Keen Independent Research

What Keen Independent Research does

Keen Independent Research is a U.S.-based research and consulting firm founded by Dave Keen and Annette Humm Keen, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, with a second principal office in Denver, Colorado and a distributed staff located in roughly 20 additional U.S. cities and Toronto, Canada. The firm provides evidence-based research, policy analysis, and business strategy services to state and local government agencies, arts and cultural institutions, utilities, educational entities, and non-profits. Its service portfolio spans ten practice areas: Disparity Studies, Inclusion/Engagement/Fairness, Feasibility Studies, Strategic & Master Planning, Operations & Venue Management, Executive Search, Market Research, Social & Economic Impact, Water Economics & Conservation, and Personal Narrative Services. The firm's core competitive differentiator is its court-tested disparity study methodology: Keen Independent staff have conducted more than 200 disparity studies since the 1989 U.S. Supreme Court Croson decision, and no program based on its studies has been successfully challenged in court, with methodology approved by U.S. courts, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Transportation.

The firm operates a project-based professional services model, delivering engagements through direct client relationships, RFP responses, and professional referrals rather than a product or self-serve channel. Its client roster includes state departments of transportation (Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana), major cities (Phoenix, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Portland, San Jose, Salt Lake City, Dane County), transit agencies (WMATA, OCTA), housing authorities, water utilities (Denver Water, Valley Water), and a deep bench of performing arts venues and cultural institutions (Denver Arts and Venues, Colorado Ballet, Museum of Science Boston, Philadelphia Museum of Art). The firm maintains a partner ecosystem of more than 25 named sub-consultants spanning architecture, legal counsel, theatre consulting, and economic analysis, which it leverages to bid as the research lead on multi-disciplinary feasibility and master-planning projects.

In January 2025 the firm transitioned from a family-owned business to a broadly shared employee-ownership model, adding six new employee owners while retaining Dave Keen as Founding Principal and Alex Keen as Managing Principal. The firm employs more than twenty staff, including multiple Ph.D.-credentialed senior consultants. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Keen Independent Research

Legal name

Keen Independent Research

Website

https://keenindependent.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Keen Independent Research is a Phoenix-based research and consulting firm providing court-tested disparity studies, feasibility studies, market research, and strategic planning to state and local government agencies, arts and cultural institutions, and non-profits across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Management Consulting Services

NAICS

Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom) (BPAHALAE), B2B / Industrial Market Research (MPAAALAA)

Keywords

• Disparity studies consulting
• Equity research services
• Feasibility studies consulting
• Market research services
• Strategic planning consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices20 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consulting and Research Services: Project-based consulting engagements for government agencies, non-profits, and businesses. Services include disparity studies, feasibility studies, strategic planning, market research, and executive search. Revenue is generated through professional service fees for completed research and analysis projects.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Keen Independent Research is a research and consulting firm that provides evidence-based research, policy analysis, and business strategy services to government agencies, non-profits, and businesses. Core offerings include disparity studies for public agencies, feasibility studies for performing arts and cultural venues, strategic and master planning, inclusion and equity assessments, executive search, market research, social and economic impact analysis, water economics and conservation services, and personal narrative services for DBE/ACDBE certification. The firm combines qualitative and quantitative research methodologies with court-tested disparity study approaches approved by the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Transportation.

Product overview

Keen Independent Research is a research and consulting firm (not a software company) that provides evidence-based research and analysis services to governments, non-profits and businesses. The company offers a portfolio of ten distinct service offerings, each functioning as an independent consulting practice area. These include Disparity Studies (examining equity in public contracting), Inclusion/Engagement/Fairness assessments, Feasibility Studies for venues and facilities, Strategic & Master Planning, Operations & Venue Management, Executive Search, Market Research, Social & Economic Impact analysis, Water Economics & Conservation, and Personal Narrative Services for DBE/ACDBE certification. The services are unified by the firm's research methodology combining qualitative and quantitative approaches, with disparity study methods being court-tested and approved by USDOT and DOJ. There is no software platform or product; all offerings are professional consulting services delivered by the firm's staff across multiple U.S. locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Disparity Studies
• Inclusion, Engagement and Fairness Consulting services to help clients enact cultural change necessary to realize goals for inclusion, engagement, and fairness. Examines workforce equity, contracting fairness, and services to the public through assessments, surveys, interviews, and evidence-based recommendations.
• Feasibility Studies Assessments of viability for performing arts centers, cultural venues, entertainment complexes, event centers, convention centers, sports facilities, festivals, and mixed-use developments. Combines economic and market research with venue and facility management expertise.
• Strategic & Master Planning Collaborative development of strategic plans, market analyses, and master plans to help clients build quality of life and support economic development within communities. Uses evidence-based research to evaluate infrastructure, strengthen program and fund development, and build community engagement.
• Operations & Venue Management Analysis of current and proposed conditions for guiding and improving operations and projecting demand and budgeting for new initiatives and programming at arts and cultural institutions. Offers expertise in implementation and venue management.
• Executive Search Recruitment and placement services for non-profit directors and other leadership positions. Provides thorough outreach, interviewing, and screening for performing arts, cultural institutions, colleges and universities, and government agencies.
• Market Research Research services to help organizations better understand their current and potential customers and identify opportunities to improve products and services. Uses a multilingual team with rigorous qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Social & Economic Impact Analysis of how investments, policy changes, and other planned actions affect households, businesses, public agencies, and entire communities. Examines impacts on historically marginalized groups and provides recommendations to enhance positive effects and mitigate negative impacts.
• Water Economics & Conservation Services to help water providers understand economic and customer dynamics to better manage water supplies and meet future demands. Includes water use modeling, demand forecasting, conservation program evaluation, and public education campaign development.
• Personal Narrative Services Support services for DBE and ACDBE firms to prepare clear, compliant Personal Narratives required under USDOT certification rules. Includes one-on-one listening sessions, draft narrative preparation, and follow-up review sessions.

