By Deep Work Club · Last updated: October 2026 · Reading time: 12 minutes
At some point, everyone who leads a team or builds a company looks for outside support. Germany has plenty of leadership coaching programs, but they are hard to compare: facilitated peer groups, in-person academies, digital 1:1 coaching and international networks all use similar language for very different products. This comparison maps eight providers by format, audience, cadence and published price. It shows who each program is built for and what to check before you commit.
Key takeaways
There is no single best leadership coaching program. What matters is the format (peer group, academy or 1:1), the audience (founder, team lead, established CEO) and the time you can realistically protect.
Peer formats such as EO, Vistage or the Deep Work Club circles put you in a room with people in a similar position. 1:1 coaching such as Sparrks, Haufe Akademie or Founder Coach works on your individual issue.
Many networks have hard eligibility gates: EO requires more than US$1M in revenue, Founder Coach a VC-backed company with a team of at least 15.
Only EO, Ten More In and Deep Work Club publish full prices. Vistage, Sparrks and Founder Coach publish no figure; Haufe Akademie and TAM Akademie show none on the program pages we checked.
Startup team leads have few options, because most networks require ownership or revenue.
Which leadership coaching programs are available in Germany?
Founders and executives in Germany can choose between three groups of offers: facilitated peer groups and networks (Deep Work Club, Vistage, EO), structured programs and academies (Ten More In, TAM Akademie) and 1:1 coaching (Haufe Akademie, Sparrks, Founder Coach). The table compares the key facts side by side.
Provider / offer | Format | Who it's for | Cadence & location | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Deep Work Club: Leadership Circle | Facilitated peer group, max. 10 | Team leads, Heads of and Chiefs of Staff at Berlin startups and scale-ups | Every two weeks, 60 min, online | €189/month excl. VAT (employer) or €179/month incl. VAT (private), 3-month minimum |
Deep Work Club: Inner Circle | Curated circle on the patterns behind performance, max. 10, under NDA | Founders, leads and operators | Every two weeks, 90 min, in person in Berlin | €179/month incl. VAT, 6 months |
Deep Work Club: Founder Circle | Closed founder circle, max. 10, under NDA | Founders and co-founders with a team | Monthly, 2 hrs, online and onsite in Berlin | €249/month excl. VAT, 6 months |
Vistage | Peer advisory group led by a Chair, plus individual coaching | CEOs and owners | Monthly · in Germany incl. Hessen and Bavaria | Not published |
EO (Forum) | Member forum, 6–10 people, peer-moderated | Founders and owners with US$1M+ revenue | Monthly · chapters incl. Berlin, Hamburg, Munich | US$2,630/yr + US$3,500 initiation + chapter dues |
EO Accelerator | Learning days + accountability group | Founders at US$250,000–999,999 revenue | 4 full learning days/yr + monthly group | US$1,750/yr excl. chapter fees |
Ten More In | Online program with a "Close Circle" of 4 | Women who lead or want to lead | 6 weeks (Leadership Core), online | €3,950 incl. VAT (private) / €4,150 excl. VAT (company) |
TAM Akademie | Leadership program in cohorts (approx. 13) | First-time leaders, team leads, founders of small companies | 6 days in 3 blocks over 2 months, Berlin or online | Not on the program page (info pack) |
Haufe Akademie | 1:1 coaching with coach matching | Executives and top management | Up to 12 months, online and on site | Billed per booked hour, no figure on the coaching page |
Sparrks | Digital 1:1 coaching, B2B | Leaders and talent, via their employer | 5 sessions of 45 min over 3–6 months | Not published |
Founder Coach | 1:1 CEO coaching + workshops, community, masterminds | Founder-CEOs of VC-backed tech companies, Series A–C, team of 15+ | 12-month engagement, location-independent, in English | Not published, application only |
Information as of October 2026, checked on each provider's website (sources at the end). Prices and terms change, so confirm directly with the provider before deciding.
