MDRG
MDRG is a New Orleans-based premium market research firm serving healthcare, CPG, finance, media, and utilities clients through its proprietary WHOLE MIND™ methodology combining behavioral science with traditional research techniques.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersNew Orleans, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What MDRG does
MDRG Inc. is a privately held premium market research firm headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, operating since the late 1990s with a headcount in the 11-50 range. The firm delivers custom market research engagements to enterprise and mid-market clients across five primary verticals: Healthcare, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Finance, Media and Communications, and Utilities. Its core methodology is the WHOLE MIND™ framework, which combines System 1 (non-conscious, intuitive) and System 2 (conscious, analytical) research techniques — including facial coding, eye tracking, implicit association testing, online metaphor elicitation (OMET), and prediction markets — to uncover both rational and emotional drivers of consumer decision-making.
The firm's service portfolio spans qualitative research (focus groups, in-depth interviews, insight communities, ethnography), quantitative research (surveys, brand tracking, MaxDiff, conjoint), brand strategy consulting, product innovation research, and a recently launched AI Solutions line featuring virtual audiences and synthetic data generation through a partnership with Yabble. MDRG holds registered trademarks for several proprietary assets including WHOLE MIND™, Prove-It™ Copy Test, Brand Health Score™, and HX Index (Healthcare Experience Index). The firm maintains SOC 1 and SOC 2 Type II compliance certifications, supporting enterprise and regulated-vertical client requirements.
MDRG operates a sales-led B2B go-to-market model with no self-service or channel distribution. All engagements are custom, project-based, and quote-driven, with multi-year contracts typical for anchor clients. The firm generates revenue through bespoke research projects scoped to individual client objectives, with pricing varying by methodology, sample size, and complexity. Named long-tenured clients include Ochsner Health (15+ years), Lumen (10+ years), Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, CenturyLink, Entergy Louisiana, and various CPG and spirits brands, indicating a concentration on enterprise engagements with regional anchors expanding into national accounts.
MDRG firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MDRG
- Legal name
- MDRG inc.
- Website
- https://www.mdrginc.com/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- MDRG is a New Orleans-based premium market research firm serving healthcare, CPG, finance, media, and utilities clients through its proprietary WHOLE MIND™ methodology combining behavioral science with traditional research techniques.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where MDRG is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Orleans
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
MDRG business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Custom Market Research Projects: MDRG generates revenue through bespoke market research engagements tailored to individual client needs. Projects span various methodologies including qualitative research (focus groups, in-depth interviews), quantitative research (surveys, brand tracking), and specialized services like facial coding, eye tracking, and concept testing. Pricing is project-based and quote-driven, with no standard pricing publicly disclosed.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based engagement |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
MDRG product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MDRG is a premium market research services firm that delivers custom research projects combining conscious (System 2) and non-conscious (System 1) methodologies under its proprietary WHOLE MIND™ approach. The firm serves enterprise and mid-market clients with brand tracking, advertising effectiveness testing, product innovation research, customer experience studies, and AI-powered consumer insights. Primary verticals served include healthcare, CPG, finance, media and communications, and utilities.
Product overview
MDRG is a premium market research firm offering a unified platform of research services built around its proprietary Whole Mind Approach™ methodology. The approach combines conscious (System 2) and non-conscious (System 1) research methods to deliver comprehensive consumer insights. Core service offerings include Qualitative Research (focus groups, in-depth interviews, insight communities), Quantitative Research (surveys, brand tracking), Brand Strategy, and Product Innovation. Proprietary tools include Brand Health Score™, HX Index (Healthcare Experience Index), Prove-It™ Copy Test, Facial Coding, Eye Tracking, Implicit Association Testing, and Online Metaphor Elicitation (OMET). The firm also offers AI-powered solutions including Virtual Audiences for synthetic data generation. Research spans multiple industries including Healthcare, CPG, Finance, Media and Communications, and Utilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Qualitative Research
- Quantitative Research
- Brand Strategy
- Product Innovation / Sensory Product Research
- AI Solutions
- Brand Tracking
Quantifiable outcome
- Brand awareness increased from 27% to 59-60% following advertising campaign (Public Health Institute case)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use MDRG
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
MDRG technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability9 records
Feature6 records
MDRG partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- YabblecoreMDRG partnered with Yabble to leverage their Virtual Audiences platform, an AI-powered qualitative solution that simulates emotionally grounded human responses. This partnership enabled MDRG to create virtual personas for behavioral science research in the beverage industry, exploring consumer decision-making through synthetic data.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
MDRG competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Escalent: Mid-sized U.S. insights and analytics firm offering custom qualitative and quantitative research across CPG, healthcare, financial services, and technology. Closely comparable to MDRG in size, methodology breadth, and vertical mix.
- Hall & Partners: Global brand-led insights consultancy combining brand strategy with custom consumer research across healthcare, CPG, and tech. Overlaps directly with MDRG's brand strategy and behavioral-science-led engagement model.
- Schlesinger Group: Global research services firm specializing in qualitative methods, focus groups, and in-depth interviews across consumer and B2B verticals. Comparable to MDRG on the qualitative methodological pillar of the WHOLE MIND™ offering.
Broad incumbents
- Ipsos: One of the world's largest market research and consumer insight firms operating across all MDRG verticals including healthcare, CPG, and communications. Notably, MDRG's VP of Research previously served at Ipsos, indicating direct talent and methodology overlap.
- Kantar: Global leader in brand and consumer insights with deep coverage in CPG, media, retail, and healthcare — the same verticals MDRG prioritizes. Larger and broader portfolio but directly competing on brand health and copy testing engagements.
- NielsenIQ: Global consumer intelligence firm combining retail measurement with consumer research and behavioral analytics. Operates in CPG and finance verticals where MDRG competes on qualitative and quantitative insight projects.
- GfK (Consumer Intelligence): Global consumer intelligence firm specializing in CPG, retail, and consumer durables research. Competes with MDRG on brand tracking, product innovation, and consumer behavior studies for the same enterprise customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
MDRG social profiles
Digital presenceMDRG compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
MDRG financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MDRG leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
MDRG funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MDRG M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MDRG
What does MDRG do?
MDRG is a premium market research services firm that delivers custom research projects combining conscious (System 2) and non-conscious (System 1) methodologies under its proprietary WHOLE MIND™ approach. The firm serves enterprise and mid-market clients with brand tracking, advertising effectiveness testing, product innovation research, customer experience studies, and AI-powered consumer insights. Primary verticals served include healthcare, CPG, finance, media and communications, and utilities.
Is MDRG a public or private company?
MDRG is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was MDRG founded?
MDRG was founded in 1994. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is MDRG based?
MDRG is headquartered in New Orleans, United States, in the North America region.
How does MDRG make money?
One revenue line is on record: custom Market Research Projects.
Who are MDRG's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Escalent, Hall & Partners and Schlesinger Group. Broad incumbents are Ipsos, Kantar, NielsenIQ and GfK (Consumer Intelligence).
Does MDRG have an API?
No public API is recorded for MDRG.