What Insight Research does

Insight Research is a Toronto-based, founder-led boutique consultancy founded in 2018 that delivers three integrated service pillars: AI Consulting (organizational readiness assessments, strategic roadmaps, generative AI assessments, AI integration, governance and ethical implementation), Product Development (market research, roadmapping, prototyping, user testing, idea/market validation, methodology implementation), and Design Strategy & Workshops (design thinking workshops, multi-day charrettes, persona development, journey mapping). The firm sells professional-services engagements directly to clients via its website inquiry form, email outreach, and founder-led thought leadership, and serves a primarily startup and small/mid-market customer base across education technology, digital marketing, professional services, and wellness sectors. Technology and methodology rather than software products define the offering: the firm leverages proprietary AI adoption frameworks, design thinking methodologies, and applied research in AI ethics developed by founder Carrie Purcell, a doctoral researcher and international bestselling author. The firm has also built and showcased three applied solutions (LiVe Virtual Campus, Living Novel, KnowMeQ), positioning these as portfolio assets rather than packaged SaaS products. Revenue mechanics are time-and-materials professional services with non-publicly disclosed pricing, and the company remains bootstrapped with no disclosed funding rounds, institutional investors, or parent company.

Name

Insight Research

Legal name

Insight Research

Website

https://insightresearch.tech

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Insight Research is a Toronto-based boutique consultancy founded in 2018 that provides AI strategy, product development, and design-thinking workshop services to startups and small/mid-market technology companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Management Consulting - AI & Product Strategy

NAICS

Other Management Consulting Services (541618), Management Consulting Services (54161), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Data, Analytics & AI Consulting (BPAHACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Data, Analytics & AI Consulting (BPAHAEAF), Strategy & IT Advisory (BPAEAAAA)

Keywords

• AI consulting services
• Product development consulting
• Design thinking workshops
• AI strategy advisory
• Research and development

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. AI Consulting Services: Strategic AI consulting engagements including organizational readiness assessments, strategic roadmaps, efficiency optimization, AI integration, governance frameworks, and ethical implementation
2. Product Development Services: Market research, strategic roadmaps, rapid prototyping, rigorous testing, and product development methodology implementation
3. Design Strategy & Workshops: Design thinking workshops, charette-style multi-day workshops, problem-solving sessions, idea validation, persona development, and journey mapping

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Insight Research delivers AI consulting, end-to-end product development, and design strategy workshops for technology companies. Services include organizational readiness assessments, strategic AI roadmaps, generative AI assessment, AI governance, market research, rapid prototyping, testing, validation, design thinking workshops, persona development, and journey mapping.

Product overview

Insight Research is a Full Service Research and Development firm offering strategic consulting and professional services rather than a unified software product. The portfolio consists of three core service pillars: AI Consulting (including Startup Strategy, Efficiency Strategy, Generative AI Assessment & Roadmaps, and AI Governance), Product Development (encompassing Market Research, Roadmaps, Prototyping, Testing, and Idea/Market Validation), and Design Strategy & Workshops (covering Design Thinking Workshops, Charette Multi-day Workshops, Problem-Solving Workshops, Persona Development, and Journey Mapping). These services are delivered through an experienced team supporting clients from ideation to scale. The company has also developed solutions including LiVe Virtual Campus, Living Novel, and KnowMeQ. There are no individual software products, modules, or SaaS offerings—the company provides professional consulting services and completed project solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AI Consulting AI consulting services encompassing organizational readiness assessments, strategic roadmaps, efficiency optimization, seamless AI integration, robust governance frameworks, and ethical, human-centered implementation for sustainable AI adoption. Includes Startup Strategy, Efficiency Strategy, Generative AI Assessment & Roadmaps, and AI Governance offerings, delivered to technology companies at various stages of innovation.
• Product Development End-to-end product development expertise including thorough market research, strategic roadmaps, rapid prototyping, rigorous testing, and proven methodologies (agile and design thinking), guiding concepts from initial idea through market validation, prototyping, and successful market-ready implementation. Designed for tech companies and startups launching or scaling products.
• Design Strategy & Workshops Design thinking strategy and workshops that foster innovation and teamwork through user-centered problem solving. Includes Design Thinking Workshops, Charette Style Multi-day Workshops, Problem-Solving Workshops, Idea Hatchery & Validation, Persona Development, and Journey Mapping, delivered as discrete service offerings to organizations seeking to build innovation capabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Frameworks for shifting from AI resistance to ethical AI transformation

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature2 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ustwo: Design-led product studio offering strategy, design, and product engineering with a focus on emerging technology and human-centered design—comparable in service mix and boutique positioning to Insight Research.
• West Monroe: Mid-sized technology and management consultancy delivering AI, product, and transformation work, similar in size and service breadth to a scaled-up Insight Research and competing for similar client segments.
• Slalom: Tech-focused consulting firm delivering AI strategy, product development, and transformation workshops to mid-market and enterprise clients—closely aligned with Insight Research's three-pillar offering and target customer segments.
• IDEO: Globally recognized design and innovation consultancy that pioneered design thinking workshops, prototyping, and human-centered product development—the exact service pillars Insight Research offers, making it the closest direct peer.
• Thoughtworks: Global technology consultancy combining strategy, product, and design thinking with deep engineering delivery—comparable in combining AI/tech advisory with hands-on product build, similar to Insight Research's integrated model.
• frog (frog design): Design and innovation consultancy providing design strategy, product design, and AI/emerging-tech experience work for global clients, directly comparable to Insight Research's Design Strategy & Workshops and Product Development offerings.
• Designit (a Wipro company): Global design and innovation consultancy providing design strategy, workshops, and product development services—directly comparable to Insight Research's design and product development pillars.

Broad incumbents

• Accenture: Global professional services giant with extensive AI consulting, product development, and design services, serving as the dominant scaled competitor in the same AI-and-digital-transformation category as Insight Research.
• McKinsey & Company (QuantumBlack): Global strategy leader with QuantumBlack as its AI arm, offering AI strategy, governance, and transformation services at enterprise scale—directly competes with Insight Research's AI Consulting pillar but at vastly greater scale and brand.
• Deloitte (Deloitte Digital / AI practice): Big Four advisory firm with large AI strategy, generative AI, and digital transformation practices competing head-on with Insight Research for enterprise AI roadmap and governance engagements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/insight-research-tech-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Insight Research