Pulse Research

What Pulse Research does

Pulse Research is a Portland, Oregon-based market research firm founded in 1985 that serves marketing and communications professionals through a three-module custom research suite. Its service line comprises survey-based "Understanding the Landscape" work to evaluate consumer intentions and community engagement trends, qualitative "Real People & Motivations" analysis of stakeholder journeys to surface decision drivers, and "Your Strategy & Message" testing to validate organizational core narratives before publication. Delivery is project-based and custom rather than productized; outputs are accessed by clients through a dedicated portal at app.pulseresearch.com.

The firm operates on a professional services model with quote-based pricing, generating revenue through consultative engagements rather than standardized products or subscriptions. Go-to-market is sales-led: the company offers a "Schedule a Free Consultation" intake, employs a dedicated business development lead, and targets marketing and communications buyers across what it describes as a diverse and growing client portfolio. Its value proposition centers on converting quantitative and qualitative research into actionable narratives, positioning the firm as a storytelling layer atop primary research rather than as a data platform. The 11-50 employee team is led by President Brian Knapp, with Founder John Marling serving as Senior Advisor; the firm is privately held with no disclosed institutional investment, acquisitions, or partnerships in the available material.

Name

Pulse Research

Legal name

Pulse Research

Website

https://pulseresearch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pulse Research is a Portland-based market research firm founded in 1985 that delivers custom surveys, stakeholder journey analysis, and communication testing to marketing and communications professionals on a project-based, consultative basis.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Market Research Services

NAICS

Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910), Marketing Consulting Services (541613)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Custom Market Research (Ad Hoc Studies, Segmentation, U&A) (MPAAALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Market Research & Consumer Insights (BPAHALAA), Qualitative Research (Focus Groups, IDIs, Ethnography) (MPAAALAE)

Keywords

• Market research services
• Consumer survey research
• Stakeholder journey analysis
• Communication strategy testing
• Qualitative research insights

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Market Research and Analysis Services: Custom research and analysis services for marketing and communications professionals. Services include consumer surveys, stakeholder journey analysis, and communication strategy testing/validation. Revenue is generated through project-based custom solutions rather than standardized products.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Pulse Research provides custom market research and analysis services to marketing and communications professionals. Its work spans consumer surveys on intentions and public trust, in-depth stakeholder journey analyses of motivations and decision drivers, and testing/validation of organizational core stories and communication strategies. Engagements are delivered as tailored, project-based solutions rather than standardized products.

Product overview

Pulse Research offers a unified suite of custom market research solutions comprising three interconnected service modules: Understanding the Landscape (quantitative survey-based research), Real People & Motivations (qualitative stakeholder journey analysis), and Your Strategy & Message (communication testing and validation). These services work together to transform research findings into actionable insights and narratives for marketing and communications professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Understanding the Landscape Survey-based research services designed to evaluate consumer intentions, gather member feedback, track community engagement trends, and measure shifts in public trust and priorities. Targeted at marketing and communications professionals.
• Real People & Motivations In-depth stakeholder journey analysis providing insight into the core motivations and intentions that drive real-life decisions and actions. Targeted at marketing and communications professionals seeking to understand audience psychology.
• Your Strategy & Message Testing and validation of an organization's core story, ensuring final communications resonate, build trust, and drive meaningful response. Targeted at organizations preparing campaigns or messaging rollouts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Full-page ad resulting from first presentation

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Emerging players

• SurveyMonkey: SurveyMonkey is a self-serve survey platform that also offers expert-conducted market research services. It represents the commoditized DIY tier that pressures Pulse's basic survey work and increasingly encroaches on custom research.

Broad incumbents

• Kantar: Kantar is a global insight and consulting firm with deep expertise in brand, communications, and consumer research. Represents the scaled end of the market against which Pulse's boutique custom offering competes.
• Qualtrics: Qualtrics is a broad experience management platform that also offers custom research services. As a much larger, tech-enabled incumbent it competes for the same marketing/communications research budgets as Pulse but at enterprise scale.
• Ipsos: Ipsos is a global market research and analytics leader offering custom research, message testing, and stakeholder analysis. Operates at a much larger scale but addresses the same marketing-research use cases Pulse serves.

Direct peers

• Savanta: Savanta is a mid-sized custom market research agency offering surveys, stakeholder analysis, and brand tracking. Directly competes with Pulse for marketing and communications research mandates.
• Kelton Global: Kelton is a boutique custom insights and strategy agency offering qualitative and quantitative research plus brand and communications strategy. Comparable to Pulse's integrated research-to-narrative service stack for marketing clients.
• C+R Research: C+R Research is a Chicago-based custom market research firm of similar scale serving consumer and B2B clients with full-service qualitative and quantitative research and communications strategy. Directly comparable to Pulse Research in delivery model and client type.
• Quester: Quester is a custom market research firm specializing in consumer insights, brand strategy, and message testing for marketers. Closely aligned with Pulse's 'Real People & Motivations' and 'Your Strategy & Message' offerings.
• Northstar Research Partners: Northstar is a boutique custom market research firm delivering quantitative and qualitative research for brand and communications strategy. Comparable boutique scale and custom-engagement model to Pulse Research.
• Schlesinger Group: Schlesinger is a major qualitative and quantitative research services firm with deep experience in focus groups, IDIs, and online communities. Overlaps with Pulse's stakeholder journey and message-testing work, though at larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pulseresearch
• Facebookfacebook.com/pulse-research
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pulseresearch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Pulse Research