of July 1, 1901, headquartered in Paris at 14 Avenue de l'Opéra. Founded in 2008 and reorganized under current bylaws adopted in March 2022 (with subsequent modifications in December 2023), AFCP professionalizes and promotes the professions of conference speaker (conférencier professionnel) and master of ceremony (maître de cérémonie) in France. Its membership spans experienced headliners (Têtes d'affiche), working professional speakers, and aspiring speakers (Explorateurs), all connected through a structured professional development ecosystem.

AFCP's core offerings include the exclusive Label des Conférenciers Professionnels quality certification, support for the international Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) credential through its Global Speakers Federation membership (held since 2011), and a calendar of events including the flagship ELEVATE annual conference, Soirées Prestige evening showcases, monthly Journées Professionnelles, regional Hors les Murs events, Matinées, and AFCP LIVE streaming sessions on LinkedIn. The Académie AFCP delivers structured training programs ranging from €1,475 to €8,000 HT, covering topics such as TEDx speaking, stage performance, and business development for speakers. The association operates a Find a Speaker service to connect event organizers with certified members.

The business model is asset-light and mission-driven: annual membership dues (amount not publicly disclosed), one-time entrance fees, paid event registration through HelloAsso, and Academy tuition fees constitute the primary revenue streams. Governance is volunteer-based, with a Board of Directors (Conseil d'Administration) of 7 to 15 unpaid, elected professional speakers serving two-year terms. The association has stated headcount of 38 employees supporting operations, and its geographic reach covers multiple French regions including Île-de-France, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and Grand Est, while international exposure is delivered through the GSF network.

Name

Association Française des Conférenciers Professionnels

Legal name

Association Française des Conférenciers Professionnels

Website

https://lesconferenciersprofessionnels.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1901

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Association Française des Conférenciers Professionnels (AFCP) is a French non-profit association that professionalizes and certifies conference speakers and masters of ceremony in France, serving a membership ranging from aspiring speakers to headliners through quality labels, training programs, and a calendar of networking events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Speaker Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

National/Institutional Accreditors (Career, Faith-Based, Distance, etc.) (EDADACAB), Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

Keywords

• Professional speaker association
• Speaker certification label
• Conference industry networking
• Professional speaking training
• Master of ceremony association

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Annual membership fees: All members pay annual membership dues. The General Assembly sets the amount each year based on the internal regulations and recommendations of the Board of Directors. Different fee categories exist for different member types.
2. Event registration fees: Revenue generated from paid events including Soirées Prestige, ELEVATE conference, and other professional gatherings. Registration handled through HelloAsso platform.
3. Academy and training programs: Revenue from professional development programs and workshops offered through the AFCP Academy. Various pricing tiers from €1,475 to €8,000 depending on program depth and duration.
4. Entrance fees: One-time entrance fees for new members joining the association.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Association Française des Conférenciers Professionnels is a non-profit professional association that delivers a membership-based ecosystem for French conference speakers and Masters of Ceremony. Its core offerings combine a quality certification (Label des Conférenciers Professionnels and the international CSP certification), recurring networking and showcase events such as the annual ELEVATE conference, Soirées Prestige, and Journées Professionnelles, and a paid training program through the Académie AFCP. Revenue is generated from annual membership dues, event registrations, and paid training programs.

