What Atheneum does

Atheneum is a Berlin-headquartered B2B research technology platform founded in 2010 that operates in the expert network and primary research market. The company connects enterprise clients with a global network of over 500,000 vetted industry experts across 60+ languages, delivering primary research through expert interviews (30-90 minute consultations in telephone, in-person, workshop, and webinar formats), quantitative and qualitative survey research, and a private-markets data-as-a-service offering. Primary customer segments include strategy consulting firms, private equity and investment management organizations, life sciences companies, and large corporations across consumer goods, financial services, and technology.\n\nThe platform is anchored by a proprietary machine learning-based expert matching engine reporting a 96% success rate in 2024, a Global Insights Platform integrating acquired AI capabilities from Chime Advisors with in-house development, and a validated B2B panel compliant with ESOMAR, BHBIA, and EphMRA industry standards. Delivery infrastructure comprises a client portal, an expert mobile application, and an 11-office follow-the-sun operating model spanning four continents and nine time zones, with stated 24-hour expert access from project launch. The platform completed over 2,000 surveys in 2024, supports 40%+ of its expert panel in healthcare and technology respectively, and holds GDPR, CCPA, and PIPL privacy certifications.\n\nAtheneum generates revenue through per-consultation transaction fees for expert interviews, project-based fees for end-to-end survey research engagements, and subscription or project fees for its private-markets data-as-a-service offering; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Named enterprise clients include Unilever, Roland Berger, LEK Consulting, Statista, Ares Management, Nomura Research Institute, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Guidehouse, Permira, EQT, Oxford, Pandora, Ipsos, and GlobalData. Distribution is driven by dedicated field sales and client services teams, supported by thought-leadership content, industry-conference presence (BIO-Europe, J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference), and strategic partnerships including the NIKKEI SEEKS platform with Nikkei Inc. The company operates as a privately held German GmbH with wholly-owned UK (Atheneum Limited) and APAC subsidiaries.

Name

Atheneum

Legal name

Atheneum Partners GmbH

Website

https://atheneum.ai

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

B2B research technology platform connecting enterprise clients in strategy consulting, private equity, life sciences, and corporate sectors with a global network of 500,000+ vetted experts for primary research, expert interviews, and survey-based insights.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Expert Network and Primary Research Services

NAICS

Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910), Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical & Scientific Expert Networks (BPAHALAH)

Keywords

• Expert network services
• Primary market research
• B2b survey research
• Expert interviews
• Market intelligence platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Expert Sessions: Direct access to industry experts and key opinion leaders for consultations ranging from 30-90 minutes, including telephone interviews, in-person meetings, workshops, and webinars. Revenue generated through per-consultation fees.
2. Expert Survey Research: End-to-end survey research package including design, programming, translation, recruitment, analysis and reporting. 2,000+ surveys completed in 2024. Revenue generated through project-based fees.
3. Data-as-a-Service (DaaS): Platform providing data-driven insights for private markets clients, navigating the entire investment life cycle. Revenue generated through subscription or project fees.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Atheneum provides primary research and expert network services connecting enterprise clients with a global network of 500,000+ verified industry experts across 60+ languages via its proprietary machine learning matching platform. Core deliverables include Expert Interviews (30-90 minute consultations via telephone, in-person, workshops, or webinars delivered within 24 hours of project launch), end-to-end Expert Survey Research (design through reporting, with 2,000+ surveys completed in 2024), Data-as-a-Service for private market investors, and In-House Insights thought leadership content.

Product overview

Atheneum is a B2B Research Technology platform providing a Research-as-a-Service model that combines a proprietary technology platform with human expertise. The core offering consists of three integrated solutions: (1) the Expert Network/Expert Interviews service connecting clients with verified industry experts for direct consultations including telephone interviews, in-person meetings, workshops, and webinars; (2) Expert Survey Research delivering end-to-end quantitative and qualitative B2B survey capabilities with over 2,000 surveys completed in 2024; and (3) In-House Insights providing proprietary market analysis and industry reports. The Expert Network Platform serves as the underlying technology infrastructure, with an Expert App for experts and a Client Portal for engagement management. The platform leverages proprietary machine learning software for expert matching achieving a 96% success rate (2024), operates across 60+ languages with 9 offices worldwide, and supports clients in strategy consulting, investment management, corporate firms, and life sciences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Atheneum Expert Network: Global network of verified experts connecting industry leaders with key opinion leaders for primary research and insights.
• NIKKEI SEEKS
• Global Economic Outlook Score

