What Medialocate does

MediaLocate is a privately held language services provider founded in 1988 and headquartered at 1200 Piedmont Avenue, Pacific Grove, California. The company delivers translation, localization, and interpretation services across 150+ languages, supplemented by multimedia localization (dubbing, voiceover, captioning, subtitling) and technology integration services. Its customer base is concentrated in Fortune 500 enterprises and government clients across technology (SAP, Google, Cisco, Dell, Microsoft, Oracle, Adobe, Sony), life sciences (Abbott, Merck, Roche), financial services (Citi, Wells Fargo), defense (US Army), and consumer sectors (McDonald's, Marriott, Gap, Whole Foods, UPS), with engagements structured as multi-year, project-based contracts on a custom-quote pricing model.

The company's core product is ORQA (Orchestrated Quality Automation), a methodology that combines human expertise with AI to deliver scalable, brand-accurate translations; in practice ORQA functions as a branded process layer over third-party machine translation (notably KantanMT), human-in-the-loop post-editing, and proprietary workflow automation. The technology stack includes Python-based automation tools (e.g., a DITA-to-MadCap Flare converter with 948 lines of code), integration connectors for Drupal and Adobe Experience Manager, and two client-facing portals (MyMediaLocate and a Vendor Portal). MediaLocate holds ISO 9001, ISO 13485, ISO 17100, ISO 18587, and ISO 42001 certifications, plus US Department of State accreditation, giving it one of the denser certification profiles in mid-market language services.

Revenue is generated through three streams: managed translation and localization services, technology and consulting services for language engineering, and machine translation post-editing. Distribution is direct enterprise sales, supplemented by industry conference presence (e.g., tcworld China 2023) and content marketing. CSA Research has ranked MediaLocate in the global Top 100 LSPs for ten consecutive years, with current positions of 77th worldwide, 19th in North America, 5th globally in web localization, and 18th in the technology vertical. The company employs 11-50 people, acquired JLS Language in October 2018, and has no disclosed external funding.

Name

Medialocate

Legal name

MediaLocate, Inc.

Website

https://medialocate.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MediaLocate is a privately held language services provider founded in 1988 in Pacific Grove, California, offering translation, localization, interpretation, and multimedia localization in 150+ languages to Fortune 500 enterprises and government clients across technology, life sciences, defense, and consumer verticals, delivered through AI-assisted workflows under its ORQA methodology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Language Services / Translation and Localization

NAICS

Translation and Interpretation Services (541930), Translation and Interpretation Services (54193), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Localization Technology & Workflow Services (TMS, CMS, Automation) (MPAAANAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Translation & Transcreation Services (Script/Dialogue Adaptation) (MPAHAFAD)

Keywords

• Translation services
• Language localization
• Multimedia localization
• Interpretation services
• Translation automation

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

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, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Translation and Localization Services: Core professional services providing translation, localization, and interpretation across 150+ languages. Services include documentation translation, software localization, website globalization, multimedia localization (dubbing, voiceover, subtitling), and technical communication services. Delivered as managed services with customized project-based engagements.
2. Technology Services and Consulting: Technology integration, automation, and consulting services including CMS integration, workflow automation, and language infrastructure strategy. Specialized engineering support for building custom language solutions.
3. Machine Translation Post-Editing: Post-editing services for machine translation output, certified under ISO 18587 standard. Strategic application of MT for specific document types and languages with human review.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MediaLocate is a full-service language and localization firm that provides professional translation, interpretation, and multimedia localization services across 150+ languages, supported by its proprietary ORQA (Orchestrated Quality Automation) methodology that combines human expertise with AI. The company also delivers technology services for language engineering, CMS/TMS integration and workflow automation for enterprise clients.

