What EMI - Research Solutions does

EMI Research Solutions is a privately held, founder-owned online sample and quantitative research consultancy founded in 1999 and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company does not own research panels; instead it curates a network of 596 vetted sample sources across 150+ partners in 95 countries, of which only 30% pass its Partner Assessment Process. It serves enterprise and mid-market market research buyers across consumer, B2B, and healthcare verticals, as well as adjacent use cases including political polling, mobile research, and in-home usage tests. Documented customers include BarkleyOKRP, Boston Research Group, Various Views, and SSRS, with the company self-identified as a Top 50 Market Research Firm and reporting an average year-to-date 2023 NPS of 9.23.

The firm's core technology stack is built around three proprietary components: IntelliBlend®, a patented methodology for strategically blending three or more sample sources to reduce panel bias; SWIFT, a cloud-based sample management platform integrating digital fingerprinting, AI-powered data scrubbing, keystroke and clickthrough behavior analysis, and a multi-vendor fraud detection stack (Research Defender, Verisoul, SampleChain, MaxMind, DB-IP, FraudLabs); and CONNECTOR, a self-serve DIY sampling dashboard fronted on the SWIFT engine and accessible via API integrations. EMI layers technology over its central research-on-research knowledge base—collected for more than twelve years—on how panels behave, differ, and change over time.

The business model blends professional services with emerging platform economics. Most revenue is generated through quote-based, project-priced engagements for sample provision, survey programming across Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Confirmit, and Decipher, translations, and bundled longitudinal tracker work on multi-year contracts. CONNECTOR is positioned as a subscription or usage-based self-serve channel for mid-market researchers. Distribution is consultative direct sales to enterprise buyers, with a bottom-of-funnel "Request a Consultation" CTA and an expanding top-of-funnel content marketing engine anchored on The Sample Landscape annual report, the Intellicast podcast, blogs, webinars, and partnerships with ESOMAR, Insights Association, Quirks, and Women in Research (WIRe). The founder-CEO-led, bootstrapped ownership structure—no disclosed external investors—preserves the panel-agnostic positioning that competitors owning their own panels structurally cannot replicate.

Name

EMI - Research Solutions

Legal name

EMI Research Solutions

Website

https://emi-rs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EMI Research Solutions is a Cincinnati-based, founder-owned online sample consultancy founded in 1999 that curates 596 vetted sample sources across 150+ partners in 95 countries, serving enterprise and mid-market market research buyers in consumer, B2B, healthcare, and political research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Market Research Sample Provision

NAICS

Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Syndicated Market Research (Panels, Omnibus, Tracker Studies) (MPAAALAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Social & Digital Insights (Social Listening, Online Community Research) (MPAAALAK)

Keywords

• Online sample provision
• Market research sampling
• Survey programming services
• B2B consumer healthcare panels
• Data quality fraud detection

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Online Sample Provision: EMI leverages a network of 150+ sample providers to connect client projects with the right survey respondents across B2B, consumer, and healthcare landscapes. Revenue is generated through consulting fees and per-project pricing for sample delivery, where EMI acts as a sample consultancy rather than owning panels.
2. Survey Programming Services: EMI provides end-to-end survey programming and hosting, including custom logic, multimedia integration, mobile-first design, and multi-platform experience (Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Confirmit, Decipher). Programming is offered as a bundled or standalone service with per-project or retainer pricing.
3. Translations: EMI offers translation and localization services for surveys through a global network of translators and editors, providing cultural knowledge and expertise. Typically bundled with survey programming or offered as a standalone service.
4. CONNECTOR Platform: EMI's CONNECTOR is a DIY sampling platform that allows clients to self-serve access to thousands of respondents. Revenue may be generated through platform subscription or usage-based fees per survey or respondent sourced.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

EMI Research Solutions is an online sample and quantitative research consultancy that helps market research buyers source high-quality respondents across B2B, consumer, and healthcare audiences in 95+ countries. The company operates a proprietary sample blending methodology (IntelliBlend®) and a cloud-based sample management platform (SWIFT) backed by a network of 150+ vetted panel partners, with CONNECTOR providing a self-serve DIY sampling dashboard for clients.