How we compared: We measured every provider against the same criteria: format, group size, audience and eligibility, cadence, location and published price. All information comes from the providers' own websites. Anything we could not confirm there is not in this article. There is no ranking and no paid placement.
Disclosure: This comparison is published by Deep Work Club, and Deep Work Club is one of the providers compared. Our entry follows the same criteria as everyone else's. For several of the profiles below, another provider is the better fit, and we say which.
What should you look for when choosing?
The key question is not which provider is best, but which format fits your problem. Check five things: whether you need a group or a coach, who else will be in the room, how much time you really have, whether you meet the eligibility criteria and how the price adds up over time.
Format: group, academy or 1:1? A facilitated peer group shows you how others solved the same situation. An academy teaches structured tools. 1:1 coaching works on your personal issue, at your pace.
Peer quality and curation. Who sits in the room with you, and how is the group put together? Eligibility gates such as minimum revenue are one answer, a selection conversation is another. Ask whether direct competitors are kept apart.
Time and cadence. 60 minutes every two weeks, half a day a month or six full training days are very different commitments. Choose by the time you can actually protect.
Audience and access. Many networks require ownership, revenue or funding. Employed team leads are often not eligible at all.
Pricing model. Annual dues with an initiation fee, a monthly fee with a minimum term, a program fee or an hourly rate: add up the total over the time you will realistically stay.
What does each provider offer?
The eight providers differ mainly in whether they put you in a fixed group or coach you individually, and which role they are built for. The profiles describe format, audience and price as the providers publish them, and say who each offer fits best.
1. Deep Work Club: three facilitated circles, split by role
Base: Berlin · Format: Facilitated small groups (max. 10), plus 1:1 coaching · Facilitator: Lea Mersch · Price: €179 to €249 per month depending on the circle (information as of October 2026)
Deep Work Club works with fixed, facilitated groups rather than seminars. All three circles are facilitated by co-founder Lea Mersch, a licensed psychotherapist (CBT and schema therapy), leadership coach and former professional basketball player. Groups are curated, and direct competitors are not placed in the same circle.
Leadership Circle: for team leads, Heads of and Chiefs of Staff at Berlin startups and scale-ups, in other words employed leaders with people responsibility. Max. 10 people, every two weeks for 60 minutes online, with topics coming from the group rather than a fixed curriculum. €189 per month excl. VAT when the employer pays, or €179 per month incl. VAT when paying privately, both with a three-month minimum and monthly cancellation afterwards.
Inner Circle: for founders, leads and operators whose lives look good from the outside while the same inner patterns follow them from role to role. Max. 10 people, every two weeks for 90 minutes in person in Berlin, under NDA. €179 per month incl. VAT with a six-month commitment. Explicitly not a therapy group; anyone in an acute crisis is, according to the provider, helped to find suitable 1:1 support first.
Founder Circle: for founders and co-founders with a team who bring real cases: a decision, a conflict, a hire. Max. 10 founders, once a month for two hours, online and onsite in Berlin, under NDA. €249 per month excl. VAT with a six-month commitment.
A good fit if you lead in a startup or scale-up and want a small, confidential room with people in a similar position, with no revenue gate. Less of a fit if you want a curriculum with a certificate (TAM Akademie is closer) or a large international network (EO is closer).
2. Vistage: the peer advisory classic for CEOs
In Germany since: 2003 · Format: Peer advisory group led by a Chair, plus individual coaching · Group size: 12–16 CEOs (international figure) · Price: not published
Vistage has run confidential CEO groups for more than 65 years and says it is active in 40 countries. Groups meet monthly, led by a Chair, typically a former CEO, who also coaches members individually. Vistage has been active in Germany since 2003, with regional organisations including Hessen and Bavaria. The German website was not reachable when we checked; the information comes from vistage.com and Vistage press releases. Vistage publishes no price.
A good fit for CEOs and owners of established companies who want an experienced Chair and a long-term group. For early-stage founders it usually comes too early.
