The Knowledge Brokers
The Knowledge Brokers is a Pune-based, privately-held expert brokering firm founded in 1999 that sources vetted business trainers, coaches, consultants, and speakers for enterprise clients across 30+ countries, using its AI-supported Expertbase.org platform and a vendor-neutral, no-roster model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersPune, India
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Knowledge Brokers does
The Knowledge Brokers is a Pune-headquartered, privately-held expert brokering firm founded in 1999 by Mark Schäfer and Archana Schäfer. The company sources and delivers business trainers, executive coaches, consultants, speakers, facilitators, and interim managers to enterprise clients across 30+ countries, operating under a vendor-neutral model that does not employ experts on a roster. Service lines include core Experts Brokering, Business Training, Executive Coaching, Training Outsourcing, and turnkey Business Academies (Sales, Leadership, HR, Service, AI, Onboarding).
The company's primary technology asset is Expertbase.org, an AI-supported portal of vetted business experts used to source candidates and deliver shortlists within 48-72 hours. The platform supports a global office network spanning Pune, Dubai, Berlin, Cambridge, Riyadh, and Houston. Revenue is generated primarily through day-rate expert brokering fees, supplemented by managed service contracts for complex engagements and annual corporate subscription memberships that provide priority access and preferred rates. Clients include Johnson & Johnson, Shell, Pfizer, Unilever, Saudi Aramco, Audi, Deutsche Bank, Cisco, SAP, IKEA, and government entities such as the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court.
The business is bootstrapped and founder-owned with a lean team of approximately 10 employees, no disclosed funding rounds, and no subsidiaries or recent M&A activity. The company's competitive posture emphasizes impartial sourcing, budget-based pricing, and a risk-free replacement guarantee, positioning it as an alternative to traditional training agencies with fixed rosters.
The Knowledge Brokers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Knowledge Brokers
- Legal name
- The Knowledge Brokers
- Website
- https://theknowledgebrokers.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Knowledge Brokers is a Pune-based, privately-held expert brokering firm founded in 1999 that sources vetted business trainers, coaches, consultants, and speakers for enterprise clients across 30+ countries, using its AI-supported Expertbase.org platform and a vendor-neutral, no-roster model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where The Knowledge Brokers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pune
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices6 records
Markets served
The Knowledge Brokers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Expert Brokering Fees: The company earns fees for brokering business experts (trainers, coaches, consultants, speakers, facilitators) to clients. Fees are calculated per day, not per participant, allowing clients to control costs based on their budget and group size.
- Managed Service Contracts: For ongoing or complex engagements, the company contracts experts and manages delivery, quality assurance, and risks on behalf of clients for a fee.
- Subscription Membership: Annual corporate membership offering priority access to experts, 'free' brokerage services, and preferred rates for regular clients.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Day-rate based pricing model |
| Subscription | Annual | Subscription-based annual membership |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Retainer and managed service models available |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
The Knowledge Brokers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Knowledge Brokers operates as an impartial expert broker, sourcing vetted trainers, executive coaches, consultants, speakers, facilitators, and interim managers for enterprise clients worldwide. The company pairs this brokering service with full-service execution (venues, visas, workbooks, logistics) and supports it through Expertbase.org, an AI-powered portal of pre-vetted business experts enabling 48-72 hour shortlist delivery.
Product overview
The Knowledge Brokers offers a unified expert brokering platform with multiple interconnected service lines. The core offering is Experts Brokering (sourcing trainers, coaches, consultants, and speakers from a global network), which is supported by the AI-powered Expertbase.org portal. The service portfolio includes Business Training (trainer sourcing and delivery), Executive Coaching (coach matching with free discovery sessions), Training Outsourcing (full or partial L&D function management), and Business Academies (turnkey academy solutions in various disciplines). These offerings share a common infrastructure: a global expert network, a matching and vetting process, and vendor-neutral sourcing methodology. Clients can engage individual services or combine multiple offerings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Experts Brokering Core service that sources and deploys trainers, coaches, consultants, speakers, facilitators, interim managers, and keynote speakers for client projects through a global network including Expertbase.org.
- Business Training Sourcing and brokering world-class business trainers to client specifications for live, virtual, hybrid, or self-paced delivery formats.