Product overview

The Association Française des Conférenciers Professionnels (AFCP) operates as a professional association rather than a software product. Its core offerings center on a membership-based professional development ecosystem for French professional speakers and masters of ceremony. The portfolio includes: the exclusive Label des Conférenciers Professionnels (quality certification), the international CSP certification supported through the Global Speakers Federation partnership, the flagship ELEVATE annual conference, Soirées Prestige evening showcases, monthly Journées Professionnelles for hands-on training, Matinées sessions for business development, CODIR strategic meetings, Hors les Murs regional events, and the Académie AFCP training platform. These offerings work together to professionalize, promote, and develop the speaking profession in France while supporting members' career growth and networking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Label des Conférenciers Professionnels An exclusive AFCP quality certification for professional speakers and Masters of Ceremony that guarantees event organizers the quality and professionalism of certified members based on rigorous performance and excellence criteria.
• Certification CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) An international certification recognized by the Global Speakers Federation that acknowledges superior oral capability and a track record of professionalism and success achieved by select members.
• ELEVATE Conference The association's flagship annual conference held over two days, featuring conferences, workshops, networking with experts, and an exclusive evening walking dinner, designed for managers, authors, influencers, speaker bureaus, DRH, and coaches.
• Soirées Prestige Exclusive evening events open to members and non-members, featuring professional speakers presenting on topics from technological innovation to artistic creativity, combined with networking opportunities and discovery of emerging speaking talent.
• Journées Professionnelles Monthly professional development days featuring workshop sessions, open microphone presentations (Cartes Blanches), and conference testing with constructive feedback, open to both members and non-members.
• Académie AFCP Training Programs The Academy offers structured paid training programs (e.g., "From Subject Choice to Standing Ovation" at €4,500 HT, "Become a TEDx Speaker" at €1,475 HT, "From Blank Page to Stage" up to €8,000 HT) to help speakers develop professional skills and excellence, with CPF/OPCO financing options available.
• Hors les Murs Regional events held outside Paris, bringing together professional speakers for two-day sessions of inspiration, experience sharing, and professional networking in different French cities such as Lyon.
• AFCP LIVE Live streaming sessions broadcast on LinkedIn featuring professional speakers discussing various topics, accessible to members and the public for real-time engagement and professional visibility.
• Find a Speaker Service A referral service operated by AFCP that connects event organizers and companies seeking certified professional speakers and Masters of Ceremony with qualified AFCP member speakers for their conferences, corporate events, conventions, and team buildings.
• AFCP Membership Annual membership program with categories for different member types, including a one-time entrance fee for new members and recurring annual dues, granting access to the Label des Conférenciers Professionnels, networking events, Academy programs, and international GSF exposure.

Quantifiable outcome

• Quality guarantee for event organizers through the Label des Conférenciers Professionnels
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Integration4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Global Speakers Federation (GSF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011AFCP has been a member of Global Speakers Federation since 2011. GSF brings together speaker associations from around the world representing nations and association leaders from various countries. Through its vast network and collaborative efforts, GSF works to strengthen the global recognition of speaker associations and the speaking profession. GSF carries the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) certification.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Toastmasters International: Global public-speaking and leadership development organization with strong French chapter presence. Adjacent rather than direct: focuses on amateur skill development vs. AFCP's professional/certified positioning, but draws from overlapping aspirational talent pool.
• National Speakers Association of New Zealand: Smaller national association under the GSF umbrella. Comparable as a national accreditation body but limited geographic overlap with AFCP's French market.

Direct peers

• National Speakers Association (NSA): The US national professional association for paid speakers, offering the CSP/ASA certifications and member training. It is the most established analogue to AFCP and directly comparable in mission, member-services portfolio, and certification economics.
• Association of Professional Speakers Australia (APSA): Australia's national body for professional speakers offering certification, training, and member services. Comparable GSF-aligned association with similar member-accreditation economics.
• Professional Speakers Association (PSA) UK: UK counterpart to AFCP providing membership, accreditation, and speaker-bureau matchmaking for professional speakers. Closely aligned scope (national association serving English-language speaking market) and shares GSF affiliation.
• Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS): Canada's national association for professional speakers offering certification, member directories, and events. Operates a similar model of membership + accreditation + annual flagship conference and is a GSF peer.

Others

• Global Speakers Federation: AFCP's umbrella network connecting national speaker associations worldwide and awarding the CSP certification. Not a direct competitor; rather an ecosystem partner whose member associations (including AFCP) collectively compete at national level.
• Leading Authorities Speakers Bureau: US-headquartered speaker bureau that books keynote speakers for corporate events. Sits downstream of AFCP's member base — bureaus source from associations like AFCP and represent an important commercial channel for certified members.

Emerging players

• France Conférences: French event organiser curating conference programming. Comparable because it operates in the same French professional-speaker/events ecosystem and serves as both a potential distribution partner and partial substitute for AFCP's Find a Speaker service.

Broad incumbents

• TED/TEDx: Global speaking and ideas platform that legitimises and broadcasts professional speakers. Not a direct competitor but adjacent: TED-style formats influence the supply of professional speakers AFCP certifies and shape organizer expectations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-francaise-des-conferenciers-professionnels-afcp
• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer.php

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Association Française des Conférenciers Professionnels