Primary Insight, LLC
Primary Insight is a private expert network firm that connects institutional investors (hedge funds, private equity, asset managers, investment banks) with a global network of industry experts via subscription and on-demand paid consultations, supported by proprietary client compliance portal technology.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Primary Insight, LLC does
Primary Insight, LLC is a private, New York-headquartered expert network firm founded in 2005 inside Bear Stearns and spun out from JPMorgan in 2009 via a management buyout led by co-founder and CEO Leighton Thomas. The company connects institutional investors (hedge funds, private equity firms, asset managers, mutual funds, venture capital, investment banks, and consultancies) with a global network of industry experts via private one-on-one phone consultations, in-person meetings, surveys, and hosted roundtable events, with active operations across at least 13 countries in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.
The core product suite consists of two service models: the PI Service, a subscription-based offering for recurring research needs, and PI On-Demand (PIOD), a usage-based product launched in 2016 priced at $1,450 per credit with no upfront subscription. The underlying technology platform is a proprietary Client Portal that handles project submission, consultant review and approval, scheduling, compliance reporting, and global activity tracking, complemented by a separate Expert Portal for consultants. The company differentiates on a bespoke recruitment process in which more than 60% of experts have spoken to only one client, minimizing information leakage and producing non-commoditized expert access, with most expert biographies delivered within 24 hours of project request.
Primary Insight generates revenue through subscription fees for the PI Service, per-credit usage fees for PIOD, and underlying expert consultation fees, accepting ACH or credit card payments through its portal. Go-to-market is a hybrid of direct enterprise field sales led by a Chief Revenue Officer, an inside-sales self-serve portal motion, and an expert referral program. The firm employs 11-50 people across headquarters in New York and research offices in Greenwich, Hong Kong, and Miami, and is led by an experienced team that traces its lineage to Vista Research, the first bespoke expert network firm in the industry.
Primary Insight, LLC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Primary Insight, LLC
- Legal name
- Primary Insight, LLC
- Website
- https://primaryinsight.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Primary Insight is a private expert network firm that connects institutional investors (hedge funds, private equity, asset managers, investment banks) with a global network of industry experts via subscription and on-demand paid consultations, supported by proprietary client compliance portal technology.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Primary Insight, LLC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Expert Network Services
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Investment & Wealth Introducers (RIA/Private Wealth Referrals) (FSAEAMAC)
Keywords
Where Primary Insight, LLC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Primary Insight, LLC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- On-Demand Usage-Based Service: Pay-per-credit model where clients pay only for calls they make without upfront subscription cost. Priced at $1,450 per credit with no signup fees or subscription timeline. Usage-based transaction revenue.
- Subscription Products and Services: Range of subscription products and services including Private One-on-One Phone Consultations, Live Meetings, InsightOnsite Research Trips, and Guest Speaker Series with recurring subscription revenue.
- Expert Consultation Fees: Facilitates paid consulting projects where expert contributors participate in exchange for hourly fees. Consultants are paid an honorarium for their time on calls and meetings.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | On-Demand Per Credit |
| Subscription | Annual | Subscription Services |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Primary Insight, LLC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Primary Insight operates an expert network that connects institutional investors (hedge funds, private equity, asset managers, mutual funds, investment banks) with a global, custom-recruited network of industry experts for primary source research. Services are delivered through subscription products (private one-on-one phone consultations, live meetings, InsightOnsite research trips, guest speaker series) and a usage-based on-demand offering (PIOD) priced at $1,450 per credit, all managed via a proprietary Client Portal and Expert Portal with integrated compliance workflows.
Product overview
Primary Insight, LLC operates as a leading primary source research firm providing institutional investors access to a global network of industry experts. The company offers two core service models: the PI Service (subscription-based) and PI On-Demand (usage-based at $1450/credit). Services include private one-on-one phone consultations, in-person meetings, surveys, and hosted roundtable events. The company provides proprietary Client Portal technology for investors and Expert Portal for consultants, supported by integrated compliance and consultation management systems.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- PI Service (Core Subscription) Subscription-based expert network service providing institutional investors access to a global network of experts across all industries through private one-on-one phone consultations, in-person meetings, surveys, and hosted roundtable events with industry speakers.