Quantifiable outcome

• No program based on Keen Independent disparity studies has been successfully challenged in court
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers33 records

Segments6 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

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• CorganminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture and design firm providing expertise on facility planning and venue design for arts and cultural projects.
• Charles River AssociatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic consulting firm providing additional economic expertise for complex disparity and market studies.
• Customer Research InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarket research firm providing survey and research support capabilities for client projects.
• DEBLAR & AssociatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulting partner providing specialized expertise for project collaboration.
• DLR GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture and engineering firm providing facility planning services.
• Donaldson Consulting LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulting partner for project collaboration.
• Ericka Aviles ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent consulting partner for specialized project work.
• Fourie ConsultantsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulting partner providing expertise on various projects.
• GCAP ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment consulting partner providing expertise on public sector projects.
• Holland & Knight LLPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw firm providing legal expertise and support for program design and compliance matters.
• Milagro MarketingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarketing firm providing communications and outreach support.
• OTJ ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm providing design and facility planning services.
• Rincon & AssociatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulting partner for project collaboration.
• Rosales Business PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness consulting partner providing specialized expertise.
• Rosales Law Partners LLPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal partner providing counsel on legal matters for disparity studies and program design.
• Spears GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulting partner providing expertise on various projects.
• Spire Hawaii LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional consulting partner based in Hawaii.
• Steinberg HartminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm providing facility planning and design services.
• Theatre Consultants CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheatre consulting firm providing specialized expertise for performing arts venue projects.
• TheatreDNAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheatre consulting firm providing expertise for performing arts projects.
• Theatre ProjectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheatre consulting firm providing expertise for venue feasibility and planning.
• The Projects GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject management and consulting partner.
• Trahan ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm providing design services for cultural and arts projects.
• Vanek, Vickers & Masini P.C.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional services firm providing consulting expertise.
• Venue ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue management and consulting specialist for entertainment facilities.
• Victor Gotesman Performing Arts Facilities PlanningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerforming arts facilities planning specialist.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Colette Holt & Associates: Focuses on disparity studies and design of legally defensible MBE/WBE/DBE programs, closely mirroring Keen's regulatory-focused equity research and program advisory work.
• Griffin & Strong, P.C. Law and public-policy consulting firm nationally recognized for disparity studies and equity-program design for state and local governments, a direct competitor in Keen's primary service line.
• AMS Planning & Research: Provides market research, strategic planning and feasibility studies for arts, cultural and civic organizations, overlapping Keen's cultural-institution consulting and market-research services.
• Webb Management Services: Specialist consultancy in feasibility studies and planning for performing-arts and cultural venues, directly comparable to Keen's arts feasibility, strategic-planning and venue-management practice.
• BBC Research & Consulting: Denver-based economics and public-policy research firm that conducts disparity studies and economic/market analyses for government agencies, directly overlapping Keen's core disparity-study and economic-research practices.
• Mason Tillman Associates: Specializes in disparity studies and MWBE/DBE program evaluation for public agencies, competing head-to-head with Keen's flagship court-tested disparity-study offering.

Emerging players

• ETC Institute: Conducts community surveys and market research for local governments and public agencies, intersecting Keen's public-sector market-research and community-engagement work.

Broad incumbents

• MGT Consulting Group: Larger government-focused management consultancy whose portfolio includes disparity studies and equity/inclusion consulting, overlapping Keen's offerings within a much broader public-sector services suite.
• Charles River Associates: Global economic-consulting firm providing econometric and market analysis; a named Keen partner and comparable in economic/statistical research depth for complex disparity and market studies.
• NERA Economic Consulting: International economic consultancy performing regression-based labor-market and discrimination analyses, overlapping Keen's quantitative disparity and economic-impact methods at larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/people/Keen-Independent-Research/100055616240089
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/keen-independent-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Keen Independent Research