What Compass Intelligence does

Compass Intelligence, LLC is a privately held boutique market research and advisory firm founded in 2003 and headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, with 11-50 employees. The firm provides metrics-driven market intelligence, strategic advisory, competitive analysis, survey research, executive insights, and go-to-market support to technology companies ranging from startups to Fortune 500 corporations across mobile, IoT, edge AI, and emerging technology sectors including autonomous systems, robotics, and physical AI. Its client roster includes Qualcomm, Microsoft, Ericsson, HPE, Singtel, Verizon Connect, Mitel, KORE, emnify, Lantronix, and SomosID, with service delivery spanning North America, EMEA, APAC, and LATAM.

The firm generates revenue through four primary streams: professional services engagements (advisory, consulting, and go-to-market support), recurring market research subscriptions, licensing/nomination fees from three annual awards programs (CompassIntel Tech Awards in its 14th year, IoT Innovator Awards in its 9th year, and AutoX Innovator Awards in its 3rd edition), and tech marketing services delivered through the vMarque Signal sub-brand launched in April 2026. Pricing is quote-based with flexible monthly retainer options; free 30-minute introductory consultations drive bottom-of-funnel conversion. The firm has no proprietary technology platform, no API, and no software product; its value proposition rests on direct analyst access, founder-led expertise, and 20+ years of category relationships.

Distribution is consultative and sales-led, supported by a multi-channel content engine (Inside Mobile newsletter, blog, LinkedIn, CES panels) and event-driven lead generation through awards programs. The firm is wholly founder-owned by CEO Stephanie Atkinson, with no disclosed institutional investment, M&A activity, or parent company. Operating geographies span the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Brazil, Australia, and Singapore, and the firm holds GDPR-compliant privacy practices. Strategic momentum in 2026 is concentrated in three areas: vertical expansion into robotics and physical AI, geographic extension through global client engagements, and product-line broadening via the vMarque Signal fractional marketing offering.

Name

Compass Intelligence

Legal name

Compass Intelligence, LLC

Website

https://compassintelligence.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Compass Intelligence is a privately held boutique market research and advisory firm providing metrics-driven intelligence, strategic advisory, and go-to-market services to technology companies, from startups to Fortune 500 firms, across mobile, IoT, edge AI, and emerging tech sectors globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Market Research and Advisory Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Data Analytics & Business Intelligence Services (BPAHALAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Competitive Intelligence & Benchmarking (BPAHALAB)

Keywords

• Tech market research
• Strategic advisory services
• Competitive intelligence consulting
• IoT industry analysis
• Go-to-market advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Bandera

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Advisory & Consulting Services: Strategy acceleration, consulting and ideation services, market segmentation, competitive analysis, and go-to-market advisory for tech companies.
2. Market Research & Intelligence: Metrics-driven market intelligence including executive insights, market sizing/forecasting, competitive analysis, and survey research services.
3. Awards & Recognition Programs: CompassIntel Awards, AutoX Innovator Awards, and IoT Innovator Awards programs that generate revenue through nomination fees, promotional packages, and licensing.
4. Tech Marketing Services: Go-to-market planning, competitive positioning, branding, thought leadership content, and marketing support services including vMarque Signal fractional CMO offerings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Compass Intelligence is a boutique market research and advisory firm delivering metrics-driven intelligence, strategic advisory, and go-to-market services to technology companies. Core offerings include market sizing/forecasting, competitive analysis, survey research, executive insights, and tech marketing support across mobile, IoT, edge AI, and emerging technology sectors. The firm also operates three annual awards programs (CompassIntel Tech Awards, IoT Innovator Awards, AutoX Innovator Awards) and a fractional tech marketing suite (vMarque Signal).

Product overview

Compass Intelligence is a boutique market research and advisory firm (20+ years old) providing metrics-driven market intelligence and consulting services. The company operates primarily as a service-based business rather than a software platform. Their core offerings include: CompassIntel Tech Awards (14th Annual in 2026), IoT Innovator Awards (9th Annual), and AutoX Innovator Awards (3rd Edition) - annual awards programs recognizing innovation across IoT, mobile, business tech, automotive, and emerging technologies. Service offerings include market research and intelligence, strategic advisory, tech marketing and go-to-market advisory, survey services, competitive analysis, and executive insights for mobile, IoT, edge AI, and emerging tech sectors. The vMarque Signal sub-brand provides fractional tech marketing services with three tiered packages: IGNITION, MOMENTUM, and AUTHORITY.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• vMarque Signal: A fractional tech marketing services suite designed to help technology companies with marketing leadership, brand positioning, content creation, and go-to-market strategy.