- Executive Coaching Matching and sourcing executive coaches for C-Suite, VPs, Directors, and high-potential emerging leaders, including free discovery sessions.
- Training Outsourcing Vendor-neutral outsourcing of partial or complete learning and development functions, including training needs assessment, solution sourcing, LMS support, and administrative reporting.
- Business Academies Turnkey solutions for building bespoke Sales, Leadership, Marketing, Service, HR, AI, and Onboarding academies with tailored content, multiple delivery formats, and optional white-labeling.
- Expertbase.org AI-supported portal of 100% vetted business experts from around the world, used as part of the expert search and brokering process.
Quantifiable outcome
- Shortlist delivery within 48-72 hours for most requests
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Knowledge Brokers
Customer profileNamed customers39 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Knowledge Brokers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
The Knowledge Brokers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Knowledge Brokers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AlphaSights: AlphaSights is a global expert network that connects clients with industry experts for primary research and advisory. Same two-sided network model as TKB but oriented toward consulting, investment, and corporate strategy use cases.
- Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG): GLG is the largest expert network connecting professionals with vetted experts across industries. It is the closest direct peer to TKB in the expert-brokering business model, though it primarily serves consulting and PE clients rather than L&D.
- BTS: BTS is a global consulting and training firm specializing in sales, leadership, and strategy execution. Comparable to TKB in delivering bespoke business academies and learning interventions for Fortune 500 clients.
- Guidepoint: Guidepoint is a global expert network providing on-demand access to vetted industry experts. Closely comparable business model to TKB: expert curation, rapid matching, and time-billed engagements for professional clients.
- Egon Zehnder: Egon Zehnder is a global executive search and leadership advisory firm. Comparable in its executive coaching and senior-leader matching services, which overlap with TKB's Executive Coaching offering.
Broad incumbents
- Skillsoft: Skillsoft is a large enterprise L&D platform offering digital courses, virtual academies, and leadership development. Adjacent to TKB's Business Academies product but delivered via digital content rather than expert brokerage.
- Heidrick & Struggles: Heidrick & Struggles is a global executive search and leadership advisory firm with significant leadership coaching and culture transformation practices. Comparable to TKB in coaching/sourcing for senior enterprise clients.
- FranklinCovey: FranklinCovey is a global leadership and effectiveness training company offering standardized content, certifications, and enterprise training. Comparable to TKB in sales/leadership training delivery, though it owns IP rather than brokering.
- Korn Ferry: Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm spanning executive search, leadership development, and talent assessment. Overlaps with TKB on executive coaching and L&D, but operates at much larger scale and across a broader service portfolio.
Emerging players
- DDI (Development Dimensions International): DDI is a global leadership and talent development firm specializing in leadership pipelines, sales, and behavioral assessments. Comparable to TKB in the bespoke enterprise learning and leadership development segment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Knowledge Brokers social profiles
Digital presenceThe Knowledge Brokers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Knowledge Brokers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Knowledge Brokers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Knowledge Brokers M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Knowledge Brokers
What does The Knowledge Brokers do?
The Knowledge Brokers operates as an impartial expert broker, sourcing vetted trainers, executive coaches, consultants, speakers, facilitators, and interim managers for enterprise clients worldwide. The company pairs this brokering service with full-service execution (venues, visas, workbooks, logistics) and supports it through Expertbase.org, an AI-powered portal of pre-vetted business experts enabling 48-72 hour shortlist delivery.
Is The Knowledge Brokers a public or private company?
The Knowledge Brokers is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Knowledge Brokers founded?
The Knowledge Brokers was founded in 1999. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Knowledge Brokers based?
The Knowledge Brokers is headquartered in Pune, India, in the Asia region.
How does The Knowledge Brokers make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Expert Brokering Fees are the primary driver. The others are managed Service Contracts and subscription Membership.
Who are The Knowledge Brokers's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AlphaSights, Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG), BTS, Guidepoint and Egon Zehnder. Broad incumbents are Skillsoft, Heidrick & Struggles, FranklinCovey and Korn Ferry. DDI (Development Dimensions International) is listed as an emerging player.
Does The Knowledge Brokers have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Knowledge Brokers.