The leadership development training industry in DACH focuses on enhancing professional skills and competencies. Companies involved range from large corporations to innovative startups, offering services such as coaching, workshops, and digital platforms. Emerging trends include the rise of hybrid learning environments and a growing emphasis on personalized development. Notably, technology's integration into training solutions is shaping new learning experiences. The sector is poised for growth as organizations realize the importance of cultivating effective leadership and fostering employee engagement. With an increased push for diversity and inclusion, the industry is evolving to meet the changing needs of the workforce.


In 2024, the DACH region saw a vibrant array of investors in the leadership development training sector, featuring venture capital firms and corporate giants. Geographic diversity is evident, with firms based in cities like Berlin, Cologne, and Vienna. Most investors are relatively small in size, with employee counts between 11-50, but a few giants, like The Adecco Group, surpass 10,000. Founded between the late 19th century and 2018, these firms have counted numerous investments—with deal counts ranging from 3 to 45—highlighting their active participation in this critical market segment.


Top 12 Leadership Development Training Investors in DACH


1. APX Talent Pool

  • Website: apx.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • Founded year: 2018
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 7
  • LinkedIn: apx-talent-pool

APX Talent Pool is a venture capital firm based in Berlin, founded in 2018, that specializes in earliest-stage investments in startups with digital business models. Backed by prominent entities like Axel Springer and Porsche, APX provides funding and growth assistance to ambitious pre-seed startups, helping them navigate the challenges of launching and scaling their businesses. Notably, APX has participated in significant transactions within the leadership development training context, including a $5 million seed investment in Sharpist, a Berlin-based digital ecosystem for personalized learning and development. Additionally, they have invested in Flow Lab, a mental fitness startup, which underscores their commitment to supporting innovative solutions that enhance leadership capabilities. Other investments include Innential and Emocional, both of which are in the early stages of development, indicating APX's focus on nurturing emerging companies that may contribute to the leadership development sector.


2. Speedinvest

  • Website: speedinvest.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • Founded year: 2011
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 45
  • LinkedIn: speedinvest

Speedinvest is a venture capital firm based in Vienna, Austria, founded in 2011. The firm specializes in funding early-stage tech startups across Europe, providing both capital and hands-on support to help these companies scale their operations. Speedinvest's investment focus spans various technology sectors, including Deep Tech, Fintech, and SaaS. Notably, they have been involved in multiple funding rounds for CoachHub, a Berlin-based digital coaching platform that aims to enhance leadership development through personalized coaching. CoachHub raised significant amounts in several rounds, including $20 million in Series A (2019), $30 million in Series B (2020), and $80 million in Series B (2021), culminating in a $200 million Series C round in 2022. This consistent investment in CoachHub highlights Speedinvest's commitment to supporting leadership development initiatives within the tech ecosystem.


3. Bertelsmann Multimedia Gmbh


Bertelsmann Multimedia Gmbh, a corporate investor based in Neunkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, is part of Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA, a global media, services, and education company. With over 10,000 employees, Bertelsmann operates in various sectors, including television, streaming, book publishing, and music production. The company has actively invested in the education sector, particularly in companies that focus on upskilling and professional development. Notable transactions include their participation in Emeritus, which raised $650 million to expand its educational offerings, and their lead investment in Udacity's $105 million Series D round, which aims to enhance online learning experiences. These investments reflect Bertelsmann's strategic focus on fostering education and leadership development through innovative solutions.


4. IBB Ventures


IBB Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 1997. The firm specializes in early-stage financing and has invested in over 270 startups, providing not only funding but also expertise and resources to help these businesses thrive in a competitive market. Among their notable transactions, IBB Ventures has invested in CareerFoundry, which raised over $5 million to enhance community engagement and student success, directly contributing to leadership and career development. Additionally, their investment in EduBITES, an EdTech company, further emphasizes their focus on educational initiatives that can foster leadership skills. IBB Ventures also participated in funding rounds for Likeminded, a digital mental health solution provider, which can play a role in leadership development by promoting mental well-being in professional settings.


5. Sgs

  • Website: sgs.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
  • Founded year: 1878
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 5
  • LinkedIn: sgs

SGS S.A. is a leading testing, inspection, and certification company based in Geneva, Switzerland, founded in 1878. With a global presence and a workforce of over 10,000 employees, SGS provides independent services to ensure product quality and compliance across various industries. In recent years, SGS has made strategic acquisitions to enhance its training portfolio, particularly in leadership development. Notably, in 2017, SGS acquired Leadership Directions Pty Ltd, which specializes in leadership and organizational development training, generating annual revenues exceeding AUD 4.6 million. This acquisition aimed to establish a foothold for SGS Academy in the Eastern Australian market. Furthermore, in 2019, they acquired LeanSis Productividad, a company focused on operational and manufacturing training services, further diversifying their training offerings. These transactions highlight SGS's commitment to enhancing their training services, particularly in leadership development.


6. Calm/Storm

  • Website: calmstorm.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • Founded year: 2020
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 13
  • LinkedIn: calm-storm

Calm/Storm Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Vienna, Austria, founded in 2020. The firm specializes in early-stage investments, primarily in health tech startups, and emphasizes supporting purpose-driven founders. Their portfolio showcases diverse teams tackling sensitive health issues. Notably, they have invested in Leaders21com, a company that likely has a focus on leadership development, and in Doshi App, which is extending its gamified learning experiences into financial services and developing AI features for personalized learning. These transactions highlight Calm/Storm's engagement in areas that intersect with leadership development training, despite their primary focus on health tech.