Products and services

• Expert Network / Expert Interviews Connects clients with a global network of verified industry experts and key opinion leaders for primary research through direct interviews, telephone consultations, in-person meetings, workshops, and webinars. Delivers expert access within 24 hours of project launch with call durations ranging from 30-90 minutes.
• Expert Survey Research End-to-end B2B survey research solution encompassing design, programming, translation, recruitment, analysis, and reporting. Offers multi-sector targeting (B2B, B2C, buyers), with over 2,000 surveys completed in 2024 and ID-verified respondents selected on-invite only.
• Data-as-a-Service for Private Markets Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) offering helping private market clients navigate the entire investment life cycle through data-driven insights powered by Atheneum's global expert network.
• In-House Insights Proprietary market analysis, industry reports, and thought leadership content covering Technology, Healthcare/Life Sciences, Private Equity, Financial Services, Consumer Goods, Energy, Natural Resources, and other sectors. Includes original research such as the Global Economic Outlook report developed with Statista.
• Atheneum Expert Network Platform Technology platform for expert matching, project management, and engagement delivery. Includes Client Portal (clients.atheneum.ai) and Expert Application portal (experts.atheneum-app.com), supporting direct messaging, scheduling, and payment processing for experts.
• NIKKEI SEEKS Business knowledge sharing platform developed in collaboration with Nikkei Inc., providing access to Atheneum's pool of over 500,000 international experts for cross-border research projects and engagements, with a particular focus on Japanese experts.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% expert matching success rate
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Nikkei Inc.flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2019Collaboration to develop NIKKEI SEEKS, a business knowledge sharing platform dedicated to Japanese experts. Enables Nikkei Inc.'s subsidiary platform to access Atheneum's pool of 500,000+ international experts for cross-border research projects, while Atheneum leverages NIKKEI SEEKS's expert search platform to expand its expert network in Japan.
• StatistacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2019Partnership to evaluate perceptions and outlooks from several industries using Atheneum's global network of industry thought leaders. Produced the Global Economic Outlook Score, one of the world's largest economic sentiment indicators, reviewing employment rate, strength of local currency, international trade, political stability and capital expenditure.
• ESOMARcoreOthers · 8 March 2018Corporate membership enabling engagement in knowledge-sharing with peers throughout the information services industry while supporting strategic growth on an international scale. ESOMAR connects innovators, decision makers, young professionals, clients and suppliers from over 130 countries with a community of over 40,000 data, research and insights professionals.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Guidepoint: Guidepoint operates a global expert network serving consulting, investment, and corporate clients with expert-led primary research. Direct competitor to Atheneum with similar product offerings, enterprise client base, and technology-enabled matching platform.
• AlphaSights: AlphaSights is a global expert network serving investment management, consulting, and corporate clients with primary research and expert consultations. Closely comparable to Atheneum on client mix (PE, consulting), service model (24-hour expert access), and global office footprint.
• GLG (Gerson Lehrman Group): GLG is the largest and longest-established expert network, connecting clients with industry experts across consulting, investment, and corporate sectors. Direct competitor to Atheneum in expert interviews, surveys, and primary research for the same enterprise client base.
• Third Bridge: Third Bridge provides expert interviews and research products to investment managers and corporations, with deep sector specializations. Closely comparable to Atheneum on service model and PE-focused client base, with stronger content/IP-led offerings.
• Coleman Research (Erebus): Coleman Research (rebranded as Erebus) is an expert network serving investment, consulting, and corporate clients. Directly competes with Atheneum in expert-led primary research, particularly serving PE and hedge fund clients.

Others

• Statista: Statista is a leading data and business intelligence platform that partners with Atheneum on the Global Economic Outlook report. Not a direct competitor but an adjacent data and insights provider serving overlapping enterprise clients.

Emerging players

• Dialectica: Dialectica is an expert network platform connecting professionals with industry experts for primary research, serving consulting and investment clients. Direct overlap with Atheneum on service offering, with a smaller, more European-focused footprint.
• NewtonX: NewtonX is an expert network and B2B research platform using AI/ML for expert sourcing and survey research. Closely comparable to Atheneum on technology-driven matching and enterprise research delivery, particularly to consulting and tech clients.
• Prosapients: Prosapients is a tech-forward expert network platform targeting consulting and investment clients with AI-enabled matching. Comparable to Atheneum on enterprise client focus and tech-enabled delivery, with a more emerging/early-stage profile.

Broad incumbents

• Ipsos: Ipsos is a global market research and survey firm offering primary research, syndicated studies, and consumer insights at scale. Atheneum is a customer of Ipsos (visible on its customer list), and Ipsos represents a broader incumbent in B2B and survey research that competes partially in the same client workflows.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atheneum-partners
• Xx.com/atheneumexpert
• Facebookfacebook.com/AtheneumPartnersGlobal

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds7 records

Investors7 records

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 Atheneum