Mike Horn SARL

What Mike Horn SARL does

Mike Horn SARL is a privately held Swiss Société à Responsabilité Limitée registered in Pully, Canton of Vaud (registration CHE-113.551.014), founded in 2007 to manage the professional activities of explorer Mike Horn. With approximately 19 employees, the company operates a direct-to-consumer digital content business that monetizes Horn's three-decade expedition biography through four revenue streams: one-time digital content sales (a €59 masterclass "How to achieve your dreams" with 12 video modules, plus €25 individual expedition conference replays — K2, Amazon, North Pole, Pangaea — and a €59 three-conference bundle, available in French and English), private corporate keynote engagements booked directly via the website, sponsorship income from luxury and adventure brands (Panerai, Sunreef Yachts, Explora Journeys, HEXAOM, Chabot, Wilhelm Gilliéron), and books sold via affiliate links to third-party retailers (Interforum, Lisez.com). The company does not develop proprietary technology; the product is digital content built around Horn's personal brand, distributed through an owned e-commerce storefront at mikehorn.com and a bilingual website serving Switzerland, France, and Belgium as primary markets.

The business serves three distinct customer segments: individual personal-development consumers purchasing digital content (masterclass and conferences), corporate clients booking private speaking engagements on resilience, teamwork, and leadership themes, and young adults aged 18–30 participating in the Pangaea X sustainability program (~10 teams selected per edition). Marketing relies on owned channels — the website, monthly newsletter, and social profiles on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn — complemented by earned media through French TV programming on M6 (The Island, À l'état sauvage) and RMC Découverte (Survivre à l'impossible), cumulative conference attendance of over 10,000 people, and selective YouTube collaborations with French digital creators. Public-conference venues to date have concentrated in French-speaking cities (Paris, Lausanne, Geneva, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Morges, Conthey), with the Grand Rex in Paris as a flagship venue.

The entity is founder-owned and operated by Mike Horn himself with no evidence of external investment, institutional shareholders, or board-grade governance. Adjacent ventures — INOCEL (a hydrogen fuel cell company co-founded by Horn in 2021–2022), the AYAQ outdoor brand partnership, and the Horn Foundation — sit in parallel ownership structures rather than inside the SARL. The current four-year "What's Left" expedition (2023–2027) is the source pipeline for the next cycle of digital product launches.

Name

Mike Horn SARL

Legal name

Mike Horn SARL

Website

https://mikehorn.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mike Horn SARL is a Swiss private company that monetizes explorer Mike Horn's personal brand through a bilingual (EN/FR) e-commerce shop selling a €59 masterclass and €25 digital conference replays, private corporate keynotes, luxury-brand sponsorship deals, and affiliate-distributed books, serving individuals, corporates, and the Pangaea X young-explorer program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Personal Development Digital Education

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate/L&D Course Licensing from Creators (B2B Upskilling) (MPACALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Children’s Subscription & Book Club Publishing (MPAJAFAO), E-book Subscription & Bundling Services (MPAJAMAB), Humor, Gift & Specialty Format Books (Journals, Coloring, etc.) (MPAJAAAN)

Keywords

• Personal development masterclass
• Digital adventure conferences
• Motivational keynote speaking
• Online educational content
• Expedition publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Pully

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Digital Content Sales (Masterclasses & Conferences): The company sells digital masterclass programs (e.g., 'How to achieve your dreams' at €59 one-time purchase) and individual digital conference replays (e.g., K2, Amazon, North Pole, Pangaea at €25 each) via its e-commerce shop. A bundle of 3 French-language conferences is sold for €59. These are one-time purchase digital products with lifetime access.
2. Private Corporate Conferences: Mike Horn offers private speaking engagements for companies and organizations, tailored to themes such as mental coaching, teamwork, environment, and leadership. This is a professional services revenue stream where the company is engaged directly by corporate clients.
3. Sponsorship & Brand Partnerships: The company earns revenue through sponsorship arrangements with brands including Panerai, HEXAOM, Explora Journeys, Sunreef Yachts, Wilhelm Gilliéron, and Chabot. These partners support Mike Horn's expeditions and content creation in exchange for brand association and visibility.
4. Book & Merchandise Sales: Physical books authored by Mike Horn (e.g., 'Survivant des Glaces', 'Le Club des Aventuriers' series) and other published works are sold through the shop and third-party retailers. The shop also offers survival guides and comic books.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Mike Horn SARL sells a digital personal development masterclass ("How to achieve your dreams" / "Comment réaliser ses rêves"), individual digital conference replays of Mike Horn's major expeditions (K2, Amazon, North Pole, Pangaea), and bundled conference packs via its owned e-commerce shop. It also offers private corporate keynote speaking engagements on resilience, leadership, teamwork, and environment, and earns sponsorship income from luxury and outdoor brands. Published books (survival guides, the children's "Le Club des Aventuriers" series, and a graphic novel) are distributed through third-party affiliate retailers.

