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Thrive Academy and Client Attraction Summit Reviews, Complaints, and Program Facts
Our public reviews with links to every source, what our programs include, how the Client Attraction Summit works, our refund and guarantee terms, and how to reach a real human. No matter what you have read elsewhere, this is the page we stand behind.
Last updated September 14, 2026
The company this page describes
Thrive Academy in Felton, California
Thrive Academy is a business training and coaching company founded in 2004 by Jesse Koren and Sharla Jacobs. It serves Coaches and Holistic Practitioners through the Client Attraction Summit, Client Attraction Mastery, Platinum, and Diamond programs.
For more than 22 years, Thrive Academy has helped Coaches and Holistic Practitioners attract clients, price and package their services, enroll clients through Heartselling®, and build toward consistent $10,000 to $30,000 months.
Not the other organizations with similar names
This Thrive Academy is not affiliated with Thrive Coach Academy, Flourish & Thrive Academy, iThrive Academy, ThriveCart, or the Thrive Academy residential school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Reviews or complaints about those organizations do not describe Thrive Academy in Felton, California.
Verified business facts
Thrive Academy at a glance
- Business
- Thrive Academy
Rejuvenate Training, Inc. - Founded
- 2004
22+ years in business - Founders
- Jesse Koren
Sharla Jacobs - Programs
- Delivered live online
through Zoom and the Members Hub - Mailing address
- 6101 Gushee St #4040
Felton, CA 95018 - Previous office
- 630 Water Street
1729 Seabright Ave.
Santa Cruz, California - Who we serve
- Coaches and
Holistic Practitioners - Direct support
- 800-632-2944
[email protected] - Members served
- 4,000+ in paid programs
16,000+ Summit attendees - Member-reported results
- $500M+ collective sales
since tracking began in 2010 - Yelp
- 4.7 stars
from 23 reviews - Better Business Bureau
- A+ rating
not BBB accredited - 98% recommend
public recommendations - Share One
- 7 identity-verified videos
recorded in 2026
Thrive Academy previously operated from a physical office in Santa Cruz, California. Today its programs are delivered live online, while its current public address is a mailing address in Felton.
Independent review sources
Reviews across platforms
Yelp: 4.7 stars from 23 reviews. Read every review on Yelp.
Better Business Bureau: A+ rating. Two complaints in more than 22 years, both answered and closed. Thrive Academy is not BBB accredited. View the BBB profile.
Facebook: 98% recommend. Read recommendations on Facebook.
Google Business Profile: The official profile is public while business verification is pending. View Thrive Academy on Google.
Trustpilot: new profile established in September 2026. It currently has one published customer review, rated 5 stars. Read the review on Trustpilot.
Share One — Real Story Certified: 7 verified video interviews recorded in 2026. Each member was interviewed live by a Share One producer with identity verified. Thrive Academy pays Share One’s production costs; interviews are unscripted and published as recorded. Watch the interviews on Share One.
Complete context from Yelp
Reviews that mention other programs
Some Thrive Academy reviewers describe coaching programs they tried before finding Thrive. These five reviews are published here in full, with the reviewer’s name, rating, date, and a link to the original, so each comparison reads the way the reviewer wrote it. The text is server-rendered so people and search systems can read the complete context.
Sonya N.
★★★★★ Yelp · September 4, 2025
Full review
I lead clients who carry quiet money anxiety, questions about visibility, and the weight of trying to figure it all out alone. And when I joined Thrive Academy, I realized I had been carrying some of those same struggles too.
I wasn't starting from scratch. I had a business with steady coaching clients and had been leading weekly classes for over five years. But inside, I knew it was time for something bigger. I was ready to refine my niche, update my digital assets, shift my audience, and expand my revenue in a way that truly reflected my soul's work.
Thrive Academy met me right there. The way they teach is both digestible and expansive. I could take things in small, easy steps that built confidence and momentum—and at the same time, I had the freedom and structure to run at full speed when inspiration hit. There's always a clear pathway forward, and that's been priceless.
