The Internet Marketing Association

What The Internet Marketing Association does

The Internet Marketing Association (IMA) is a private nonprofit professional membership organization founded in 2001 by Sinan Kanatsiz and headquartered in San Clemente, California. IMA operates as a curated networking and thought leadership platform serving venture capitalists, founders and CEOs, Fortune 500 enterprise executives, and creative professionals across frontier industries including AI, defense technology, space, quantum, and biotech. The organization has accrued one of the largest databases of professional members in sales, marketing, business ownership, programming, and creative development, and has built institutional relationships with C-suite executives from Salesforce, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Anduril, Veritone, Pepperdine, and Ware Malcomb.

IMA's product portfolio centers on five integrated offerings: the IMA Galaxy Platform (a proprietary networking tool providing monthly curated introductions to one high-value contact per member); the IMPACT SHOW (a monthly YouTube series and podcast distributed on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify featuring thought leadership from frontier industry leaders); IMPACT Events (annual flagship conferences including IMPACT 20-25 and the exotic-venue IMPACT 5050 series, with IMPACT 20 setting the Guinness World Record for Largest Virtual Marketing Conference in 2020 and IMPACT 25 held in Washington D.C. in October 2025 with over 150 frontier leaders and policymakers); the IMPACT Awards recognition program; and a monthly newsletter archive dating to 2010.

The business model is subscription-based recurring revenue through annual membership dues priced at $10,000 per member, supplemented by event sponsorships (over 100 sponsors at IMPACT 21) and conference fees. IMA operates a direct sales motion targeting high-net-worth professionals through exclusive events, private summits, and curated introductions, with application-based membership managed through the IMA website. The organization is led by founder Sinan Kanatsiz (Chairman & Founder) with execution support from KCOMM, Kanatsiz's affiliated PR and marketing firm. Headcount is 11-50 employees, and IMA claims global reach across North America, Europe, and Asia. No equity funding, venture capital backing, or acquisition activity has been disclosed.

Name

The Internet Marketing Association

Legal name

Internet Marketing Association

Website

https://imanetwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Internet Marketing Association is a nonprofit professional membership organization founded in 2001 that sells $10,000 annual memberships providing curated networking, exclusive events, and thought leadership access to venture capitalists, founders, Fortune 500 executives, and creatives across frontier industries including AI, defense, and quantum technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Membership Association

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Public Relations Agencies (54182)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Advertising (Brand + Performance + Media) (BPAFAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Brand Activations & Experiential Campaign Design (MPAAAGAA)

Keywords

• Professional networking association
• Executive membership organization
• Industry conferences events
• Thought leadership platform
• Marketing community network

Headquarters

HQ city

San Clemente

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Annual Membership Dues: IMA generates revenue through annual membership dues of $10,000 per member, providing exclusive access to private summits, roundtables, global gatherings, monthly curated introductions through IMA Galaxy Platform, global network access, and thought leadership visibility opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Internet Marketing Association (IMA) sells annual memberships priced at $10,000 that grant access to a curated network of founders, investors, executives, and policymakers. The core deliverable is the proprietary IMA Galaxy Platform, which provides each member with one personalized high-value introduction per month to support partnership, capital, and strategic growth objectives. Membership also includes access to flagship IMPACT conferences, private summits, roundtables, global gatherings, and thought leadership visibility.

Product overview

The Internet Marketing Association (IMA) operates as a professional organization offering an integrated suite of products and services centered on networking, thought leadership, and industry events. The core offerings include: the IMPACT SHOW (a monthly YouTube series and podcast featuring industry leaders), the IMA Galaxy Platform (a member networking and curated introduction service with $10,000 annual membership), IMPACT Events (annual flagship conferences across frontier industries), IMPACT Awards (recognition program), and the IMA Newsletter (monthly content delivery since 2010). These offerings collectively serve venture capitalists, founders, enterprise leaders, and creatives in sectors spanning AI, space, defense, healthcare, and fintech.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IMPACT Show: A monthly YouTube series featuring breaking news, thought leadership, and inspiring stories from industry leaders.
• IMPACT Events
• IMA Galaxy Platform

Products and services

• IMA Galaxy Platform A member networking platform that provides monthly curated introductions, connecting each member with one high-value contact personally matched to accelerate their goals for partnership, capital, or strategic growth. Included with the $10,000 annual membership.
• IMPACT SHOW A monthly YouTube video series and podcast featuring breaking news, thought leadership interviews, and inspiring stories from leaders in technology, business, and innovation. Distributed via YouTube, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
• IMPACT Events Annual flagship conferences (IMPACT 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 5050) bringing together founders, investors, executives, and policymakers across frontier industries including AI, space, defense, and biotech. Held at venues including Wynn Resort Las Vegas, Lido House Newport Beach, One&Only Mandarina Mexico, and Washington D.C.
• IMA Newsletter Monthly newsletter delivering partner articles, case studies, and event highlights to the IMA database of professional members. Archives span from 2010 to 2026.
• IMPACT Awards Annual awards program recognizing leaders and companies across New Frontier industries including FinTech, Transportation, Defense Technology, and Healthcare.