Products and services

• CompassIntel Tech Awards Annual awards program recognizing leading companies, standout products, and innovative technology solutions across IoT and connected ecosystems, business technology, and emerging tech sectors. Entries are evaluated and voted on by industry press, editors, journalists, thought leaders, and analysts.
• IoT Innovator Awards Annual awards program honoring companies demonstrating innovation in Internet of Things solutions, products, applications, and technology across 20 IoT innovation categories. Designed for technology companies seeking third-party recognition of IoT innovations.
• AutoX Innovator Awards Annual awards recognizing innovative companies and technologies across autonomous systems, automotive, fleet, edge AI, physical AI, and related emerging technologies. Now in its 3rd Edition. Targets technology vendors and solution providers in mobility, robotics, and AI-driven automation.
• Market Research and Intelligence Metrics-driven market intelligence and consulting services including market sizing and forecasting, competitive analysis, strategic advisory, trending analysis, and survey research for mobile, IoT, edge AI, and emerging tech industries. Used by technology companies needing evidence-based market insight to inform product, investment, and go-to-market decisions.
• Strategic Advisory Services Tech advisory providing strategy acceleration, consulting, ideation services, market segmentation, and competitive analysis for telecom, mobility, IoT, and auto tech industries. Used by enterprise technology leaders needing senior-level strategic guidance on focus, priorities, and market positioning.
• Tech Marketing and Go-to-Market Advisory Marketing services including brand positioning, messaging, content development, thought leadership, and campaign support grounded in technology industry insights and market research. Targeted at technology vendors needing to translate market intelligence into go-to-market execution.
• Survey Services Survey design and research services that gather data on trending topics, buyer patterns and behaviors, user priorities, and emerging technologies to inform client product planning and strategic direction. Purchased by technology companies seeking primary quantitative or qualitative insight.
• Competitive Analysis Competitive analysis services providing benchmarking, key player identification, strategic recommendations, and market positioning insights for technology companies. Used by vendors and corporates evaluating their competitive standing and strategic options.
• Executive Insights Executive-level strategic guidance and consulting for technology companies, enterprise executives, and government leaders across the globe, covering mobile, IoT, edge AI, automation, logistics, and physical AI sectors. Designed for senior decision-makers needing high-touch analyst access.
• vMarque Signal Fractional tech marketing services suite offering IGNITION, MOMENTUM, and AUTHORITY packages that provide marketing leadership, brand positioning, content creation, and go-to-market strategy for technology companies. Operates as a branch under Compass Intelligence targeting vendors needing senior marketing expertise without a full-time CMO.

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Elevate CommunitiesminorOthersStephanie Atkinson serves as executive/board advisor, providing strategic guidance to the organization.
• Texas A&M Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution DepartmentminorOthersStephanie Atkinson serves as executive/board advisor, contributing expertise to academic department focused on engineering technology and industrial distribution.
• McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship at Texas A&M UniversityminorOthersVolunteer involvement supporting entrepreneurship programs and initiatives at the university center.
• Heritage School in Fredericksburg, TXminorOthersVolunteer involvement supporting educational programs at local school.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Omdia: Omdia is a global technology research and advisory group formed from the merger of Ovum, IHS Markit technology practices, and others. It competes with Compass Intelligence on telecom, IoT, and enterprise technology market intelligence.
• Gartner: Gartner is the dominant IT and technology market research and advisory firm, serving enterprise technology buyers with syndicated research, advisory, and consulting. Compass Intelligence competes in a small segment of Gartner's tech advisory coverage with a boutique, tech-specialized offering.
• Forrester Research: Forrester is a major research and advisory firm covering technology, customer experience, and digital transformation. It overlaps with Compass Intelligence on tech advisory and go-to-market consulting for enterprise technology buyers.
• IDC (International Data Corporation): IDC is a global provider of market intelligence and advisory services for the IT, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. It is a direct comparator to Compass Intelligence's market sizing, forecasting, and competitive analysis offerings but at vastly greater scale.

Direct peers

• Frost & Sullivan: Frost & Sullivan is a global market research and growth advisory firm covering technology, mobility, IoT, and emerging industries. Compass Intelligence's founder previously held a position there, and the two firms offer highly comparable tech advisory and market intelligence services to enterprise clients.
• Moor Insights & Strategy: Moor Insights & Strategy is a boutique technology advisory and analyst firm covering AI, IoT, edge computing, and enterprise infrastructure. It is a strong direct comparable to Compass Intelligence as a founder-led boutique competing against larger research firms.
• Parks Associates: Parks Associates is a market research and consulting firm covering connected consumer, smart home, IoT, and emerging technology markets. It is a comparable boutique-scale research firm with overlapping IoT and connected-tech advisory services.
• ABI Research: ABI Research specializes in technology market intelligence with deep coverage of IoT, connectivity, automotive, and emerging tech. It is a direct specialist competitor to Compass Intelligence in IoT and adjacent market advisory work.
• Counterpoint Research: Counterpoint Research is a global tech market research firm covering mobile, IoT, semiconductors, and emerging technologies. It is closely comparable to Compass Intelligence on mobile, IoT, and emerging tech coverage at a similar boutique-to-mid scale.

Emerging players

• IoT Analytics: IoT Analytics is a specialized market research firm focused exclusively on the Internet of Things, covering market sizing, adoption trends, and vendor analysis. It directly overlaps with Compass Intelligence's IoT Innovator Awards-adjacent research and advisory offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/compass-intelligence
• Xx.com/compassintel
• Facebookfacebook.com/compass-intelligence-116928338684

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Compass Intelligence