Product overview

MediaLocate offers a comprehensive suite of translation and localization services built around its core ORQA (Orchestrated Quality Automation) platform, which combines human expertise with advanced AI. The portfolio includes language services (translation, interpretation, transcreation in 150+ languages), media services (dubbing, voiceover, video transcription), technology services (integration with CMS platforms like Drupal, Adobe Experience Manager, and MadCap Flare), and client portals (MyMediaLocate, Client Intelligence Portal, Vendor Portal). The company operates as an ISO-certified language service provider with specialization in technology, life sciences, marketing, legal, education, defense, hospitality, and entertainment sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ORQA: Orchestrated Quality Automation - MediaLocate's innovative approach to translation and localization that combines human expertise with advanced AI to deliver fast, consistent, and brand-accurate translations that are scalable and precise. Pronounced 'OR-kah', like the orca whale.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked 5th globally in web localization and 18th largest LSP for technology by CSA Research 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability9 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• tcworld (conference/organization)minorOthers · 1 June 2023Active participation in tcworld China 2023 conference as both attendee and presenter. MediaLocate's Nick Lambson presented on DITA to Flare automation, positioning the company as a technical communication thought leader.
• CSA ResearchcoreOthers · 1 January 2023Ongoing relationship with CSA Research for market benchmarking and industry rankings. CSA Research provides independent market research on the language services industry, ranking MediaLocate among top LSPs globally.
• Global Uplift Foundation / RotaryminorOthers · 1 January 2023MediaLocate's CFO/CHO Ilge Karancak participated in humanitarian earthquake relief efforts in Turkey through collaboration with the Global Uplift Foundation and Rotary clubs, demonstrating corporate social responsibility.
• KantanMTcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2014MediaLocate selected KantanMT machine translation platform for client workflow innovation. Integration enables efficient machine translation with human post-editing workflows, combining MT technology with quality assurance processes.
• AdobecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2014MediaLocate became an Adobe Community Partner, demonstrating expertise in Adobe-based localization and technical communication solutions. Enables seamless integration with Adobe Experience Manager and other Adobe products for content management and localization workflows.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TransPerfect: Privately held, founder-owned global LSP offering translation, interpretation, multimedia, and technology services to enterprise clients. Closest peer in business model, ownership structure, and full-service positioning, though at materially larger scale than MediaLocate.
• Welocalize: Mid-to-large full-service LSP specializing in translation, localization, and content services for technology, life sciences, and legal clients. Highly comparable to MediaLocate in vertical mix and emphasis on technology-enabled localization, though PE-backed (AEI Industries) and several times larger.
• Lionbridge: One of the largest global language service providers offering translation, localization, and interpretation across all major verticals including technology, life sciences, and gaming. Directly comparable as a full-service LSP serving Fortune 500 enterprises with a similar translation-plus-technology-services model, but at substantially greater scale (PE-backed by H.I.G. Capital).
• Keywords Studios: Publicly listed provider of technical and creative services to the gaming and entertainment industries, including game localization, dubbing, and subtitling. Comparable to MediaLocate's multimedia localization services for gaming and entertainment clients such as Sony.
• LanguageLine Solutions: Largest interpretation services provider in the world, also offering translation and localization. Overlaps with MediaLocate's interpretation and translation offerings, particularly in government, healthcare, and enterprise verticals; much larger scale and now owned by Teleperformance.
• Acolad: European-headquartered full-service LSP offering translation, localization, multimedia, and language technology services. Comparable in size, service breadth, and target verticals to MediaLocate, serving enterprise clients across technology, life sciences, and industrial sectors.

Broad incumbents

• RWS Group: UK-listed, top-tier global language and intellectual property services provider. Operates a much broader portfolio (IP services, life sciences, language technology) but is directly comparable through its translation, localization, and MT post-editing services, competing with MediaLocate for enterprise localization RFPs.

Emerging players

• Lilt: AI-first translation platform combining large language models with human-in-the-loop workflows. Competes with MediaLocate's ORQA-enabled, AI-human hybrid model for enterprise translation programs, though with a more software-led go-to-market.
• Smartling: Technology-first translation management platform with integrated AI and human translation services. Comparable through its translation, localization, and CMS/TMS integration capabilities, though it competes more on platform technology than full-service delivery.
• Translated: AI-augmented translation services company combining proprietary MT with human linguists. Direct competitor to MediaLocate's MT post-editing and AI-enabled localization offerings, with similar enterprise focus but a heavier technology-investment profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/medialocate
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/MedialocateUSA
• Facebookfacebook.com/Medialocate
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/medialocate

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Medialocate