What Graphite does

Graphite was a San Francisco-based on-demand talent platform founded in 2014 that connected enterprises with vetted independent consultants, executives, and subject-matter experts across finance, accounting, corporate strategy, and marketing. The platform operated a curated marketplace of more than 12,000 rigorously vetted independent professionals and served over 200 global corporations and private equity firms across more than 4,000 engagements over a 10+ year operating history. Core product components included the Graphite Talent Platform (the core on-demand expert matching marketplace) and a Supplier Management Tool for procurement teams to streamline supplier onboarding and validation; the firm also offered end-to-end consulting services across technology (AI, Data Analytics, Cloud, Information Security), marketing agency services, and management consulting (Strategy, People, Finance, Operations).

The business model monetized through custom, quote-based professional services engagements on a multi-year contract structure, supplemented by a trial-period risk-reversal where clients paid only if satisfied. Go-to-market was high-touch, consultative enterprise field sales: industry experts worked directly with transformation leaders at the buyer to scope requirements, with average talent-match times of under 24 hours. The pricing model was not publicly disclosed. The company maintained a horizontal segmentation approach prioritizing Fortune 500/global enterprises and private equity firms, with secondary focus on startups. Named enterprise customers included Bridgestone, the University of Southern California, and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Graphite was acquired by Toptal — the world's largest fully remote workforce platform and eighth-largest talent platform — in January 2026. Following the acquisition, Graphite operates as a wholly-owned component of Toptal's consulting and services offerings, with the standalone graphite.work website fully redirecting to Toptal and the Graphite® brand integrated into Toptal's broader portfolio of 20,000+ vetted professionals. Across its independent life, Graphite raised approximately $18.75 million in disclosed funding across four rounds (2014, 2015, 2019, 2021), with the August 2021 $15 million round led by Valor Equity Partners and Valor Siren Ventures and including Accomplice, Alumni Ventures, Cianna Capital, and Communitas Capital Partners.

Name

Graphite

Website

https://graphite.work

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Graphite was a San Francisco-based on-demand talent platform connecting over 12,000 vetted independent consultants with enterprises in finance, strategy, and marketing. It served 200+ corporations and private equity firms across 4,000+ engagements before Toptal acquired it in January 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Talent Marketplace / Professional Consulting Services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Temporary Help Services (561320), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional & Business Services Marketplaces (Freelancers, SMB Services) (BPAMAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Gig / On-Demand Generalist Staffing Platforms (BPACACAK)

Keywords

• On-demand consulting
• Talent marketplace
• Independent experts
• Enterprise transformation
• Management consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Talent Placement Services: Revenue generated from connecting vetted independent consultants, executives, and experts with enterprise clients requiring specialized talent. The platform serves Fortune 500 firms to startups seeking on-demand professional expertise.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Graphite operated an on-demand talent platform that connected transformation leaders at Fortune 500 firms, PE firms, and startups with rigorously vetted independent consultants, executives, and experts across finance, accounting, corporate strategy, and marketing. The company's core offering combined a high-touch matching service (average time to match under 24 hours) with access to over 12,000 pre-vetted independent professionals, delivered through custom engagement models with satisfaction-guaranteed trial periods.

Product overview

Graphite is a talent platform and consulting services company that was acquired by Toptal in January 2026. The company offers an on-demand talent platform connecting organizations with over 12,000 vetted independent experts across finance, accounting, corporate strategy, and marketing. Following the acquisition, Graphite's offerings have been enhanced with access to Toptal's network of 20,000+ vetted professionals. The product portfolio consists of the core Graphite Talent Platform, a Supplier Management Tool for procurement teams, and various consulting service offerings spanning technology services, marketing agency services, and management consulting. Graphite serves 200+ global corporations and private equity firms across 4,000+ engagements with more than 10 years of experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Graphite Talent Platform An on-demand talent platform connecting organizations with over 12,000 rigorously vetted independent experts across finance, accounting, corporate strategy, and marketing. The platform enables high-touch talent matching with an average time to match under 24 hours and serves Fortune 500 firms, private equity firms, and startups with consulting and professional services engagements.
• Graphite Supplier Management Tool A supplier management tool designed to help procurement teams onboard faster, reduce risk review time, and streamline supplier validations. Targeted at enterprise procurement organizations seeking to manage external talent and supplier relationships more efficiently.
• Graphite Consulting Services Consulting and professional services offered through Graphite's network of world-class consultants. Services span technology services (Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics, Cloud Services, Information Security, Custom Software Development), marketing agency services (Digital Marketing, Growth Marketing, Brand Marketing, Product Marketing, Creative and Content Marketing, Sales and Revenue Operations), and management consulting (Strategy, People, Finance, Operations). Delivered to enterprise clients and private equity portfolio companies as project-based engagements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average time to match is under 24 hours
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ToptalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 January 2026Toptal, the world's eighth-largest talent platform and largest fully remote workforce platform, acquired Graphite in January 2026. The acquisition combines Graphite's expertise in independent talent with Toptal's global presence, enabling the combined entity to offer the full spectrum of independent talent across every functional area. Graphite's mission to connect transformation leaders with world-class consultants now delivers through Toptal's enhanced network.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Toptal: Toptal is a global freelance talent platform that acquired Graphite in January 2026. It is the most directly comparable peer, offering vetted on-demand professionals across similar functional areas (consulting, finance, product, project management) to enterprise clients.
• Catalant: Catalant is an on-demand consulting and expert network that connects enterprises with independent consultants and former consultants. Highly comparable to Graphite's model of rapid matching of vetted business talent for project-based engagements.
• GLG (Gerson Lehrman Group): GLG is the largest expert network providing on-demand expertise to consultants, investment firms, and corporates. Closely comparable in business model (curated expert network, fast matching, professional services focus) and target customers (PE firms and Fortune 500).
• AlphaSights: AlphaSights is an expert network serving investment, consulting, and corporate clients with on-demand access to industry experts. Comparable to Graphite in serving PE/consulting clients and offering curated, rapid expert matching.
• Guidepoint: Guidepoint operates a global expert network providing on-demand expert consultations to investment, consulting, and corporate decision-makers. Overlaps directly with Graphite's professional services marketplace model.

Broad incumbents

• Upwork: Upwork is the largest publicly-traded freelance talent marketplace, connecting businesses with independent professionals across a much broader skills spectrum (including tech, creative, writing). Less specialized than Graphite but represents the broader freelance platform category.
• McKinsey & Company: McKinsey is the world's largest strategy consulting firm serving many of the same Fortune 500 and PE clients as Graphite. Comparable target customers and transformation use cases, but operates a traditional full-time consulting model rather than on-demand.
• Bain & Company: Bain is a top-tier global management consulting firm that competes for the same strategy, operations, and PE advisory work that Graphite supports. Represents the traditional incumbent model against which on-demand platforms compete.

Emerging players

• MarketerHire: MarketerHire is an on-demand platform for vetted marketing talent serving enterprise clients. Directly comparable in on-demand, vetted-expert model but focused specifically on marketing rather than Graphite's broader finance/strategy/marketing focus.
• Paro: Paro is an on-demand marketplace for fractional finance and accounting talent. Overlaps with Graphite's finance and accounting verticals and follows a similar curated, high-touch matching model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors9 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 Graphite