What I love most is that Thrive isn't just strategy—it's transformation. They've given me the clarity, community, and courage to embody the next level of my business. I'm no longer trying to figure it all out alone. I feel supported, structured, and lit up about the impact I'm here to make.
Thrive didn't just help me revamp my business. It helped me rise into the leader I've always known I could be.
If you're a coach, healer, or heart-centered entrepreneur who knows you're meant for more—but you're tired of piecing it all together on your own—Thrive Academy is the container that will hold you, stretch you, and guide you into the business and life you were born to create.
Manda S.
★★★★★ Yelp · September 4, 2025
Full review
I joined Thrive Academy's Mastery program as a coach looking for more alignment and strategy, and it truly exceeded expectations. The program blends soulful transformation with actionable tools like their HeartSelling™ model, helping me shift from hustle to heart-centered business practices. The community support and mentorship from Jesse, Sharla, and fellow members created a space where real breakthroughs felt possible, and I watched my confidence in both sales and self-worth grow. If you're ready to attract clients, build with integrity, and create a business that feels aligned and abundant, I highly recommend it.
Gina H.
★★★★★ Yelp · September 4, 2025
Full review
Just the support I needed in my business! After years of paying for systems and not using them, I am finally finding the clarity, inspiration, and guidance to create online and grow my business to new heights! I love Jesse and Sharla and all their amazing staff! I feel grateful for their tech efforts and coaching to develop myself and my offers!
Ritu G.
★★★★★ Yelp · September 4, 2025
Full review
Joining Thrive Academy's Platinum program has been one of the best investments I've made in myself and my coaching business. The daily calls keep me focused, inspired, and constantly learning practical strategies for launching and growing my women's health coaching practice.
Sharla and Jesse are not only incredibly knowledgeable but also high-value professionals who lead with integrity, heart, and authenticity. They provide consistent guidance while equipping us with powerful resources—programs, templates, and wizards—that make the process of building a coaching business so much clearer and more doable.
What makes Thrive truly unique is the sense of community and ongoing support. I feel both challenged and uplifted every day, and I am so grateful to be surrounded by like-minded coaches who are also growing and thriving.
Thrive Academy isn't just training—it's a movement, and I'm honored to be part of it.
Earl S.
★★★★★ Yelp · September 4, 2025
Full review
Thrive! Academy is a blessing to be a part of. It really helped me get out of my fear and isolation generated by my mind. The amount of support from the Thrive! team and the community at large is so amazing. I've met so many amazing people. If you're stuck in your life, you should do Thrive! It'll help you get leverage over your self-sabotaging ways. Join Thrive! if you're tired of merely surviving and see a vision for your life that is one of Thriving!
Fresh from public sources
Latest reviews
Trustindex live feed from Google, Yelp, and Facebook. Trustpilot is linked separately above. The widget supplements—but never replaces—the crawlable reviews above.
We do not remove or suppress critical reviews, and we respond to reviews on every platform. If you have a concern about a program, an event, or a charge, use the contact information below. A real person reads every request, and we typically respond within one business day.
Direct answers, with source context
Thrive Academy complaints and common questions
People searching for Thrive Academy complaints usually want direct answers about which company they are researching, whether the Client Attraction Summit includes a program invitation, whether staying for that invitation is optional, how the refundable commitment deposit works, what the programs cost, what the guarantees require, and how formal complaints have been handled. Here are the answers, with links to the relevant sources and full policy details below.
Which Thrive Academy is this page about?
This page is about Thrive Academy in Felton, California, founded in 2004 by Jesse Koren and Sharla Jacobs. It is not affiliated with similarly named schools, software products, jewelry programs, or other coaching companies.
Is the Client Attraction Summit a training or a sales event?
It is a live three-day training. About 95% of the time is teaching. Before the program invitation begins, we clearly tell attendees that staying to hear it is 100% optional. They may stay, leave, or return for the next day of the Summit. Attendees who stay may listen, ask questions, apply, or decline.
Is the $197 commitment deposit refundable?
Yes. Once attendance for any part of the event is confirmed and the feedback form is submitted, the commitment deposit is refunded. If someone cancels or does not attend, it is not refunded.
