What Coleman Research does

Coleman Research operates as VISASQ/COLEMAN, a B2B expert network platform connecting investment firms, management consulting firms, and major corporations with industry specialists for primary research. The firm's core services are 1-on-1 expert consultations (qualitative, ~1 hour engagements) and expert surveys (quantitative, 30+ sample size, 3+ day delivery), supplemented by transcripts, additional research, moderated calls, deal placements, and free expert-led seminars. Revenue is generated on a transaction-fee basis with bespoke pricing; experts set their own hourly rates, and clients are billed per engagement.

The company is built on a proprietary technology stack comprising three integrated applications: a Client App for project submission, expert review, scheduling, and chat; an Expert App (iOS and Android) for expert-side engagement management; and a Compliance App for firm-specific protocol enforcement, chaperoning, and audit reporting. Workflow software ties the three apps together and supports AI-powered transcription with human-in-the-loop alternatives. The platform is supported by 6 offices across the US (New York, Raleigh, Phoenix), EMEA (London/Reading), and APAC (Tokyo as headquarters of the combined entity, Hong Kong), enabling 24/5 global coverage with stated average custom-recruiting times under 24 hours and in-network expert scheduling under 1 hour.

Coleman Research was acquired by VisasQ Inc. in August 2021 for $102 million, forming the VISASQ/COLEMAN partnership. VisasQ Inc. is publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE: 4492) and serves as Coleman's parent company. Coleman Research Group, Inc. remains the legal US operating entity, incorporated in New York. The firm employs 501-1,000 staff across client management, research, recruiting, compliance, and scheduling functions. End markets include hedge funds, private equity, mutual funds, asset managers, global consulting firms, and large corporations, with stated deep coverage in Japan and the United States.

Name

Coleman Research

Legal name

Coleman Research Group, Inc.

Website

https://colemanrg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Coleman Research, operating as VISASQ/COLEMAN, is an expert network platform connecting investment firms, consulting firms, and corporations with industry specialists for 1-on-1 consultations, surveys, and primary research across the US, EMEA, and APAC.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Expert Network Services

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Due Diligence & Investigative Research (BPAHALAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Competitive Intelligence & Benchmarking (BPAHALAB), Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom) (BPAHALAE)

Keywords

• Expert network services
• Expert consultations
• Expert surveys
• Primary research services
• Compliance management platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Raleigh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 1-on-1 Consultations: Bespoke online or in-person consultations with qualified experts for in-depth insights. Primary revenue stream enabling clients to engage directly with industry experts for due diligence, idea generation, and channel checks.
2. Expert Surveys: Customizable online questionnaires delivered to VISASQ/COLEMAN expert network for quantitative hypothesis validation. Survey services include programming, administration, and data analysis with over 30 sample responses.
3. Additional Services: Supplementary services including transcripts (human-in-the-loop and AI automated), additional research, moderated calls, and deal placements.
4. Seminars: Hour-long expert-led discussions on key market topics, available as free-to-access transcripts and recordings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Coleman Research (operating as VISASQ/COLEMAN) is an expert network service provider that connects institutional clients with specialized industry experts for primary research. Core offerings include bespoke 1-on-1 consultations and customizable expert surveys, delivered through a proprietary technology platform comprising the Client App, Expert App, and Compliance App. The company serves investment management firms, management consultancies, and major corporations across 6 global offices.

Product overview

VISASQ/COLEMAN operates as a unified expert network platform combining 1-on-1 Consultations and Expert Surveys as core services, supported by the Client App, Expert App, and Compliance App platforms. The offering portfolio includes supplementary services (Transcripts, Additional Research, Moderated Calls, Deal Placements) and educational Seminars. The Client App enables project submission, expert scheduling, and AI transcription; the Expert App manages expert engagement; and the Compliance App handles permissions and regulatory oversight—all integrated through proprietary workflow software.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 1-on-1 Consultations Bespoke online or in-person consultations with qualified VISASQ/COLEMAN experts for in-depth insights. Used for idea generation, channel checks, qualitative verification of hypotheses, and broadening industry knowledge. Targeted at investment management firms, management consultancies, and major corporations.
• Expert Surveys Customizable questionnaires shared with VISASQ/COLEMAN experts to deliver accurate quantitative data. Includes data visualization, reporting, and cross-tabulation capabilities. Used for broader, quantitative verification of hypotheses, possibly before or after 1-on-1 Consultations.
• Moderated Calls Expert consultations conducted on behalf of clients by senior moderators, including transcriptions and recordings. Includes custom recruitment based on client requirements, allowing clients to delegate the consultation process entirely.
• Deal Placements Placement of experienced industry operators with proven track records to support ongoing diligences, post-deal strategy management, site evaluations, and technical discussions. Targets investment management firms for transaction support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average custom recruiting time under 24 hours
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AlphaSights: Premium expert network serving investment funds and consultancies with rapid expert matchmaking. Competes head-to-head with Coleman's 1-on-1 consultation offering for similar enterprise buyers.
• AlphaSense: AI-powered market intelligence and expert insights platform following the Tegus acquisition. Directly competes with Coleman's expert network offering integrated with document search and AI summarization.
• Evalueserve: Global knowledge services firm providing expert networks, primary research, and analytics. Overlaps with Coleman on expert-led primary research and serves a similar mix of financial and corporate clients.
• Tegus (AlphaSense): Primary research platform combining expert transcripts with AI-driven search. Competes with Coleman's expert consultation and transcript services while pushing into adjacent expert network workflows.
• Guidepoint: Global expert network providing phone consultations, surveys, and industry research to investment and business professionals. A direct competitor with overlapping client segments and similar service model.
• GLG (Gerson Lehrman Group): The largest and best-known expert network firm globally, offering 1-on-1 consultations, surveys, and a proprietary platform. Directly competes with Coleman across the same PE, hedge fund, and consulting client base.

Emerging players

• NewtonX: Expert network leveraging a large verified expert pool and AI-driven matching for B2B research and consultations. Competes with Coleman in serving investment and consulting clients with technology-led differentiation.
• Prosapient: Tech-forward expert network offering custom B2B research, expert calls, and surveys. Comparable offering to Coleman with a stronger technology-first positioning and overlap in PE/consulting clients.

Broad incumbents

• Source Global Research: Research and advisory firm focused on the professional services and consulting industry. Provides syndicated and custom research comparable to Coleman's industry/sector research services.
• BCC Research: Syndicated market research and custom consulting provider. Adjacent competitor in the broader research and analytics services space, particularly around industry and sector intelligence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coleman-research
• Xx.com/ColemanResearch
• Facebookfacebook.com/coleman-research-1474373752798033

Compliance2 records

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 Coleman Research