Product overview

Mike Horn SARL operates primarily as a digital content and publishing company offering personal development courses, online conferences, and books centered on the adventures and philosophy of explorer Mike Horn. The core product portfolio consists of the Masterclass (How to achieve your dreams) - a 12-module online personal development course with exercises and certificate, supplemented by individual Digital Conferences covering major expeditions (Amazon, K2, Pangaea, North Pole) and bundled conference packs. Additional revenue streams include published books (survival guides, children's adventure series, comic biographies) sold through external distributors. The company also operates educational programs (Pangaea X, Horn Foundation) and has affiliated ventures in hydrogen technology (INOCEL) and outdoor apparel (AYAQ) that are separate business entities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Masterclass: How to achieve your dreams (EN) Online personal development course with 12 exclusive video modules (over 1.5 hours of content), practical exercises, a downloadable workbook, and a certificate of participation; teaches 11 key life lessons including dreaming, discipline, resilience, and responsibility. Sold as a one-time purchase for lifetime access at €59 (including VAT). Targeted at adult individual consumers.
• Masterclass: Comment réaliser ses rêves (FR) French-language version of the personal development masterclass with 11 exclusive video lessons teaching keys to achieving dreams. Sold as a one-time purchase for lifetime access at €59 (including VAT). Targeted at adult individual consumers in French-speaking markets.
• Digital conference "Pangaea : Explore – Learn – Act" (FR) Online replay of a French-language conference discussing the Pangaea expedition and the Young Explorers Programme (YEP) across 12 expeditions over four years, presented with Mike Horn's daughter Annika. Sold as a one-time purchase at €25 (including VAT).
• Digital conference "K2: The call of the mountain" (EN) English-language online lecture where Mike Horn reveals the secrets of organizing K2 expeditions, including preparation, equipment, carriers, base camps, the final ascent, and dealing with failure. Sold as a one-time purchase at €25 (including VAT).
• Digital conference "K2 : L'appel de la montagne" (FR) French-language version of the K2 digital conference covering expedition organization and lessons from unsuccessful summit attempts. Sold as a one-time purchase at €25 (including VAT).
• Digital conference "La descente de l'Amazone" (FR) Online replay of Mike Horn's first expedition lecture, recounting the 6,700+ km Amazon River hydrospeed journey lasting over 171 days, presented as a discussion with his daughter Annika. Sold as a one-time purchase at €25 (including VAT).
• Digital conference "La traversée du Pôle Nord" (FR) French-language conference replay recounting the 2019 Arctic Ocean crossing via the North Pole with Børge Ousland, recorded at Grand Rex Paris in 2020 (duration 2 hours 21 minutes). Sold as a one-time purchase at €25 (including VAT).
• Pack 3 digital conferences (FR bundle) Bundle providing access to three French-language digital conferences (Amazon descent, Pangaea: Explore-Learn-Act, and K2: The Call of the Mountain) with unlimited replay after purchase. Sold as a one-time purchase at €59 (including VAT).
• Book "Survivant des Glaces" (FR) French-language survival book by Mike Horn covering survival techniques in extreme cold environments. Sold through affiliate links to Interforum and general bookstores rather than directly by the company.
• Guide de survie "Le S.O.S de l'aventurier" (FR) French-language survival guide providing emergency survival advice for adventurers, authored by Mike Horn. Sold through affiliate links to third-party book retailers.
• "Le Club des Aventuriers" book series (Volumes 1-4) French-language children's adventure book series authored by Mike Horn, including volumes "Bienvenue au club," "Le tour du monde en 192 heures," "Le trésor des trois océans," and "La cité des six pétales." Sold through third-party book retailers including Lisez.com.
• Comic book "Mike Horn, l'aventurier de l'impossible" (FR) French-language graphic novel biography of Mike Horn's extraordinary adventures. Sold through affiliate links to third-party book retailers.
• Private corporate keynote speaking engagements Tailored private speaking engagements for companies and organizations on themes such as mental coaching, teamwork, environment, surpassing oneself, and managing failure. Engagements are commissioned directly through the contact form on mikehorn.com and adapted to the client's context. Over 10,000 people have attended Mike Horn's public speaking events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 young explorers trained through Pangaea YEP (2008–2012)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AYAQcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMike Horn partnered with AYAQ, a French outdoor brand founded by Vincent Defrasne (Olympic biathlon champion), to support the development of the brand. The partnership is based on shared values of excellence, sustainability, and innovation. AYAQ designs high-performance, eco-conscious outdoor equipment for extreme conditions, and Mike Horn lends his expertise and brand endorsement to the collaboration.
• INOCELcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMike Horn co-founded INOCEL in 2022, an innovative company specializing in clean energy solutions through hydrogen fuel cells. INOCEL develops compact, high-performance, and safe hydrogen fuel cells for power generation, contributing to decarbonization and the energy transition. Mike Horn's daughter Jessica joined the company, which Mike co-founded as a personal entrepreneurial venture.
• Pangaea XcoreOthersPangaea X is Mike Horn's educational and environmental program for young people aged 18–30. The program selects around ten teams per edition to develop innovative sustainable projects over five months, with mentorship, expert support, and a final pitch to a jury including Mike Horn. This is an initiative led by Mike Horn himself rather than a partnership with an external entity.
• Horn FoundationcoreOthersThe Horn Foundation was established by Mike Horn to raise awareness of environmental and social issues, carry out concrete projects to protect the planet, and improve living conditions. It also enables philanthropists to support high-impact environmental and social initiatives. The foundation is an entity established and associated with Mike Horn.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• David Goggins: David Goggins monetizes his extreme-endurance personal brand through bestselling books (Can't Hurt Me), paid online courses, corporate keynotes, and social media — a near-identical business model to Mike Horn's, with the same resilience/mental-toughness value proposition aimed at individual self-improvement buyers.
• Bear Grylls: Bear Grylls is the most direct comparable — a globally recognized explorer whose personal brand is monetized through TV shows, books, digital content, corporate keynotes, and survival/adventure merchandise, mirroring Mike Horn's exact monetization mix. Both sell adventure-based motivational content to consumers and corporate clients.
• Wim Hof: Wim Hof operates a personal-brand-led business selling online video courses (the Wim Hof Method), in-person workshops, books, and a mobile app — closely paralleling Mike Horn's masterclass + digital conference + corporate speaking model. Both monetize extreme personal experiences as educational content for resilience and self-development.
• Tony Robbins: Tony Robbins is the benchmark for monetizing a personal-development brand through premium digital programs, books, corporate keynotes, and live events — directly comparable to Mike Horn's masterclass, books, and private corporate conference offerings. Both target individual self-improvement buyers and enterprise leadership audiences.
• Les Stroud: Les Stroud (Survivorman) is a survival expert who sells books, online courses, keynote speaking, and branded outdoor gear — the same creator-led mix as Mike Horn. Both turn first-person wilderness experience into digital education, books, and live appearances.

