Gk Quest Akademie Gmbh

What Gk Quest Akademie Gmbh does

GK Quest Akademie GmbH is a Heidelberg-based, privately-held professional training, coaching, and consulting institute founded in 2001 by Ulrich Gehring and Dieter König. The company operates across the D-A-CH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) through 7 locations — Heidelberg (headquarters) and Berlin as owned offices, plus partner venues in Hamburg, Cologne, Munich, Vienna, and Zurich — and is led by three managing directors: Christiane Leiblein, Philipp Gehring, and Philipp Dinkel. The business is built around five interconnected practice areas: Motivational Interviewing (MI) as the flagship methodology, the Cue by Quest sub-brand for organizational development and coaching, ICF-Praxis for participation-focused work, Zielorientierte Suchtarbeit (goal-oriented addiction work), and Gesundheit & Kommunikation (health and communication).

The core offering centers on Motivational Interviewing, an evidence-based conversation approach developed by Miller & Rollnick, which GK Quest adapts via its proprietary "Heidelberger MI-Schule" methodology with field-specific applications for medicine, justice, social work, pedagogy, coaching, supervision, and leadership. The technology and methodology stack combines MI with PSI (Persönlichkeits-System-Interaktionen), ZRM (Zürcher Ressourcen Modell), the Inneres Team model (Schulz von Thun), and Liberating Structures for large-group facilitation. The proprietary content portfolio includes the MI-Praxisbuch (2024), the DeGeMG 1st Prize-winning "Dein Ding" values card set (2021), KT/KISS controlled-consumption program manuals, and other publications sold through the GK Quest Verlag imprint.

Revenue is generated through a multi-channel professional services model: (1) open-enrollment seminars across 214 annual offerings at 7 D-A-CH locations, with pricing ranging from ~€83 for single-day online seminars to ~€3,916 for the 16-day MI Coaching/Supervision certification; (2) customized Inhouse trainings delivered on-site at client organizations (healthcare, social services, government Jobcenters, probation services, education); (3) remote/online workshops; (4) individual and team coaching and supervision under Cue by Quest; and (5) ancillary product sales (books, card sets, manuals) via the office.gk-quest.de e-commerce shop. The company trains approximately 4,500 participants annually through a network of 51 trainers (15 permanent staff plus ~45 freelance). No external institutional investment has been disclosed; the company remains independently owned by its managing directors.

Name

Gk Quest Akademie Gmbh

Legal name

GK Quest Akademie GmbH

Website

https://gk-quest.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GK Quest Akademie GmbH is a privately-held German training, coaching, and consulting institute founded in 2001, offering Motivational Interviewing, organizational development, addiction-counseling, and health-communication programs across 7 D-A-CH locations to ~4,500 professionals annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Training and Development

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Educational Support Services (611710), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Growth Mindset, Motivation & Goal-Setting Programs (EDAMAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Behavioral Health & MTSS/RTI Tiered SEL Supports (EDAKAMAE), Online/Hybrid Lifelong Learning Platforms & Open Enrollment Programs (EDAAAEAL)

Keywords

• Professional training services
• Motivational interviewing training
• Organizational development consulting
• Addiction counseling education
• Health communication training

Headquarters

HQ city

Heidelberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Training and Seminars: Open enrollment seminars, workshops, and certification programs (MI training, ICF practice, ZoS, Health & Communication) offered at multiple locations across the D-A-CH region. Prices vary by seminar type, duration, and format (in-person vs. remote).
2. Inhouse Training and Consulting: Customized training delivered directly at client organizations (companies, public authorities, healthcare institutions). Pricing negotiated per engagement.
3. Coaching and Supervision: Individual coaching, team coaching, and supervision services for professionals and organizations, offered under the Cue by Quest brand.
4. Publications and Materials: Sale of books, card sets, image cards, and training materials through the GK Quest Shop (office.gk-quest.de). Products include the MI Practice Book, value card sets, image card collections, and specialized manuals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

GK Quest Akademie is a professional training, coaching, and consulting institute that delivers continuing education programs centered on Motivational Interviewing (MI), goal-oriented addiction work (ZoS), ICF-based participatory practice, organizational development (Cue by Quest), and health communication. Services are delivered through open-enrollment seminars across 7 D-A-CH locations, customized inhouse training at client organizations, remote/online workshops, and individual coaching/supervision. The company also publishes and sells proprietary training materials, including card sets and practice books, through its online shop.

Product overview

GK Quest Akademie is a Germany-based education and training institute founded in 2001, offering professional development programs for communication, motivation, and personal development. The academy operates five interconnected practice areas: Motivational Interviewing (MI) as its flagship program, Cue by Quest for organizational consulting and coaching, ICF-Praxis for participation-focused work, Zielorientierte Suchtarbeit (goal-oriented addiction work), and Gesundheit und Kommunikation (health and communication). The portfolio includes single-day seminars, multi-day workshops, certification programs (MI-Ausbildung, KT/KISS training), coaching qualifications, and over 214 seminar offerings annually. Training formats include presence seminars, remote workshops, hybrid formats, and e-learning options across seven locations in the D-A-CH region. The academy also publishes training materials including card sets (Wertekartensets, Momentaufnahmen image cards) and practice books, as well as providing consulting and coaching services through its Cue by Quest brand. The organization serves approximately 4,500 participants annually through a network of 51 trainers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cue by Quest: Consulting and accompaniment services including organizational development, team building, conflict management, coaching, supervision, moderations, and large group events.