How do the $197 commitment deposit, Philanthropy Club, and $2,000 tuition certificate work?
After completing the refund requirements, an attendee may request the $197 refund. Alternatively, the attendee may ask Thrive Academy to keep the $197 and use it to enroll in the optional Philanthropy Club. Joining the Philanthropy Club activates a separate $2,000 tuition certificate. The $197 itself is not applied directly toward a Mastery, Platinum, or Diamond deposit or tuition.
Are the programs expensive, and what if they do not work?
Tuition and payment plans are presented at the Summit and stated in the written enrollment agreement before payment is processed. Mastery and Platinum include a Get Clients Guarantee tied to participation requirements and $16,000 or $30,000 in new-client sales. The complete summary appears under Refunds, guarantees, and cancellations.
How many formal complaints have been filed?
According to Thrive Academy and its BBB profile, two BBB complaints were filed over more than 22 years. Both were answered and closed. Thrive Academy has an A+ rating and is not BBB accredited. View the BBB profile.
Yelp snippet context
Why does a Google preview contain the word “scam”?
A 2016 three-star Yelp review criticizes pricing, sales practices, and the reviewer’s results. Google has sometimes excerpted the phrase “are very much a scam” from the reviewer’s comparison to other programs while omitting her next sentence: “I do not think Thrive is a scam.”
We do not remove or suppress critical reviews. We link to the complete Yelp listing so readers can evaluate the reviewer’s full statement and our public response.
Read the full Yelp listing
What membership includes
What our programs include
We offer three programs: Client Attraction Mastery (8 months), Platinum (12 months), and Diamond (12 months). All three include the training, coaching, technology, templates, and implementation support listed here.
Platinum adds Get Leverage, Six-Figure Speaker, and Transformational Leadership. Diamond adds private Diamond Strategy Sessions, done-for-you funnel and website builds, an in-person retreat, and curated speaking and partnership introductions. Diamond is capped at 10 to 15 members per Summit.
Tuition and payment plans are presented at the Client Attraction Summit and stated in writing in the enrollment agreement before any payment is processed.
All three programs include
- Live three-day training events
- Monthly private Success Coaching Sessions plus Specialty Coaching Sessions
- Thrive Membership, with live Zoom coaching calls Monday through Thursday
- “Get Clients” Challenges
- Heartselling® and Client Attraction AI Wizards, built from Thrive Academy’s own templates and frameworks
- Nova, the 24/7 AI Master Coach inside the Thrive Members Hub
- Thrive Marketing Machine, the all-in-one marketing platform with 80% done-for-you funnels, white-glove onboarding, and 24/7 chat support
- Templates for messaging, consults, enrollment, referrals, social media, and email
Flagship live event
The Client Attraction Summit
The Client Attraction Summit is our live, three-day training event on Zoom, held three times a year in January, May, and September. We hosted our 100th Summit in May 2026. The Summit ran in person from 2004 through early 2020 and has been fully online since May 2020.
The three days cover client attraction and messaging, Heartselling®, booking discovery calls and enrollment, offers and pricing, speaking, and lead generation, with live coaching, breakout discussions, and exercises throughout.
Know before you register
What to expect
The Summit is participatory. Expect chat participation, breakout rooms, member stories, and live exercises. Many attendees love the energy and community. Some would prefer a quieter, self-paced format. If that is you, the Summit may not be the right fit, and we would rather you know before you register.
We also present our programs during the Summit. About 95% of the three days includes valuable training. By the end of the event, you will have a customized list of your next three priorities to reach your business vision. We identify the gaps and provide training and transformation to help you reach that vision with your customized Client Attraction game plan.
The remainder of the event is an invitation to learn about our programs, where we provide deeper implementation support and all of the templates. Before that invitation begins, we clearly tell attendees that staying to hear it is 100% optional. You may stay, leave, or return for the next day of the Summit. Choosing to leave does not affect your ability to participate in the remaining Summit sessions or receive your commitment-deposit refund after completing the stated requirements.
