Thuro
Thuro is a U.S.-based background investigation firm serving enterprise clients with PBSA-certified investigators, biometric ID verification, and AI-driven fraud detection across 100+ countries. Founded in 1953, it serves law firms, accounting firms, and large employers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1953
- HeadquartersHouston, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Thuro does
Thuro (formerly Research Associates Inc., founded in 1953 by former FBI agents and rebranded in February 2024) is a U.S.-based background investigation firm that conducts pre-employment screening and corporate due diligence for enterprise clients. The firm operates a single-analyst model in which PBSA-certified investigators manage each case from intake through narrative report delivery, combining human expertise with biometric identity verification, AI-driven fraud detection, and continuous post-employment monitoring. Core products include employment background checks, biometric ID verification with facial recognition and liveness detection, drug testing, social media screening, fingerprinting, international coverage across 100+ countries, and tiered corporate due diligence investigations. Technology components include SOC 2-compliant data handling, proprietary fraud detection algorithms targeting synthetic identities and deepfakes, and the SideCheck continuous monitoring add-on powered by the Equifax Work Number database. The platform integrates with 50+ ATS/HRIS systems including Workday, Greenhouse, BambooHR, iCIMS, UKG, and Oracle Taleo.
Thuro generates revenue through per-screening transaction fees with volume-tiered pricing (1-50 to 1000+ annual checks), supplemented by subscription-based continuous monitoring via SideCheck. The firm targets enterprise customers across legal, accounting, government, staffing, healthcare, technology, and financial services verticals, with marquee clients including two Big Four accounting firms, six of the top 10 U.S. accounting firms, and multiple National Law Journal Top 100 law firms. Distribution occurs through direct enterprise field sales with expert consultation, channel partnerships via ATS integrations, and inside sales for mid-market accounts.
Leadership consists of CEO Brian Cameron and President Kevin Prendergast, an attorney licensed since 1987 who holds PBSA advanced FCRA certification. The firm reports a 99% client retention rate and 21-22 year average client tenure, with some client relationships spanning 30-50 years. Thuro is privately held, headquartered in Houston, Texas with an additional Westlake, Ohio office, and operates with approximately 61 employees.
Thuro firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Thuro
- Legal name
- Thuro Background Screening Services
- Website
- https://thuro.ai
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1953
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Thuro is a U.S.-based background investigation firm serving enterprise clients with PBSA-certified investigators, biometric ID verification, and AI-driven fraud detection across 100+ countries. Founded in 1953, it serves law firms, accounting firms, and large employers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Thuro is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Houston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Thuro business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Employment Background Screening Services: Core revenue stream from pre-employment background checks including criminal records, employment verification, education verification, and credential authentication. Charged per screening with pricing tiers based on annual volume (1-50, 51-149, 150-299, 300-1000, 1000+).
- Identity Verification Services: Biometric ID verification and identity authentication services. Can be standalone or bundled with background screening packages.
- International Screening Coverage: International background screening services for global hiring, partnerships, or investments, covering 100+ countries with human validation for each region.
- Due Diligence Investigations: Corporate due diligence investigations including Basic Corporate Check, Standard Due Diligence, and Full Scope Investigation at different tiers based on depth and scope of research.
- SideCheck Continuous Monitoring: Ongoing employment monitoring service powered by Equifax Work Number database for detecting dual employment and post-hire risks. Additional service to core screening offerings.
- Drug Testing Services: Drug testing services with automated scheduling, analytics, and federal compliance for workplace safety requirements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Annual | Entry-level screening volume for smaller organizations |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Annual | Mid-market screening volume |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Annual | Upper mid-market screening volume |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Annual | Large enterprise screening volume |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Annual | High-volume enterprise screening |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Thuro product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Thuro is an investigator-led background screening firm providing pre-employment background checks, biometric ID verification, drug testing, international coverage, social media screening, fingerprinting, and corporate due diligence investigations. Each case is managed by a single PBSA-certified U.S.-based investigator from intake through reporting, delivering narrative-based findings rather than raw database dumps. The portfolio is complemented by SideCheck, a post-employment continuous monitoring add-on powered by the Equifax Work Number database.
Product overview
Thuro is an investigative background screening firm offering a unified portfolio of pre-employment and corporate investigation services. The core offering consists of Employment Background Checks, ID Verification (with biometric and liveness detection), Drug Testing, International Coverage (100+ countries), Social Media Screening, Fingerprinting, and Due Diligence & Corporate Integrity services. The portfolio is complemented by SideCheck, a post-employment continuous monitoring add-on powered by Equifax Work Number. All investigations follow a single-analyst model with PBSA-certified investigators who manage cases from intake through reporting, delivering narrative-based reports rather than raw data. The company positions itself as providing investigations rather than mere checks, emphasizing human expertise combined with advanced verification technology.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 99.997% accuracy rate with cross-checked sources of 5+ per entity
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Thuro
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments15 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Thuro technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration49 records
AI capability6 records
Feature7 records
Thuro partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- WorkdaycoreIntegration with Workday HR system enabling seamless background screening workflow for Workday customers. Customers can initiate and manage background checks directly within Workday.
