SchmidtColleg GmbH & Co.KG

What SchmidtColleg GmbH & Co.KG does

SchmidtColleg GmbH & Co.KG is a Berlin-based, privately held education and coaching company founded in 1985 that operates under the brand 'Die Unternehmer-Akademie.' The company builds and delivers the UnternehmerEnergie system, a 40-year-old holistic management framework codified in a 600+ page handbook and reportedly applied in over 50,000 companies. Its core product is a portfolio of multi-day in-person seminars covering entrepreneurship, executive leadership, succession planning, youth development, personal development, and longevity — delivered at hotels across Germany (Nürnberg, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Ketsch), Mallorca, and Switzerland, with prices ranging from €1,995 to €9,995.

The company's technology stack centers on a web-based online academy platform supplemented by AI-powered tools, including the Cay von Fournier GPT chatbot (built on ChatGPT with the UE knowledge base) and HBDI thinking style profiling. The 12-month EnergieBooster subscription suite (UEBooster, KIBooster, Vertriebs-Booster, Führungs-Booster) at €299/month converts in-person seminar attendees into recurring revenue with weekly video impulses, monthly live coaching, and AI support. The premium ONE Circle annual network (€2,995/year) and MasterClass annual package (€9,995) layer community-led retention atop the seminar base.

The go-to-market is hybrid: enterprise field sales for high-value seminars and MasterClass, community-led growth through ONE Circle referrals, and self-serve digital distribution for online courses. The company is founder-led by Dr. Dr. Cay von Fournier (dual doctorate in medicine and business), with a lean team of 1-10 employees supported by contracted experts (Frank Fuhrmann, Thorsten Jekel, Morten Wolff, Emily Keppel) and venue partners. Named customers include German Mittelstand and global enterprises (MLP, Volkswagen, Audi, Lindt, REWE, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Lufthansa Systems, Hyundai, PENSKE), though the model is more accurately characterized as serving SME owner-operators rather than enterprise procurement. There is no external investment; the company is privately funded by founder ownership.

Name

SchmidtColleg GmbH & Co.KG

Legal name

SchmidtColleg GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://schmidtcolleg.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SchmidtColleg is a Berlin-based entrepreneur academy founded in 1985 that delivers seminars, coaching, and online programs based on its 40-year-old UnternehmerEnergie management system, serving German Mittelstand owners, executives, and business successors through a hybrid in-person and subscription model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Education and Leadership Development

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Founder/Entrepreneur & Family Business Executive Coaching (EDABANAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Strategy, Decision-Making & Business Acumen Coaching (EDABANAH), Career, Purpose & Executive Wellbeing Coaching (EDABANAI), Health Coaching & Lifestyle Coaching Education (EDAAAHAG)

Keywords

• Leadership development seminars
• Executive coaching programs
• Business succession planning
• Entrepreneur training system
• Online business academy

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin-müggelheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Seminar and Training Programs: In-person 2-5 day seminars on business leadership, management, succession, longevity, and youth development. Core programs include UnternehmerEnergie (€3,295), FührungsEnergie (€1,995), FührungsAusbildung (€4,995), NachfolgeEnergie (€6,995), and Longevity (€3,295). Delivered at hotels in Germany and Mallorca.
2. ONE Circle Membership: Annual entrepreneur network subscription (€2,995/year intro, €349/month) including annual seminar, UEBooster, FührungsBooster, full academy access, weekly coaching, AI assistant, and 10% discount on all bookings.
3. EnergieBooster Subscriptions: Monthly subscription (€299/month) for online coaching programs including UEBooster, KIBooster, Vertriebs-Booster, and Führungs-Booster with weekly video impulses, monthly live coaching, and AI support.
4. MasterClass Program: Annual package (€9,995 for 4 sessions) for exclusive 2-day workshops for entrepreneurs and Mittelstand Hidden Champions, held in Mallorca and Germany.
5. Online Academy Courses: Individual course purchases ranging from €99-997 including KI-Umsetzungskurs, Vertriebs-Booster, Führungs-Booster, TransformationsBooster, and Lehrwerk Digital.
6. Intensive Workshops: Three-day intensive workshops (€3,995) covering Business Model Revolution, Leitbild und Ziele, Mehr Umsatz, KI-Revolution, Zukunfts-Team, and Finanzieller Erfolg in small groups.
7. SchmidtCollegTage Events: Annual 2-day community conference (€1,295) featuring expert speakers and networking for entrepreneurs and executives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

SchmidtColleg is a German entrepreneur academy offering in-person seminars, coaching programs, and online courses built on its proprietary 'UnternehmerEnergie' business management system. Core offerings include flagship multi-day seminars for entrepreneurs (UnternehmerEnergie), executives (FührungsEnergie), and succession planning (NachfolgeEnergie), supplemented by certification programs, intensive workshops, an annual community network (ONE Circle), monthly online coaching subscriptions (EnergieBooster), and an AI-powered digital assistant (Cay von Fournier GPT).