If you stay, we show you what is included in Client Attraction Mastery, Thrive Academy Platinum, and Diamond, including tuition, guarantees, and who each program is for. You may listen, ask questions, apply, or decline. Staying for the invitation does not require applying or enrolling.
Is staying for the invitation or enrolling required?
No. Before the invitation begins, we say clearly that staying to hear about Thrive Academy programs is 100% optional. You may leave and return for the next day of the Summit.
If you stay and are interested in a program, you may apply for a conversation with a Summit Coach. That call reviews fit and answers your questions. Our coaches recommend against enrolling when a program is not the right fit for where someone is.
How the $197 Commitment Deposit, Philanthropy Club, and $2,000 Tuition Certificate Work
These are three separate things. Here is exactly how they work.
First, your $197 commitment deposit is refundable
The $197 commitment deposit reserves your place at the Client Attraction Summit and helps us plan and staff the event.
After you attend any part of the Summit and submit the feedback form, you may request a refund of your $197 commitment deposit. Attendance is confirmed through the downloaded Zoom participant list at the end of each day. If you cancel or do not attend, the deposit is not refunded.
Alternatively, you use the $197 deposit to enroll in the Philanthropy Club
The Philanthropy Club includes a valuable collection of resources designed to help you implement your next steps after the Summit and attract more clients. It also includes Financial Freedom 101, a separate 3-day live event and a $2,000 certificate off tuition to Thrive Programs: Client Attraction Mastery, Thrive Academy Platinum, and Diamond.
The $2,000 certificate is a benefit of joining the Philanthropy Club. It is not the same as the $197 commitment deposit.
To be completely clear:
- The $197 is used to join the Philanthropy Club if you ask Thrive Academy to keep it.
- The $197 is not applied directly toward the deposit or tuition for Mastery, Platinum, or Diamond.
- Joining the Philanthropy Club activates the separate $2,000 tuition certificate.
- The $2,000 certificate may be applied toward eligible Thrive Academy program tuition.
- Any payment required to enroll in a Thrive Academy program is separate and will be clearly stated before enrollment.
You never have to join the Philanthropy Club or enroll in another Thrive Academy program to receive the $197 commitment deposit refund. If you prefer the refund, simply complete the requirements and request it.
Written terms control
Refunds, guarantees, and cancellations
Every member receives these terms in the enrollment agreement before payment is processed. The signed agreement controls, not this summary or any verbal conversation.
Three-day withdrawal
You may withdraw from any program within three days of signing and receive a full refund within 30 days.
Get Clients Guarantee — Mastery and Platinum
If you fully participate by completing the commitments in the Guarantee Roadmap and do not earn at least $16,000 in new-client sales during Mastery within 8 months, or $30,000 during Platinum within 12 months, we extend your program up to four additional months at no cost. If you still have not reached that number, your tuition is refunded in full.
Refund requests must be submitted in writing within 12 to 14 months of signing for Mastery or 16 to 18 months for Platinum, with proof of participation.
Early cancellation
If you cancel before your program term ends, outside the three-day withdrawal window, you are responsible for the value of events you had access to and the months you were enrolled, up to the full tuition, as specified in your agreement.
After your program
Membership continues at a reduced rate if you choose to continue. You can cancel at any time after the program term with no additional fees.
All requests about your agreement must be in writing—email is fine—and you must receive confirmation from Thrive Academy that the request was received. Keep that confirmation.
Third-party recognition
What industry leaders have said
“Thrive Academy is the #1 source for turning Coaches and Holistic Practitioners into 6-Figure Transformational Leaders.”
Stephen Dinan
CEO and Founder, The Shift Network
“The leading authorities in Holistic Business Training.”
Eben Pagan
A real person reads every request
How to reach Thrive Academy
We typically respond within one business day, Monday through Friday.
Email support Call 800-632-2944Client Attraction Summit questions and prospective attendees
Current members
Client Care for logistics, billing, and account questions: [email protected]
Tech Support for the Members Hub or Thrive Marketing Machine: submit a tech support request.
Thrive Marketing Machine 24/7 chat: log in, click Get Support in the lower-right corner, then Start Chat.
Feedback: fill out our feedback form.