Products and services

• Motivational Interviewing (MI) Training Program
• Cue by Quest Consulting and Coaching

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,500 participants trained annually across 214 seminars
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• heyData GmbHminorOthersheyData GmbH (Kantstr. 99, 10627 Berlin, www.heydata.eu) serves as GK Quest's external data protection officer (Datenschutzbeauftragter), as required under GDPR Article 37. heyData provides data privacy compliance advisory services.
• Facebook Ireland Ltd. (Facebook Page)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFacebook Ireland Ltd. (4 Grand Canal Square, Dublin 2, Ireland) hosts GK Quest's Facebook page. GK Quest and Facebook are jointly responsible (Art. 26 DSGVO) for the processing of page insights data. Facebook handles the primary data processing obligations.
• LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company (Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland) hosts GK Quest's LinkedIn company page for professional networking and B2B marketing. The platform is used for employer branding and professional community engagement.
• New Work SE (Xing)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNew Work SE (Dammtorstraße 29-32, 20354 Hamburg) operates the Xing professional network where GK Quest maintains a company profile for professional networking and employer branding purposes.
• Landespsychotherapeutenkammer Baden-Württemberg (LPK)minorOthersGK Quest can apply for continuing education points (Fortbildungspunkte) with the Landespsychotherapeutenkammer Baden-Württemberg on behalf of seminar participants, up to 5 weeks before seminar start. Additional fees are charged after the seminar.
• Psychotherapeutenkammer Bayern (PTK)minorOthersGK Quest can apply for continuing education points with the Psychotherapeutenkammer Bayern on behalf of seminar participants, up to 5 weeks before seminar start.
• Österreichische Apothekerkammer (OAP)minorOthersGK Quest can apply for continuing education points with the Austrian Apothekerkammer (OAP) on behalf of seminar participants, up to 5 weeks before seminar start.
• Partner Training Venues across D-A-CHcoreOthersGK Quest partners with local training venue providers in Hamburg, Cologne, Munich, Vienna, and Zurich to deliver seminars at 7 locations across the D-A-CH region. These partnerships enable geographic reach without owning physical space at all locations.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Management Circle: German executive and professional training provider offering conferences, seminars, and Inhouse programs across leadership, management, and soft-skill topics. Overlaps with GK Quest's Cue by Quest organizational development and leadership offerings for German enterprise customers.
• Forum Institut für Management GmbH: Specialized German professional training provider focusing on compliance, HR, and management development with a strong Inhouse business. Competes for German enterprise L&D budgets adjacent to GK Quest's Cue by Quest portfolio.
• Haufe Akademie: One of Germany's largest corporate training providers, serving mid-market and enterprise customers across D-A-CH with thousands of seminars, certifications, and Inhouse programs. Competes with GK Quest for enterprise training budgets but with a much broader catalog spanning compliance, management, and technical topics.
• Deutsche Angestellten-Akademie (DAA): Large nationwide German continuing-education and workforce-development provider with hundreds of locations, frequently delivering publicly funded training programs. Adjacent competitor for German education-voucher-funded learners and Inhouse contracts.

Direct peers

• MINT – Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers: International professional association that trains, certifies, and disseminates Motivational Interviewing globally—the same core methodology GK Quest teaches. It is the source certification body for MINT membership held by GK Quest's leadership, making it the closest functional peer for MI training quality and trainer credentialing.
• Schulz von Thun Institut für Kommunikation: Hamburg-based institute founded by Friedemann Schulz von Thun, offering training in communication models (including the 'Inneres Team' framework that GK Quest teaches). Comparable in targeting German-speaking professionals with methodology-driven communication and leadership training.
• DGVT – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Verhaltenstherapie: German professional association providing behavioral therapy (CBT) training, certification, and continuing education for therapists. Competes for the same German mental-health and addiction-counseling training budgets that GK Quest serves with its MI and ZoS programs.
• Deutsche Psychologen Akademie: The continuing-education arm of the German Psychological Society (DGPs), offering accredited seminars for psychologists and psychotherapists in psychotherapy-related topics. Overlaps with GK Quest's MI coaching/supervision certifications for licensed mental-health professionals in Germany.

Others

• Deutschsprachige Gesellschaft für Motivierende Gesprächsführung (DeGeMG): German-language professional society that promotes Motivational Interviewing and has recognized GK Quest with its 2021 Dein Ding award. Not a direct competitor but a key ecosystem partner that shapes MI training standards and community influence in the D-A-CH region.

Emerging players

• Metaplan – Gesellschaft für Planung und Organisation: German consultancy and training firm specializing in large-group facilitation, strategic planning, and organizational development—the same space as GK Quest's Cue by Quest brand. Smaller and more boutique than GK Quest but with comparable methodology depth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/gkquestakademie
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gk-quest-akademie-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/gk.quest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Gk Quest Akademie Gmbh