- Client Portal First-in-class proprietary technology platform designed for investors to manage all firm activities. Includes project submission, consultant review with resume and details, scheduling management, compliance reporting, and customizable summary reports.
- PI On-Demand (PIOD) Usage-based expert network service allowing clients to pay only for calls made at $1,450 per credit without subscription commitment or signup fees. Provides the same access to a diverse global expert network.
Companies that use Primary Insight, LLC
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Primary Insight, LLC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Primary Insight, LLC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Primary Insight, LLC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- GLG (Gerson Lehrman Group): GLG is the largest and most established expert network firm globally, providing institutional investors with primary research and expert consultations across all industries — directly comparable to PI's core subscription and on-demand services.
- AlphaSights: AlphaSights is a leading global expert network connecting investment professionals with industry experts for consultations — competes head-to-head with PI in serving hedge funds, PE firms, and investment banks with bespoke expert matching.
- Guidepoint: Guidepoint is a major expert network serving institutional clients including hedge funds, mutual funds, and consultancies with expert consultations — directly comparable in target market, business model, and delivery mechanism to PI.
- Atheneum: Atheneum is a Berlin-based expert network serving institutional investors globally with primary research and expert consultations — directly comparable mid-sized competitor in the bespoke expert network space.
- Tegus: Tegus operates an expert network combined with a transcribed expert call library serving institutional investors — directly comparable to PI's expert access business, now operating under AlphaSense following 2024 acquisition.
- Coleman Research: Coleman Research is a smaller expert network serving institutional investors with primary research consultations — a directly comparable boutique peer in the bespoke expert network category.
Broad incumbents
- AlphaSense: AlphaSense is a broader market intelligence platform combining AI-powered search with primary research capabilities after acquiring Tegus — a broader incumbent that increasingly competes with PI in serving institutional research needs.
Emerging players
- NewtonX: NewtonX is a newer AI-enabled expert network serving consulting and institutional clients with proprietary expert sourcing technology — an emerging competitor with partial overlap to PI's core expert matching and research services.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Primary Insight, LLC social profiles
Digital presencePrimary Insight, LLC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Primary Insight, LLC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Primary Insight, LLC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Primary Insight, LLC M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Primary Insight, LLC
What does Primary Insight, LLC do?
Primary Insight operates an expert network that connects institutional investors (hedge funds, private equity, asset managers, mutual funds, investment banks) with a global, custom-recruited network of industry experts for primary source research. Services are delivered through subscription products (private one-on-one phone consultations, live meetings, InsightOnsite research trips, guest speaker series) and a usage-based on-demand offering (PIOD) priced at $1,450 per credit, all managed via a proprietary Client Portal and Expert Portal with integrated compliance workflows.
Is Primary Insight, LLC a public or private company?
Primary Insight, LLC is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Primary Insight, LLC founded?
Primary Insight, LLC was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Primary Insight, LLC based?
Primary Insight, LLC is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Primary Insight, LLC make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. On-Demand Usage-Based Service is the primary driver. The others are subscription Products and Services and expert Consultation Fees.
Who are Primary Insight, LLC's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are GLG (Gerson Lehrman Group), AlphaSights, Guidepoint, Atheneum, Tegus and Coleman Research. AlphaSense is listed as a broad incumbent. NewtonX is listed as an emerging player.
Does Primary Insight, LLC have an API?
No public API is recorded for Primary Insight, LLC.
What industry is Primary Insight, LLC in?
Primary Insight, LLC's product category is Expert Network Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEAMAC, Investment & Wealth Introducers (RIA/Private Wealth Referrals). Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.