Quantifiable outcome

• Set Guinness World Record for Largest Virtual Marketing Conference with IMPACT 20
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Type One VenturesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Type One Ventures presented IMPACT 25 in Washington D.C., featuring global innovators, policy makers and industry titans over 4 days. The partnership showcases space, AI, and defense technology companies within the IMA network.
• Pepperdine Graziadio Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTitle sponsor of IMPACT 21 conference at Wynn Resort Las Vegas; provides executive education insights and academic thought leadership to IMA events and programs.
• Ware MalcombcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAward-winning international design firm that partners with IMA on events and provides thought leadership content. Larry Armstrong serves as Chairman of Ware Malcomb on IMA board.
• Armada AIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted exclusive AI breakfast and fireside chat at IMPACT 25, bringing together senior executives and policymakers for discussion on America's AI Action Plan.
• MicrosoftminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIMA's impactSHOW debuted in Microsoft Stores across the United States, providing physical venue presence and technology platform access.
• SalesforcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple Salesforce executives serve on IMA advisory board including Jamison Braun (VP Global Public Sector AMER), Adam Doti (VP Principal Architect Design), and YiLeng Lee (Innovation Senior Director).
• VeritonecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRyan Steelberg, CEO and President of Veritone, serves as key speaker at IMA events covering enterprise AI and the New Frontier themes.
• AmazoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIMPACT 19 held at Amazon headquarters in Seattle; Jay Symonds (Head of Home & Sporting Goods Advertising) serves on IMA advisory board.
• Anduril IndustriesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPalmer Luckey, Founder of Anduril, presented EagleEye platform at IMPACT 25 Washington D.C., showcasing defense technology innovation through IMA platform.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• YPO (Young Presidents' Organization): YPO is the largest global membership organization for chief executives and presidents under 45 (now extended). Both YPO and IMA sell annual executive memberships, host curated networking events, and offer peer learning platforms — making them direct competitors for executive mindshare and dues.
• Endeavor: Endeavor is a global nonprofit that selects and supports high-impact entrepreneurs through events, mentorship, and networking. Comparable to IMA in operating as a nonprofit membership/community organization that convenes founders and investors.
• Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council: CMO Council is a global membership organization specifically for chief marketing officers and serves the same marketing executive audience as IMA. It offers peer networking, executive programs, and thought leadership content very similar to IMA's value proposition.
• Summit Series: Summit Series produces high-end, invitation-only events and a membership community for founders, investors, and cultural leaders. It is most directly comparable to IMA's IMPACT flagship conferences and curated audience model.
• Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO): EO is a global membership community for founders and entrepreneurs offering peer-to-peer learning, events, and accelerator programs. Like IMA, it monetizes via annual dues and convenes members around curated events and content.
• Vistage: Vistage is a peer advisory and executive coaching organization for CEOs and business leaders. Similar to IMA, it sells annual memberships combining group meetings, one-to-one coaching, and curated connections — but with a broader executive (not just marketing) focus.

Emerging players

• The Wall Street Journal CEO Council: WSJ CEO Council is an invitation-only membership and event community for chief executives across industries. Comparable to IMA in convening C-suite executives, hosting summits, and offering thought leadership visibility, though tied to a media brand.
• Pavilion (formerly Revenue Collective): Pavilion is a paid membership community for go-to-market leaders. It overlaps with IMA's enterprise marketing/sales executive audience and uses a similar subscription model with curated networking events and content.
• Abundance360 (by Abundance Institute): Abundance360 is a curated membership community for executives focused on exponential technologies (AI, longevity, space). It overlaps with IMA's Frontier narrative (AI, space, defense, quantum) and uses a similar premium membership plus annual summit model.
• Chief: Chief is a private membership network for senior executive women offering peer groups, events, and content. Like IMA, it sells annual memberships at premium price points and organizes curated executive gatherings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ima_network
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/IMAnetworkorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/imanetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/internetmarketingassociation
• Instagraminstagram.com/imanetwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 The Internet Marketing Association