Product overview

EMI Research Solutions is an online sample and quantitative research consultancy offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services centered around sample provision, strategic blending, and survey management. The core offering consists of IntelliBlend® (proprietary patented sample blending methodology), SWIFT (cloud-based sample management platform), and CONNECTOR (DIY sampling platform), supported by strategic sample blending services, survey programming, mobile research, political polling, iHUTs, community building, and translations. EMI operates a network of 150+ global panel partners across 95+ countries, serving B2B, consumer, and healthcare market research needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IntelliBlend®: EMI's patented methodology of strategically blending sample sources in an intentional and controlled approach to deliver representative and accurate demographic, behavioral, and attitudinal data.
• CONNECTOR
• SWIFT

Products and services

• IntelliBlend® Patented methodology for strategically blending three or more sample sources (panels plus non-traditional sources such as social media) in a controlled manner to reduce bias and deliver representative data; for enterprise and mid-market market research buyers.
• SWIFT Proprietary cloud-based sample management platform that connects studies to EMI's sample network and applies digital fingerprinting, AI-powered data scrubbing, fraud detection (integrated with Research Defender, Verisoul, MaxMind, DB-IP, FraudLabs, SampleChain), and real-time quality alerts; for market research teams running quantitative studies.
• CONNECTOR Proprietary self-serve DIY sampling dashboard, powered by SWIFT, providing direct access to thousands of respondents from API-connected sample providers with built-in feasibility tools, in-study alerts, and automatic de-duplication; for mid-market researchers who want to manage their own sample sourcing.
• Strategic Sample Blending Consultative sample blending service that selects and combines multiple panel providers to complement one another for each project, reducing sample bias and behavioral impacts; for enterprise and mid-market market research teams.
• Online Sample Services Managed access to 150+ vetted sample providers across 95+ countries for B2B, consumer, and healthcare audience targeting; for market research buyers needing global reach.
• Survey Programming Services End-to-end survey programming and hosting across Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Confirmit, and Decipher, including custom logic, multimedia integration, and mobile-first design; for market research teams outsourcing questionnaire build and field operations.
• Mobile Research Device-agnostic survey design and mobile-optimized research with device (iPhone, Galaxy, Android, iPad) and platform (iOS, Android, Windows) targeting and mobile-specific quality monitoring; for market researchers running studies on smartphones and tablets.
• Political Polling Verified voter panel access with registration status, party affiliation, voting history, and geographic targeting at national, state, and congressional district levels; for political pollsters, campaigns, and policy researchers.
• In-Home Usage Tests (iHUTs) Manages in-home product testing where respondents receive physical products and complete follow-up surveys about usage and experience; for consumer brands and CPG product teams.
• Community and Panel Building Builds and manages custom research communities and panels for clients running ongoing or longitudinal research programs; for brands and research teams needing a dedicated respondent community.
• Translations Survey translation and localization using a global network of translators and editors with local cultural knowledge, typically bundled with survey programming or offered standalone; for multi-country research programs.
• Global Panel Network Vetted network of 150+ panel partners across 82 countries providing access to B2B, consumer, and specialty/hard-to-reach audiences; for international research programs needing consistent sample quality globally.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sample balance of 95.5% achieved for tracking studies, minimizing data manipulation and drastically improving data quality
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 150+ Sample Provider Partners (Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMI's core business model centers on a network of 150+ sample provider partners across 95 countries. These partners provide the sample supply for EMI's consultancy services. Every partner must pass EMI's rigorous Partner Assessment Process, with only 30% approved. Partners include panel providers for B2B, consumer, and healthcare research.
• Insights AssociationminorOthersEMI maintains active membership in the Insights Association, a leading industry body for market research and insights professionals. EMI's association logos are displayed on their website footer.
• ESOMARminorOthersEMI is a member of ESOMAR, a global association for data, research, and insights professionals. EMI publishes responses to ESOMAR's 37 Questions to Help Buyers of Online Sample on their website.
• QuirksminorOthersEMI holds membership and displays the Quirks association logo, indicating active participation in the market research industry's leading publication and events platform.
• Women in Research (WIRe)minorOthersEMI is a member of Women in Research (WIRe), an organization dedicated to advancing women in the market research and insights industry.
• Burke, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBurke, Inc. is a co-founder of the Minority Access Partnership Program (MAPP), a multi-firm internship program created and launched by EMI Research Solutions, Burke, Inc., Directions Research, and MarketVision Research. The program establishes partnerships with universities, junior colleges, and historically Black colleges to provide minority students opportunities in the marketing research and insight industry.