- GreenhousecoreIntegration with Greenhouse ATS platform allowing direct background screening initiation and tracking within the hiring workflow.
- BambooHRcoreIntegration with BambooHR enabling HR teams to order and manage background checks directly from BambooHR platform.
- TaleocoreOracle Taleo integration for enterprise hiring workflows. Background screening can be initiated and managed within Taleo recruitment system.
- iCIMScoreIntegration with iCIMS talent acquisition platform enabling seamless background check ordering and tracking within hiring processes.
- PaylocitycoreIntegration with Paylocity HCM platform for combined HR, payroll, and background screening services.
- UKGcoreUKG integration including UKG Ready for workforce management and background screening coordination.
- BullhornmajorBullhorn CRM integration for staffing and recruiting firms to manage candidate background screening within their recruitment workflow.
- JazzHRmajorJazzHR integration enabling small and mid-sized businesses to streamline hiring with integrated background checks.
- Cornerstone OnDemandmajorCornerstone OnDemand integration for talent management and background screening within learning and development focused organizations.
- Ceridian DayforcemajorCeridian Dayforce integration for HCM platform users requiring integrated background screening services.
- JobDivamajorJobDiva integration for staffing industry professionals to manage candidate screening within recruitment CRM.
- AvaturemajorAvature ATS integration for enterprise talent acquisition and candidate management with background screening.
- Equifax (The Work Number)coreSideCheck powered by Equifax Work Number database provides real-time employment verification data for continuous monitoring to detect dual employment and identity changes post-hire.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Thuro competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- First Advantage: Public background screening company offering employment background checks, identity verification, and continuous monitoring globally. Competes directly with Thuro in enterprise screening, particularly for regulated industries and global hiring.
- HireRight: One of the largest global background screening providers, offering employment screening, identity verification, and drug testing across 200+ countries. Direct competitor targeting similar enterprise verticals with a comparable suite of background check products.
- Sterling: Global background screening and identity verification provider serving Fortune 500 enterprises across regulated verticals. Most directly comparable peer given shared enterprise customer base (legal, accounting, financial services) and similar service portfolio including due diligence and continuous monitoring.
- Checkr: AI-native background screening platform serving enterprises and the gig economy with automated criminal, identity, and employment checks. Directly competes with Thuro on volume-driven pre-employment screening, though Checkr leans on automation whereas Thuro emphasizes investigator-led investigations.
- Universal Background Screening: Background screening provider offering employment screening, drug testing, and compliance services for employers across regulated industries. Competes with Thuro on volume-driven enterprise screening.
- Cisive: Background screening firm specializing in regulated industries including financial services, healthcare, and government. Direct competitor with overlapping customer verticals and a similar focus on compliance-driven screening.
- InfoMart: Mid-size background screening company offering pre-employment background checks and identity verification with PBSA accreditation. Comparable mid-market competitor targeting similar enterprise and staffing customers.
- Accurate Background: Background screening provider serving mid-to-large enterprises with employment screening, drug testing, and identity verification. Competes in similar enterprise verticals (staffing, healthcare, financial services) as Thuro.
Emerging players
- Certn: AI-driven background screening platform focused on faster turnaround and developer-friendly APIs. Represents the emerging automated edge of the market that competes with Thuro on speed and price rather than investigator-led depth.
- Veremark: Digital background screening company providing employment screening and continuous monitoring with a tech-forward platform. Emerging competitor with partial overlap in identity verification and continuous monitoring offerings.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Thuro social profiles
Digital presenceThuro compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Thuro financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Thuro leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Thuro funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Thuro 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 Thuro
What does Thuro do?
Thuro is an investigator-led background screening firm providing pre-employment background checks, biometric ID verification, drug testing, international coverage, social media screening, fingerprinting, and corporate due diligence investigations. Each case is managed by a single PBSA-certified U.S.-based investigator from intake through reporting, delivering narrative-based findings rather than raw database dumps. The portfolio is complemented by SideCheck, a post-employment continuous monitoring add-on powered by the Equifax Work Number database.
Is Thuro a public or private company?
Thuro is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Thuro founded?
Thuro was founded in 1953. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Thuro based?
Thuro is headquartered in Houston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Thuro make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Employment Background Screening Services are the primary driver. The others are identity Verification Services, international Screening Coverage, due Diligence Investigations, sideCheck Continuous Monitoring and drug Testing Services.
Who are Thuro's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are First Advantage, HireRight, Sterling, Checkr, Universal Background Screening, Cisive, InfoMart and Accurate Background. Emerging players are Certn and Veremark.
Does Thuro have an API?
No public API is recorded for Thuro.