3. EO (Entrepreneurs' Organization): a global network with a revenue gate
Format: Forum of 6–10 members, monthly, moderated by a trained fellow member · Chapters in Germany: incl. Berlin, Hamburg, Munich · Price: US$2,630 annual dues + US$3,500 one-time initiation, plus chapter dues
EO is a network for founders, co-founders, owners and controlling shareholders. At its core is the Forum, a confidential group of six to ten members that meets monthly and is moderated by a trained member rather than a paid outsider. The gate is clear: more than US$1M in annual revenue. Venture-backed companies can qualify instead with US$2M raised privately and ten full-time employees, and then have three years to reach the revenue threshold. Some chapters also state an age limit (join before 50). EO publishes its fees: US$2,630 per year and US$3,500 initiation globally, plus chapter dues, which in Berlin are €2,127.50 per year and €1,395 initiation, and in Hamburg €1,300 per year and €1,500 initiation.
EO Accelerator is the on-ramp below the threshold: for founders with US$250,000 to 999,999 in revenue, with four full-day learning events a year and a monthly accountability group. Cost: US$1,750 per year, excluding chapter fees. According to EO, reaching the US$1M mark takes about 24 months on average.
A good fit for founders with established revenue who want a large international network with fixed peer structures. EO is not open to employed executives.
4. Ten More In: online program for women in leadership
Founders: Lea-Sophie Cramer and Lia Grünhage · Format: Online program with live sessions and a "Close Circle" · Price: €3,950 incl. VAT (self-payers) / €4,150 excl. VAT (company-paid)
Ten More In is for women who lead or want to lead, in any industry and role, with at least two years of work experience. The Leadership Core program runs for six weeks, with one live session a week and one session in a "Close Circle", a small group of four participants. The provider estimates six to ten hours a week. Experienced leaders can join the eight-week Leadership Excellence program. The program runs online only, with optional meetups and an annual Leader Summit in Berlin.
A good fit if you want a clearly bounded, structured learning sprint with peer exchange. If you want an ongoing room for live decisions, a standing peer group fits better.
5. TAM Akademie: leadership program in person and online
Base: Berlin-Kreuzberg · Format: TAM Leadership Programm, 6 training days in 3 blocks over 2 months · Price: not on the program page, in the info pack
TAM Akademie describes itself as Germany's oldest trainer academy. Its TAM Leadership Programm is for first-time leaders, team and department leads, founders and managing directors of small companies. It runs part-time over two months, with six days in three two-day blocks, either at its own loft in Berlin or online, and ends with the diploma "Practitioner of Modern Leadership". According to TAM, each cohort has around 13 leaders, about 80 percent of them from startups and scale-ups. C-level leaders have a separate executive program.
A good fit for new leaders who want to learn the craft in a fixed cohort. Less suited if you want long-term support beyond the program.
6. Haufe Akademie: business coaching with matching
Format: Executive and top-management coaching · Matching: three coach suggestions within 48 hours · Price: billed per booked coaching hour
Haufe Akademie is one of Germany's large continuing-education providers. For leaders, the relevant offer is its business coaching: an algorithm and an expert team suggest three coaches based on location, expertise, seniority, personality and methods, and you pick one. Coaching can run for up to twelve months, online, on site or mixed. You pay only for booked hours; the coaching page we checked showed no figure.
A good fit for executives in established companies and HR teams buying coaching in a structured way. It is not a peer format.
7. Sparrks: compact digital 1:1 coaching
Format: Digital 1:1 coaching, 5 sessions of 45 minutes over 3–6 months · Sales model: B2B · Price: not published
Sparrks sells coaching to companies that want to develop their leaders and talent, for example during role changes, leadership programs or transformations. A coaching journey includes five digital 1:1 sessions over three to six months. After a briefing, Sparrks recommends a coach within 48 hours from a pool it puts at more than 280 coaches. It also offers team coaching. Sparrks publishes no prices.