• Directions ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirections Research is a co-founder of the Minority Access Partnership Program (MAPP), a multi-firm internship program created by EMI Research Solutions, Burke, Inc., Directions Research, and MarketVision Research to promote diversity in the market research industry through mentorship and internship opportunities.
• MarketVision ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarketVision Research is a co-founder of the Minority Access Partnership Program (MAPP), a multi-firm internship program created by EMI Research Solutions, Burke, Inc., Directions Research, and MarketVision Research to promote diversity in the market research industry through mentorship and internship opportunities.
• RNMKRSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEMI partnered with RNMKRS, a professional coaching and training organization that uses artificial intelligence to help sales people practice and become better communicators. EMI's CEO Michael Holmes provided a message to the 2020 sales competition teams.
• Screen EducationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEMI partnered with Screen Education, a non-profit focused on mitigating smartphone addiction in teens, to conduct a national survey on teen smartphone addiction. EMI provided research expertise and survey capabilities for the partnership.
• Leukemia & Lymphoma SocietyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEMI partnered with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for their Man & Woman of the Year fundraising campaign as their first-ever Company of the Year, raising over $105,000 over a 10-week period. EMI also ran custom research about the organization to help with brand awareness efforts.
• The Emergency Shelter of Northern KentuckyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEMI works with The Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky, supporting their mission to provide shelter and meals in winter and summer. EMI sponsors beds, caters and serves meals as part of their community involvement program.
• Research DefendercoreTechnology or IntegrationResearch Defender's advanced fraud and bot detection technology is integrated into EMI's SWIFT platform for real-time fraud prevention and quality monitoring across all sample sources.
• MaxMindcoreTechnology or IntegrationMaxMind's Geo-IP technology is integrated into EMI's SWIFT platform for location verification and geo-blocking to prevent fraudulent survey responses.
• DB-IPcoreTechnology or IntegrationDB-IP's IP geolocation technology is used within EMI's SWIFT platform for fraud detection and location verification of respondents.
• FraudLabscoreTechnology or IntegrationFraudLabs fraud detection technology is integrated into EMI's SWIFT platform as part of their multi-layered quality assurance approach.
• VerisoulcoreTechnology or IntegrationVerisoul's fraud detection and bot prevention technology is integrated into EMI's SWIFT platform alongside Research Defender for advanced fraud detection across sample sources.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sago (formerly Schlesinger Group): Global data collection firm offering qualitative and quantitative research services, including sample access and managed fieldwork. Comparable to EMI in delivering complex, multi-market quantitative programs with concierge service.
• Lucid: Programmatic research sample marketplace operating Automated Sampling and consumer panels. Directly competes with EMI in supplying online sample to enterprise research buyers through aggregated provider networks.
• PureSpectrum: Sample marketplace and automated research platform aggregating multiple panel sources. Comparable to EMI in providing buyers a single point of access to multi-provider sample with quality controls.
• Cint: Global sample exchange / marketplace connecting buyers to supply-side panels. Directly comparable to EMI's model of aggregating multiple panel providers into a unified sample-sourcing channel for research buyers.
• Prolific: Online participant platform for academic and commercial research offering verified, opt-in sample. Competes with EMI on quality-conscious academic and commercial research sourcing, particularly for B2B and consumer studies.
• Toluna: Operates owned consumer panels and provides sample, survey programming, and managed research services. Overlaps directly with EMI in consumer sample provision and quantitative survey execution.
• CloudResearch (formerly Turkprime): Provides online research sample, including a sample marketplace through Prime Panels and integration-based access to multiple providers. Closely comparable to EMI in multi-source sample aggregation and DIY tooling.

Broad incumbents

• Ipsos: Global market research conglomerate with substantial online and healthcare research operations. Competes with EMI both as a sample buyer and as an end-to-end alternative to EMI's deliverables.
• Dynata: Large, vertically-integrated first-party data and sample provider serving enterprise insights. Comparable in online sample delivery but operates owned panels at much broader scale; competes for the same buyer budgets.
• Kantar: Large global research and consulting firm with significant consumer panel assets (e.g., Worldpanel). Competes with EMI across brand tracking and consumer research programs where buyer-side ecosystem choice applies.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/emi_research
• Facebookfacebook.com/emi-research-solutions-155554264627544
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/emi---online-research-solutions

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

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 EMI - Research Solutions