What Goldmarks Company does

Goldmarks Company is a private, founder-led B2B professional services firm established in 1997 and headquartered at the O'Hare Center in Rosemont, Illinois. The firm provides intellectual property licensing research, planning, and partnership development services for trademark, copyright, and technology owners, as well as licensees, agencies, and law firms. Its core methodology combines market research, concept evaluation, business modeling, and consumer surveys to identify licensing opportunities with strong fit and lower execution risk, then qualify and negotiate strategic partnerships. Service categories include IP evaluation and modeling, market research and opportunity sizing, consumer research and concept validation, partner identification/qualification/negotiation, and licensing alignment services. The firm also publishes an annual '300 Most Licensable Brands' research product and holds four registered marks (Goldmarks plus the service marks Applied Market Intelligence, Concept Mentor, and Licensing ROI).

The business model is project-based or retainer consulting with pricing not publicly disclosed. GTM is sales-led via referrals and direct outreach, anchored on Founder and President Kirk Martensen, who is the primary relationship contact and named practitioner. Customer logos span spirits (Jack Daniel's, Kahlua), snacks (OREO), beverages (Mott's), housewares (Whirlpool), technology (GE, IBM), and regional food brands (Gino's East of Chicago, Glory Foods). Headcount is 1–10, no external funding has been raised, no parent or subsidiary entities exist, and the firm has operated independently since inception with no disclosed M&A or partnership transactions.

Technology footprint is minimal: no app, no API/SDK, no integrations, and no AI/ML capabilities. Marketing relies on a static corporate website, an educational Resource Center on trademark licensing fundamentals, and direct contact with the President. The firm operates from a single Illinois address with no disclosed global offices, though 'billions in global revenue' is referenced at the client-cumulative outcome level.

Name

Goldmarks Company

Legal name

Goldmarks Company

Website

https://goldmarks.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Goldmarks Company is a founder-led B2B consulting firm founded in 1997 that provides intellectual property licensing research, planning, and partnership development services to trademark, copyright, and technology owners, licensees, agencies, and law firms, primarily through its President Kirk Martensen.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Rosamond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Strategic Partnership Development Consulting: Professional consulting services for developing strategic business partnerships that use trademarks, copyrights and other IP to create new products and services. Services include IP evaluation, market research, consumer research, and partner identification/negotiation. Revenue is generated through project-based consulting engagements or retainer arrangements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Goldmarks Company provides research, planning, and partnership development services that help clients convert intellectual property (trademarks, copyrights, and technology) into new products and services. Offerings include IP evaluation and modeling, market research and opportunity sizing, consumer research and concept validation, partner identification/qualification/negotiation, and licensing alignment strategy. Engagements are delivered as project-based or retainer consulting arrangements.

Product overview

Goldmarks Company is a consulting firm that provides intellectual property licensing and partnership development services. Their core offerings include IP evaluation and modeling, market research and opportunity sizing, consumer research and concept validation, and partner identification and negotiation services. The company operates several registered service marks including Applied Market Intelligence, Concept Mentor, and Licensing ROI. They also produce an annual research product called the '300 Most Licensable Brands for 2026' analysis based on six key success metrics. Their services are designed to help trademark, copyright, and technology owners as well as licensees, agencies, and law firms develop strategic business partnerships that use intellectual property to create new products and services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IP Evaluation and Modeling Evaluates intellectual property assets and develops business models to assess licensing potential and commercial viability for trademark, copyright, and technology owners.
• Market Research and Opportunity Sizing Conducts market analysis and quantifies commercial opportunities to identify viable licensing markets and growth potential across product categories.
• Consumer Research and Concept Validation Performs online consumer surveys and validates product concepts to assess market acceptance and reduce execution risk for new licensed products.
• Partner Identification, Qualification, and Negotiation Identifies, evaluates, and negotiates with prospective licensees and licensors to establish strategic business partnerships for trademark licensing.
• Licensing Alignment Services Evaluates new or existing trademark license relationships and develops strategies to increase licensing benefits or value for licensors and licensees.
• 300 Most Licensable Brands for 2026 Annual analysis identifying the 300 most licensable brands based on six key success metrics, providing market intelligence for IP owners, licensees, and agencies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Licensed products developed have generated billions of dollars in global revenue for clients

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Beanstalk: Global brand licensing extension agency that helps licensors and licensees develop and manage brand extension programs. Directly comparable to Goldmarks as both operate in the IP licensing strategy/extension space serving brand owners across product categories.
• Brandgenuity: Brand licensing consulting and management firm that helps owners and licensees build licensing programs. Closely comparable to Goldmarks' IP evaluation, partner identification, and licensing strategy services.
• LMCA (Lee Mandewald Consulting Associates): Licensing and marketing consulting firm that advises brand owners on licensing strategy and partnership development. Comparable boutique IP/licensing consultancy with similar client base of brand owners and consumer products companies.
• Joester Loria Group: Licensing and marketing consultancy representing licensors and developing brand extension programs. Directly comparable as a B2B licensing strategy firm serving consumer brand owners.
• Striker Entertainment: Entertainment and brand licensing representation firm developing licensing programs for IP owners. Comparable as a specialist licensing consultancy with similar partner identification and program development services.
• Retail Monster: Brand licensing and retail strategy consultancy that helps brand owners develop licensed product programs. Comparable as a B2B licensing consultancy with similar service offerings around partner sourcing and program strategy.
• EVCO (Entertainment + Venture Communications): Licensing and brand extension consulting firm helping IP owners develop and manage licensing programs. Comparable boutique licensing consultancy with similar core services to Goldmarks.

Broad incumbents

• WildBrain: Large-scale entertainment IP and licensing company representing major brands and properties globally. Comparable as a licensing representation and management firm, but operates at significantly larger scale and in entertainment-focused verticals.
• The Marketing Arm: Omnicom-owned brand experience and licensing agency that develops licensing and partnership programs for major brand owners. Comparable overlap in licensing strategy and partnership development, but as part of a much broader marketing services portfolio.

Regional players

• Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel: Silicon Valley-based law firm with a dedicated IP and licensing practice group advising brand owners on licensing transactions. Comparable as an IP/licensing advisor serving enterprise clients, though delivered through legal services rather than pure consulting.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/goldmarks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Goldmarks Company