Broad incumbents

• MasterClass: MasterClass is the broad incumbent platform for creator-led premium video courses, directly comparable to Mike Horn's "How to achieve your dreams" masterclass as a product category. Mike Horn is a single creator with owned distribution; MasterClass is the aggregator platform hosting many such creators.
• National Geographic: National Geographic operates the broad incumbent brand for adventure, exploration, and environmental storytelling across TV, books, digital, and live experiences — many of the same content categories Mike Horn operates in, but at global media-scale rather than as a personal brand.

Emerging players

• Ranulph Fiennes: Sir Ranulph Fiennes is a veteran explorer who monetizes his personal brand through books, lectures, and corporate speaking — overlapping Mike Horn's offering but with a heavier emphasis on traditional publishing and a smaller digital/online education footprint.
• Brendan Leonard: Brendan Leonard / Semi-Rad is a smaller-scale outdoor adventure creator monetizing books, newsletters, and speaking — comparable as a personal-brand-driven outdoor storytelling business but at materially smaller scale than Mike Horn.

Others

• Gallimard Jeunesse: Gallimard Jeunesse is a major French children's and adventure book publisher, comparable to Mike Horn's "Le Club des Aventuriers" children's series as a publisher in the same French-language market and genre (adventure for young readers). Relevant as a publishing comparator for the book revenue stream.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@MikeHornexplorer
• Facebookfacebook.com/pangaeamikehorn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mike-horn-sarl
• Instagraminstagram.com/mikehornexplorer

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 Mike Horn SARL