A good fit if your employer pays for coaching and you want to work on a clearly defined topic. As an individual, you usually cannot book Sparrks directly.
8. Founder Coach: 1:1 for CEOs of VC-backed tech companies
Founder: Dave Bailey · Format: 1:1 coaching at the core, plus monthly live workshops, a private community, masterminds and events · Price: not published, application only
Founder Coach is clearly built for founder-CEOs of VC-backed tech companies, usually Series A to C. The line is explicit: no teams under 15 people, no pre-revenue companies, CEOs only, no other executives. A first month is followed by a twelve-month engagement. The offer is in English and not tailored to Germany; its flagship in-person event takes place in London. Founder Coach discusses the price only after the application call.
A good fit for English-speaking CEOs of growing VC-backed startups whose hardest problems are the board, fundraising and the leadership team.
Which program fits whom?
The right choice depends mostly on your role. Early-stage founders have different options from established CEOs, and employed team leads are not eligible for many networks at all. The overview maps typical situations to the formats built for them.
Your situation | Formats that fit |
|---|---|
Founder with a team, want to work through real cases with other founders | Deep Work Club Founder Circle; from US$1M revenue also EO Forum |
Founder below US$1M revenue, want structure and accountability | EO Accelerator, Deep Work Club Founder Circle |
CEO of a VC-backed tech startup with 15+ people, English is fine | Founder Coach |
Established CEO or owner, want an experienced Chair | Vistage, EO |
Team lead, Head of or Chief of Staff at a startup | Deep Work Club Leadership Circle, TAM Akademie |
New to leading, want structured tools | TAM Akademie, Ten More In |
The same inner patterns show up in every role (self-doubt, unable to switch off) | Deep Work Club Inner Circle; in an acute crisis, 1:1 support first |
Executive in a corporate or Mittelstand company, employer pays | Haufe Akademie, Sparrks |
Woman in leadership, want a program plus a network | Ten More In |
What do leadership coaching programs cost?
Prices range from €179 a month for a facilitated peer group to several thousand euros in annual dues plus initiation fees for international networks. About half of the providers in this comparison publish no price. Compare the total cost over the minimum term, not just the monthly fee.
Published prices (information as of October 2026):
Offer | Price | Minimum commitment |
|---|---|---|
Deep Work Club Leadership Circle | €189/month excl. VAT (employer) or €179/month incl. VAT (private) | 3 months, then monthly |
Deep Work Club Inner Circle | €179/month incl. VAT | 6 months |
Deep Work Club Founder Circle | €249/month excl. VAT | 6 months |
EO Accelerator | US$1,750/yr excl. chapter fees | 1 year |
Ten More In Leadership Core | €3,950 incl. VAT (private) / €4,150 excl. VAT (company) | 6 weeks |
EO (Forum) | US$2,630/yr + US$3,500 initiation + chapter dues (Berlin: €2,127.50/yr + €1,395) | Annual membership |
No published price: Vistage, Sparrks and Founder Coach publish no figure. Haufe Akademie bills per booked coaching hour and TAM Akademie refers to its info pack; neither showed a figure on the program pages we checked.
Two things help when comparing. First, initiation fees are sunk on day one. At EO Berlin, US$3,500 and €1,395 are due before your first Forum meeting, whether or not the group turns out to fit. Second, calculate over the realistic duration. A monthly fee with a short minimum term carries a different risk from an annual membership. Many participants have the cost covered by their employer's learning budget; check upfront whether the provider can invoice your company.
Frequently asked questions
Which leadership coaching is best for founders? For founders, peer formats are often more valuable than 1:1 coaching alone, because you see how other founders made the same decisions. Without a revenue gate there is the Deep Work Club Founder Circle; from US$1M in revenue the EO Forum, and below that EO Accelerator. For CEOs of VC-backed tech companies with 15+ people, Founder Coach is an option.