Product overview

SchmidtColleg is a seminar and training company offering a unified system called UnternehmerEnergie for entrepreneurial development, supplemented by multiple specialized programs and an online academy. The core offering consists of seminars for entrepreneurs (UnternehmerEnergie), executives (FührungsEnergie), succession planning (NachfolgeEnergie), youth (JugendEnergie), personal development (LebensEnergie), and longevity/health (Longevity). These are complemented by premium offerings including the MasterClass community, ONE Circle network, SchmidtCollegTage events, and FührungsAusbildung certification. The digital portfolio includes the Online Akademie platform plus four 12-month Booster programs (UEBooster, KIBooster, Vertriebs-Booster, FührungsBooster) for ongoing implementation support, along with the Cay von Fournier GPT AI assistant and six intensive 3-day workshops covering topics like Business Model Revolution and AI implementation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UnternehmerEnergie: The core system for successful and healthy business leadership, combining personal clarity with entrepreneurial success.
• ONE Circle
• EnergieBooster
• MasterClass

Products and services

• UnternehmerEnergie Flagship 3-day seminar system for entrepreneurs and business leaders providing a holistic framework for company management combining strategy, leadership, organization, and personal balance. Includes a 600+ page handbook and HBDI profile.
• FührungsEnergie 2-day seminar for executives and team leaders focusing on modern management methods, team motivation, and personal development. Version 6 incorporates the COPA culture model.
• NachfolgeEnergie 4-module program (8 days total) for business succession planning, addressing psychological and economic aspects of transitioning ownership to the next generation. Requires EntrepreneurEnergie or FührungskräfteEnergie as prerequisite.
• FührungsAusbildung Certified leadership training program with 3 modules (ICH, DU, WIR) over 6 days, providing in-depth development of leadership competencies. Requires EntrepreneurEnergie or FührungskräfteEnergie as prerequisite.
• JugendEnergie 2-day seminar for young people aged 16-26 covering time management, personality profiles, motivation, communication, and future skills including AI.
• LebensEnergie 3-day personal development seminar focusing on self-discovery, inner clarity, life vision, and values-based living for entrepreneurs.
• Longevity 5-day wellness seminar for entrepreneurs combining medical diagnostics, mental strength training, nutrition, sleep optimization, and longevity science. Held at Lindner Hotel Mallorca.
• MasterClass Exclusive annual package (€9,995 for 4 sessions) of 2-day workshops for entrepreneurs and Mittelstand Hidden Champions combining learning, peer exchange, and networking. Held in Mallorca and Germany.
• SchmidtCollegTage Annual 2-day community conference (€1,295 per person) featuring expert speakers, workshops, and networking for entrepreneurs and executives.
• ONE Circle Premium entrepreneur network with annual subscription (€2,995/year intro or €349/month) including annual seminar, UEBooster, FührungsBooster, full academy access, weekly coaching, AI assistant, and 10% discount on all bookings.
• Online Akademie Online learning platform providing individual courses (€99-€997), recorded webinars, whitepapers, and digital materials. Includes both free and paid content for ongoing learning.
• UEBooster 12-month online program (€299/month) with weekly video impulses, monthly live coaching with Cay von Fournier, monthly online seminars, and AI support for implementing the UnternehmerEnergie system.
• KIBooster 12-month AI-focused program (€299/month) teaching practical AI tool implementation (ChatGPT, Claude), prompt engineering, custom AI agents, and business automation. Includes weekly video impulses and monthly live coaching.
• Vertriebs-Booster 12-month sales optimization program (€299/month) covering sales architecture, AI-powered sales tools, CLV strategy, storytelling, negotiation tactics, and digital sales techniques.
• FührungsBooster 12-month leadership development program (€299/month) with weekly video impulses, monthly live coaching with Frank Fuhrmann, and AI-powered leadership assistant.
• Cay von Fournier GPT AI chatbot powered by GPT technology with embedded UnternehmerEnergie knowledge base, functioning as a 24/7 personal assistant to answer questions, prepare meetings, and plan workshops for subscribers.
• Business Model Revolution Workshop 3-day intensive workshop (max 8 entrepreneurs) for analyzing and redesigning business models under AI disruption pressures. Includes the UE Business Model Canvas and AI transformation tools.
• Die KI-(R)evolution Workshop 3-day intensive workshop on AI implementation for SMEs covering AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude), prompt engineering, custom AI agents, automation, and hybrid human-AI organization. Led by Thorsten Jekel and Cay von Fournier.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully implemented in 50,000+ companies over 40 years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Frank FuhrmanncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeadership expert and Praxisreferent for FührungsEnergie, FührungsAusbildung, and other programs. Co-leads weekly coaching sessions in ONE Circle and delivers Führungs-Booster content.
• Thorsten JekelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital and AI expert with 20+ years experience. Co-develops KIBooster program and delivers AI-related workshops including KI-(R)evolution. Provides prompt libraries and AI agent guidance.
• Morten WolffminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSales expert delivering Vertriebs-Booster and workshop content on sales architecture, storytelling, and digital sales strategies.
• Emily KeppelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSuccession expert co-leading NachfolgeEnergie program and Nachfolge-Leicht-Gemacht webinar alongside Cay von Fournier.
• Norbert SamhammerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongevity and prevention expert from for you eHealth GmbH. Co-delivers Longevity seminar on health optimization, biomarkers, and nutrition.
• Wellnesshotel Forsthaus FürthcoreOthersPrimary German seminar venue for EntrepreneurEnergie and other programs. Located near Nürnberg.
• Seehotel KetschminorOthersSeminar venue for NachfolgeEnergie program.
• Lindner HotelscoreOthersPreferred hotel partner for MasterClass Mallorca and Longevity programs at Lindner Hotel Mallorca Portals Nous and Lindner Hotel Mallorca Bendinat.
• Galgenen Switzerland VenueminorOthersPrivate venue for Business Model Revolution workshop in Kanton Schwyz, Switzerland.
• for you eHealth GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealth company recommended by Cay von Fournier for longevity products and health diagnostics. Affiliate partnership with commission on sales.
• IronMaxx Nutrition GmbH & Co. KGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports nutrition company recommended by Cay von Fournier for performance and energy optimization. Affiliate partnership with commission on sales.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Cegos Group: Global corporate training and leadership development group with a strong German presence offering leadership, project management, and executive education across multiple formats including in-person seminars and digital learning. Competes with SchmidtColleg in leadership training for SMEs and enterprises but operates at a much larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Tony Robbins Companies: US-based entrepreneur and leadership coaching empire offering high-ticket seminars, masterminds, business coaching, and digital programs targeting business owners and executives. Highly comparable business model (premium seminars, coaching programs, and community), with SchmidtColleg effectively operating the German Mittelstand equivalent at a fraction of the scale.
• Gallup Germany: Global analytics and consulting firm with a strong German practice in employee engagement, strengths-based leadership, and executive coaching. Comparable in the executive coaching and leadership assessment space, with the HBDI-style thinking profile offering from SchmidtColleg touching similar personalization mechanics.
• FranklinCovey Germany: Global leadership and performance consulting firm with established operations in Germany, offering proprietary methodologies (e.g., "The 7 Habits"), executive education, and corporate training. Overlaps with SchmidtColleg's FührungsEnergie and COPA culture model offerings but at a much larger international scale.

