methinks Technologies Inc

What methinks Technologies Inc does

methinks Technologies Inc operates a cloud-based qualitative video remote research platform that enables businesses to recruit research participants, conduct video interviews and focus groups, distribute surveys, test mobile apps and websites, and analyze results from a single web dashboard without any software installation. The platform is paired with a global panel of 400k+ research participants called Thinkers, accessible via native iOS and Android mobile apps and recruited using demographic screeners, custom recruiting screeners, invitation, scheduling, and chat tools. Core product modules include a research-optimized Video Interview Tool with real-time transcription, bookmarks, screen sharing, and observer support; a Survey engine with 15 question types and Excel import; an App Testing Platform with secure distribution, screenshot and emulator blocking, and built-in recording; and the MTKAppInsight SDK that embeds in-app surveys and user journey tracking directly into client iOS and Android apps.

The platform is sold to enterprise customers and startups across verticals including gaming (Nexon, Super Evil Megacorp, MZ, Glu Mobile), consumer electronics (Samsung, LG), telecommunications (Verizon), media (VEVO), and technology (NAVER, Line), as well as startups such as Avid AI, Journy, and Radish Fiction. Revenue is generated through a hybrid pricing model combining subscription-based access to the platform's feature modules with a usage-based M Credits system (1 M Credit equals up to 45 minutes of interview time, also covering participant compensation) and professional services delivered by in-house research teams. Go-to-market combines a product-led growth motion with free self-serve sign-up and a no-install web dashboard, layered with a direct enterprise sales motion via Contact Sales for custom research solutions.

Methinks is incorporated in California, headquartered in Mountain View, and is described as an early-stage, VC-backed private company. Cumulative disclosed funding totals approximately $7.77M across a 2016 pre-seed, 2017 seed, and a 2019 Series A led by Translink Investment with participation from Hyundai Investment Partners, KB Investment, and Capstone Partners. The company maintains GDPR, CCPA, and COPPA compliance and is led by CEO Aaron Burcell alongside co-founders Philip Yun (CPO) and Wilson Li.

Name

methinks Technologies Inc

Legal name

methinks Technologies Inc.

Website

https://methinks.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

methinks Technologies Inc operates a cloud-based qualitative video remote research platform that combines a 400k+ global participant panel with video interviews, surveys, app testing, and an in-app SDK, serving enterprises and startups across gaming, electronics, telecom, and media.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

User Research Software

NAICS

Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Video Conferencing & Meetings (BPAMACAD)

Keywords

• Qualitative research platform
• Video interview software
• User research platform
• Survey distribution tools
• Mobile app testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Mountain View

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. M Credits System: Credit-based system for interview time. 1 M Credit allows for an interview length of up to 45 minutes. Longer interviews require more credits. Credits can be purchased and used for participant compensation and payment processing.
2. Platform Subscription: Full-suite research and testing platform with flexible pricing. Customers pay for features needed including interviews, surveys, app testing, recruiting and compensation, participant management, team features, and research support.
3. Professional Services: In-house research teams available to support projects from design to data analysis, including researcher companion mobile app, prescreen and scheduling service, study design, longitudinal study support, professional researcher interviews, and insight reports.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

methinks provides a qualitative video remote research platform that lets businesses recruit participants, conduct live 1-on-1 and group video interviews, distribute surveys, collect diary/journal entries, and run moderated app and website usability tests with synchronized screen recording. The platform includes a built-in on-demand participant panel of more than 500,000 vetted "Thinkers" and a native mobile SDK (MTKAppInsight) for embedding testing capabilities directly into client apps.

Product overview

methinks is a single-platform qualitative video remote research solution that combines a web-based dashboard with mobile applications for both researchers and participants. The core offering consists of the methinks Platform for businesses to manage research projects, paired with the Thinker Community panel (400k+ participants) for recruitment. Key modules include Video Interview Tool (for 1:1 and focus group interviews with recording and transcription), Survey Builder (with 15 question types and Excel import), App Insights Feature (for app testing with built-in recording and bug reporting), and the MTKAppInsight SDK (for embedding in-app surveys directly into native iOS/Android applications). Users access the platform via a web dashboard (no installation required) or via the Thinker mobile app for participants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MTKAppInsight SDK: SDK for iOS and Android that allows tracking user journey and conducting in-app surveys for specific groups of mobile app users.

Products and services

• methinks Research Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• Access to thousands of relevant testers for efficient user feedback and validations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• UserTesting: Leading video-based human insight platform offering participant recruitment, live and unmoderated video studies, and enterprise research workflows — the most direct functional competitor to methinks' end-to-end qualitative research stack.
• dscout: Video diary and in-the-wild research platform with a built-in participant pool; directly overlaps methinks on diary studies, video capture, and panel-based recruitment.
• Respondent.io: Marketplace for recruiting research participants for B2B and consumer studies; competes with methinks' Thinker panel on the recruitment layer specifically.
• Maze: Continuous user research platform combining prototype testing, surveys, and participant recruitment; overlaps methinks on integrated research workflow and self-serve researcher tooling.
• Lookback: Qualitative UX research platform for moderated and unmoderated video studies with observer/notes features; competes in the same research-optimized video category as methinks' Video Interview Tool.
• User Interviews: Participant recruitment marketplace for qualitative and quantitative research; directly competes with methinks' panel/recruitment value proposition.
• Sprig: In-product user research platform combining targeted surveys, concept testing, and user insights; overlaps with methinks on continuous in-app feedback (similar in spirit to MTKAppInsight).
• Hotjar: Product experience insights tool combining heatmaps, recordings, and surveys; competes with methinks on the lightweight self-serve / SMB researcher segment.
• Ethnio (Confirm): Research recruitment and screeners for product teams; directly competes on the participant-recruitment and scheduling layer of methinks' offering.

Broad incumbents

• Qualtrics: Large experience-management platform with research, survey, and video feedback capabilities; competes broadly with methinks in enterprise research but at much larger scope and scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/methinks_io
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZvwZTIvqphr494M04z74PA
• Facebookfacebook.com/methinksapp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/methinks

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors8 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 methinks Technologies Inc