SwissBoardForum

What SwissBoardForum does

SwissBoardForum is a Swiss non-profit membership association (Verein) founded in 2007 and headquartered at Zeughausgasse 18, Bern, that serves practicing and prospective board members (Verwaltungsräte) and foundation board members (Stiftungsrät) across Switzerland. Its core products and services are a structured annual program of 15–20 in-person events across the country (including Forum-Events, Board Peer Talks, President Circles, and an Annual Conference), a suite of publications anchored by the "Handbuch für den Verwaltungsrat" reference handbook published with Cosmos Verlag and the quarterly "Newsletter Point," plus discounted access to a network of continuing-education partners. The association does not build technology products; its core platform is a protected member portal for networking and a confidential board-position matching service.

The business model is subscription-based and simple: individual natural persons pay CHF 500 per calendar year for membership, granting free event access, publications, partner discounts, and connection to a Switzerland-wide network of more than 700 board members. Revenue is supplemented by a tiered partner program spanning Premium Partners (Die Mobiliar, Raiffeisen Schweiz, Forvis Mazars, Diligent), Supporting, Knowledge, Education, and Media partners plus a donor (laflor AG), but no advertising or commercial sponsorship of events is used. Go-to-market is community-led: prospective members are acquired primarily through referrals from existing members and LinkedIn, and the organization runs no paid acquisition channels. The association is governed by a Board of Directors comprising long-serving Swiss board members and is led operationally by Managing Director Mylène Thiébaud with a small secretariat staff of approximately 12 people total.

Name

SwissBoardForum

Legal name

SwissBoardForum

Website

https://swissboardforum.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Short description

SwissBoardForum is a Bern-based non-profit association serving Swiss board and foundation members through a CHF 500 annual membership that provides access to 15–20 annual events, governance publications, and a 700+ member network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services for Corporate Governance

NAICS

Business Associations (81391), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Partnership Management Services (THAHACAK)

Keywords

• Board governance services
• Corporate governance education
• Board member networking
• Professional association services
• Director training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The primary and essentially sole revenue stream is annual membership fees. Individual natural persons pay CHF 500.00 per calendar year for membership, which grants access to all events, publications, the member portal, and the network of over 700 board members across Switzerland.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SwissBoardForum is an independent Swiss membership association (Verein) that provides a Switzerland-wide networking and knowledge platform for sitting board members (Verwaltungsräte) and foundation trustees (Stiftungsräte). For an annual individual membership fee of CHF 500, it bundles 15-20 in-person governance events per year, a reference handbook (Handbuch für den Verwaltungsrat), a quarterly newsletter, expert articles, event materials, and access to a confidential network of more than 700 board professionals.

Product overview

SwissBoardForum is a membership-based networking and knowledge platform for board members (Verwaltungsräte) and foundation trustees in Switzerland. It operates as a unified platform offering event programs (15-20 events annually), publications (including the Handbuch für den Verwaltungsrat handbook, Newsletter Point newsletter, and expert articles), educational partnerships with preferential rates, and access to a network of over 700 members. The core value proposition is 'sharing experience' through personal exchange and practical knowledge transfer. Services are bundled through annual membership (CHF 500) and include event participation, publications access, network connections, and training discounts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered premium partner, supporting partner, knowledge partner, media partner, gönner (donor) and education partner.

• Die Mobiliarpremium partnerOthersDie Mobiliar is a Premium Partner of SwissBoardForum. As Switzerland's oldest cooperative insurer, they support the organization's activities related to board governance and professional development.
• Raiffeisen Schweiz Genossenschaftpremium partnerOthersRaiffeisen Switzerland is a Premium Partner providing support for SwissBoardForum's mission to promote professional board work and corporate governance in Switzerland.
• Forvis Mazars SApremium partnerOthersForvis Mazars, a major accounting and advisory firm, is a Premium Partner supporting SwissBoardForum's governance-focused activities and events.
• Diligentpremium partnerOthersDiligent is a Premium Partner offering governance software solutions. They collaborate with SwissBoardForum on board governance topics.
• Mercuri Urval AGsupporting partnerOthersMercuri Urval is a Supporting Partner, contributing to SwissBoardForum's activities as an executive search and leadership advisory firm.
• HCM International Ltd.knowledge partnerOthersHCM International is a Knowledge Partner contributing expertise in board governance, leadership development, and ESG topics through events and educational programs.
• Information Security Society Switzerland (ISSS)knowledge partnerOthersISSS is a Knowledge Partner providing cybersecurity expertise relevant to board governance and risk management topics.
• mindyourstep GmbHknowledge partnerOthersmindyourstep GmbH is a Knowledge Partner contributing expertise in innovative corporate governance approaches.
• Netzwerk für Innovative Corporate Governance (NICG)knowledge partnerOthersNICG is a Knowledge Partner supporting SwissBoardForum with expertise in innovative corporate governance practices.
• Swiss Ladies Drive GmbHmedia partnerOthersSwiss Ladies Drive GmbH is a Media Partner, providing magazine subscriptions (Ladies Drive Magazine) as a benefit for members.
• laflor AGgönner (donor)Otherslaflor AG supports SwissBoardForum as a donor (Gönner), contributing to the organization's financial independence and activities.
• VR Management AGeducation partnerOthersVR Management AG is an education partner offering board seminars. SwissBoardForum members receive CHF 300 discount on seminar costs. Open board positions are shared with this partner.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD): The largest US membership association for corporate directors, offering education, networking, and a private board community. Directly comparable to SwissBoardForum as a fee-based, member-driven association serving board members.
• Institute of Directors (IoD): UK-based long-standing membership organization for directors and senior leaders, providing training, networking, and policy advocacy. Closely parallels SwissBoardForum's mission of professionalizing board practice through a member network.
• Foundation Board Academy: Swiss-focused education provider specifically for foundation board members. SwissBoardForum serves the same Stiftungsrat audience and lists Foundation Board Academy as an education partner, indicating substantive overlap in target segment.
• VR Management AG: Swiss board advisory and seminar provider for current and aspiring Verwaltungsräte. It is a SwissBoardForum education partner and shares the same board-education and mandate-matching focus, making it a near-direct peer.

Emerging players

• European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI): An international scientific and policy forum on corporate governance with working papers, events, and a membership network. Comparable as a governance-knowledge and convening platform, though it leans more academic than SwissBoardForum's practitioner focus.
• Directors' Roundtable (The Directors Roundtable): Private membership community for public-company directors sharing peer experiences on board challenges. Conceptually mirrors SwissBoardForum's confidential peer-exchange model in a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• economiesuisse: The umbrella association of Swiss business, representing broader industry interests including governance policy. SwissBoardForum board member Gian-Luca Lardi sits on its board, indicating tangible overlap in governance ecosystem.
• EXPERTsuisse: Swiss professional association for audit, tax, and fiduciary experts. Listed as an educational partner of SwissBoardForum and serves a similar professional-membership audience needing accredited development.
• International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN): Global investor-led organization promoting best-practice corporate governance standards. Comparable as a governance membership network, though international and investor-focused rather than Swiss practitioner-focused.

Regional players

• HCM International: Executive education and leadership development firm operating in Switzerland and internationally. Serves as a SwissBoardForum Knowledge Partner and competes for the same board-level executive education spend.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 SwissBoardForum