Direct peers

• Haufe Akademie: One of Germany's largest corporate training providers, offering seminars, certifications, and e-learning across leadership, management, and professional skills for SMEs and enterprises. Closely comparable to SchmidtColleg in target market (German Mittelstand), delivery model (seminars plus digital), and product breadth, but at significantly larger scale.
• Dale Carnegie Training Germany: Global leadership and management training franchise with a long-established German operation delivering in-person seminars, executive coaching, and corporate programs. Directly comparable in premium seminar-based leadership training targeting professionals and managers, with a similar instructor-led methodology.
• WEKA Business Akademie: German professional training provider delivering seminars, certifications, and digital learning for SMEs and business leaders across topics like leadership, finance, and management. Direct overlap with SchmidtColleg's target audience of German Mittelstand owners and managers, with comparable seminar-based delivery model.
• Malik Management Zentrum St. Gallen: Swiss management education organization founded by Fredmund Malik, providing systems-based management training, leadership programs, and certification courses. Highly comparable in methodology (proprietary holistic system), DACH focus, and premium seminar-based delivery targeting executives and entrepreneurs.
• Kienbaum: German consulting and executive development firm with deep offerings in leadership development, executive coaching, and organizational consulting. Overlaps directly with SchmidtColleg's FührungsEnergie and FührungsAusbildung programs and serves a similar Mittelstand and corporate client base.

Regional players

• Quadriga Hochschule Berlin: Berlin-based private university specializing in executive education, leadership programs, and management certifications, also operating in the DACH region. Comparable in premium executive education targeting mid-career professionals and executives, though anchored in academic degree programs rather than SME coaching.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/SchmidtCollegtv
• Facebookfacebook.com/SchmidtColleg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schmidtcolleg
• Instagraminstagram.com/schmidtcolleg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 SchmidtColleg GmbH & Co.KG