7. Capnamic

  • Website: capnamic.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
  • Founded year: 2012
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 6
  • LinkedIn: capnamic-ventures

Capnamic is a venture capital firm based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, founded in 2012. The firm specializes in early-stage investments, providing funding and strategic support to startups to help them thrive in competitive markets. Capnamic focuses on delivering high returns through careful portfolio management and investment strategies. Among their notable transactions, they co-led a €20.29M Series A funding round for Sharpist, a Berlin-based company that offers leadership coaching and development services. This investment highlights Capnamic's commitment to the leadership development training sector. Additionally, they participated in the funding rounds for how.fm, a SaaS training platform, which further underscores their interest in training and development solutions. These investments reflect Capnamic's strategy of supporting innovative companies that enhance professional growth and leadership capabilities.


8. HV Capital

  • Website: hvcapital.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
  • Founded year: 2000
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 28
  • LinkedIn: hvventures

HV Capital is a venture capital firm based in Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, founded in 2000. The firm specializes in investing in digital companies and supporting entrepreneurs from seed stage to exit, managing over €2.8 billion in assets. HV Capital has been actively involved in the leadership development training sector, particularly through its investments in CoachHub, a Berlin-based digital coaching platform. CoachHub has successfully raised multiple funding rounds, including a $200 million Series C round in June 2022, and earlier rounds of $80 million and $30 million in 2021 and 2020, respectively. These investments highlight HV Capital's focus on companies that facilitate leadership development and coaching, making them a significant player in this industry. Additionally, HV Capital has invested in Greator, another coaching startup, further emphasizing their commitment to the leadership development training space.


9. Atlantic Labs

  • Website: atlanticlabs.de
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • Founded year: 2013
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 13
  • LinkedIn: atlantic-labs

Atlantic Labs is a venture capital firm based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 2013. The firm supports exceptional, mission-driven founders throughout their entrepreneurial journey, focusing on startups across various sectors, including climate tech, AI, and digital health. Notably, Atlantic Labs has invested in Bunch AI, a company that has raised a total of $4.4 million in seed capital, including a recent $1 million infusion aimed at teaching leadership skills to younger generations. This investment highlights Atlantic Labs' engagement in the leadership development training space, showcasing their strategic guidance and capital support for innovative solutions in this field.


10. allygatr


Allygatr is a Berlin-based investment firm founded in 2012, specializing in HR technology. With a team size of 11-50, they focus on investing in HR tech startups and providing consulting services to help businesses navigate the evolving landscape of human resources technology. In 2023, allygatr participated in a venture round for Skillties, a startup that may offer solutions relevant to leadership training. They also invested in Talent2Go in a seed round in 2024, which could be another player in the HR tech space that supports leadership development. Additionally, their investments in other startups like Candoora and Lene Health further demonstrate their commitment to fostering innovation in the HR sector, which is integral to leadership development.


11. Picus Capital

  • Website: picuscap.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Munich, Bavaria, Germany
  • Founded year: 2015
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 28
  • LinkedIn: picus-capital

Picus Capital is a Munich-based venture capital firm founded in 2015, specializing in early-stage technology investments. With a focus on empowering innovative startups across various sectors, Picus Capital provides not only capital but also strategic guidance and HR support. Their mission is to help entrepreneurs challenge the status quo and build sustainable category leaders globally. Notably, Picus Capital has participated in several transactions relevant to leadership development training, including investments in Junto, an edtech startup aimed at enhancing educational experiences, and Zavvy, an employee enablement platform that focuses on improving workforce capabilities. These investments reflect Picus Capital's commitment to fostering environments conducive to leadership growth and employee development.


12. Redstone


Redstone is a venture capital firm based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 2014. It specializes in investing in technology startups across various sectors, including FinTech, Industrial, Sustainability, and Quantum. Redstone provides investment management services and conducts research on the venture capital landscape, particularly focusing on the participation of pension funds in the startup ecosystem. Notably, Redstone has participated in significant transactions within the EdTech space, such as the Series A funding for Tomorrow University of Applied Sciences, which raised $10 million to enhance its technological infrastructure and expand its academic portfolio. This investment is particularly relevant to leadership development training as it supports the education of future leaders. Additionally, Redstone was involved in the Seed funding round for EduBITES, an EdTech company, indicating their commitment to educational initiatives that can foster leadership skills. Overall, Redstone's focus on innovative educational solutions positions them as a relevant player in the leadership development training sector.



Leadership Development Training Insights: Key Investors in DACH


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
APX Talent PoolBerlin, Berlin, Germany11-5020187
SpeedinvestVienna, Vienna, Austria51-200201145
Bertelsmann Multimedia GmbhNeunkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany10001+3
IBB VenturesBerlin, Berlin, Germany11-50199718
SgsGeneva, Geneva, Switzerland10001+18785
Calm/StormVienna, Vienna, Austria1-10202013
CapnamicCologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany11-5020126
HV CapitalFlensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany11-50200028
Atlantic LabsBerlin, Berlin, Germany11-50201313
allygatrBerlin, Berlin, Germany11-5020123
Picus CapitalMunich, Bavaria, Germany11-50201528
RedstoneBerlin, Berlin, Germany11-50201414


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