What is the difference between 1:1 coaching and a peer group? 1:1 coaching works on your personal issue, at your pace and in full confidence. A peer group brings several perspectives from people in a similar position and accountability over months. Many leaders use both: the group for perspective, the coach for their own patterns.
Are there leadership programs with in-person sessions in Germany? Yes. TAM Akademie runs its leadership program in Berlin or online, the Deep Work Club Inner Circle meets in person in Berlin and the Founder Circle online and in Berlin. EO and Vistage meet regionally in their chapters and groups.
Are there peer groups for team leads rather than founders? Yes, but few. Most networks require ownership or revenue. The Deep Work Club Leadership Circle is built for team leads, Heads of and Chiefs of Staff at startups. Ten More In is open to women who lead or want to lead.
What does a leadership coaching program cost? Facilitated peer groups start at €179 a month (Deep Work Club, as of October 2026). A six-week program such as Ten More In Leadership Core costs €3,950 incl. VAT. EO charges US$2,630 in annual dues plus initiation and chapter fees. Vistage, Sparrks and Founder Coach publish no prices.
Can my employer pay for leadership coaching? Often, yes. Sparrks and Haufe Akademie sell directly to companies, while Ten More In and Deep Work Club have company rates or invoice your employer. Ask about your learning budget first and decide whether to book privately or through the company.
In summary
There is no single best leadership coaching program, but there is a fitting format for almost every situation. Established CEOs and owners find experienced peers and firm structures at Vistage or EO. Executives in corporates and the Mittelstand get 1:1 coaching through Haufe Akademie or Sparrks, often paid by the employer. New leaders learn the craft at TAM Akademie or, as women in leadership, at Ten More In. CEOs of VC-backed tech companies get tightly focused 1:1 work at Founder Coach. And if you lead in a startup or scale-up and want a small, confidential room with people in a similar position, Deep Work Club runs three circles: for team leads, for founders, and for the inner patterns behind your own performance.
More on the peer format: Peer groups for founders and CEOs in Germany compared and why leaders learn most from each other.
Don't want to figure this out alone? In the Leadership Circle, up to ten leaders from Berlin startups and scale-ups meet regularly, facilitated by Lea Mersch. Founders can join the Founder Circle; for the patterns behind your performance there is the Inner Circle. Book a free intro call
Sources
All provider information checked in October 2026 on the following pages:
Deep Work Club: Leadership Circle, https://deepwork.club/deep-work-leadership-circle · Inner Circle, https://deepwork.club/inner-circle · Founder Circle, https://deepwork.club/founder-circle
Vistage: How Vistage works, https://www.vistage.com/how-vistage-works/ · Press release "Vistage expands CEO peer advisory to new regions in Germany" (9 Sep 2024), https://vistage.com/press-center/press-release/vistage-expands-ceo-peer-advisory-to-new-regions-in-germany/ · Press release "Vistage partners with leaders in Hessen and Bavaria …" (30 Mar 2022), https://vistage.com/press-center/press-release/vistage-partners-with-leaders-in-hessen-and-bavaria-to-expand-ceo-peer-advisory-in-germany/
Entrepreneurs' Organization: Membership, https://www.eonetwork.org/membership/ · Forum, https://www.eonetwork.org/membership/forum/ · Accelerator FAQs, https://www.eonetwork.org/accelerator/faqs/ · Membership Eligibility Procedures (updated 6 Mar 2026) · Chapter fact sheets Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, https://member.eonetwork.org/berlin/about-our-chapter · Membership qualification (chapter pages, e.g. https://member.eonetwork.org/italy/membership-qualification/)
Ten More In: Program, https://tenmorein.com/programm · FAQ, https://tenmorein.com/faq
TAM Akademie: Leadership training, https://tam-akademie.de/ausbildungen-programme/weiterbildung-fuehrungskraefte/
Haufe Akademie: Business coaching, https://www.haufe-akademie.de/business-coaching
Sparrks: https://sparrks.io/
Founder Coach: https://www.foundercoach.com/ · Coaching, https://www.foundercoach.com/coaching