4 Speaking Inc.
4 Speaking Inc. (SpeakInc) is a non-exclusive speakers bureau founded in 1989 in San Diego that sources, recommends, and books keynote, motivational, business, and celebrity speakers for corporate events, conventions, and professional gatherings, earning transaction-based commissions on bookings.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What 4 Speaking Inc. does
4 Speaking Inc. (d/b/a SpeakInc; legal entity Speak, Inc.) is a privately held, non-exclusive speakers bureau founded in 1989 and headquartered at 10089 Willow Creek Road, Suite 200, San Diego, California. The company sources, recommends, and books keynote, motivational, business, and celebrity/entertainment speakers for corporate events, conventions, trade shows, and professional gatherings, with speaker fees ranging from $5,000 to over $100,000 and most bookings concentrated in the $10,000-$50,000 band for 60-90 minute presentations. SpeakInc operates a horizontal business model across verticals, serving enterprise clients such as American Airlines, AT&T, American Express, Anheuser-Busch, AETNA, AAA, and Abbott Laboratories.
The firm's core technology is a speakers bureau management platform with a client portal (apps.speakinc.com) supporting login, booking requests, and event coordination; the underlying differentiator is the accumulated Speaker Interview Library and audience review database curated over decades, combined with maintained relationships to all major exclusive speaker bureaus enabling global sourcing at no added client cost. SpeakInc monetizes via transaction-based commissions on speaker bookings, with revenue derived from the spread between negotiated speaker fees and client charges; inclusive fee-plus-expense packages and multi-year contractual relationships are typical.
The go-to-market combines a dedicated direct enterprise sales team of Account Executives supported by Account Managers and Administrative Assistants (24/7 availability) with content-led inbound marketing via blog, monthly newsletter, SEO, downloadable resources, and social media. The firm operates 11-50 employees with most staff tenured over 10 years, is independently owned with no disclosed institutional investors or parent company, and received the 2024 PCMA Supplier of the Year award. Leadership is led by Richard Gibbons as President.
4 Speaking Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 4 Speaking Inc.
- Legal name
- Speak, Inc.
- Website
- https://speakinc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- 4 Speaking Inc. (SpeakInc) is a non-exclusive speakers bureau founded in 1989 in San Diego that sources, recommends, and books keynote, motivational, business, and celebrity speakers for corporate events, conventions, and professional gatherings, earning transaction-based commissions on bookings.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
4 Speaking Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Speaker Bureau Services
- NAICS
- Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Meeting & Conference Planning & Coordination (HSACADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Speaker, Program & Abstract Management Services (THAHACAI)
Keywords
Where 4 Speaking Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
4 Speaking Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Speaker Booking Commission: SpeakInc earns revenue by arranging speaker bookings for corporate events, conventions, and professional gatherings. They charge booking fees for keynote speakers, motivational speakers, business speakers, and entertainers. Fees are negotiated with speakers and passed to clients.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Entry-level speakers |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Mid-tier professional speakers |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Premium/keynote speakers |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Celebrity/high-profile speakers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
4 Speaking Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SpeakInc operates a non-exclusive speakers bureau that sources, recommends, and books keynote, motivational, business speakers and entertainers for corporate events, conventions, trade shows, and professional gatherings. The company provides full-service booking including speaker consultation, fee negotiation, contract preparation, travel coordination, and event support, representing speakers in fee ranges from $5,000 to over $100,000 across 60+ topic categories.
Product overview
SpeakInc operates as a non-exclusive speakers bureau providing access to keynote speakers, motivational speakers, business speakers, and celebrity entertainers. The company matches event planners with appropriate speakers across 60+ topic categories including AI (Artificial Intelligence), Leadership, Change, Innovation, Corporate Culture, Sales, Customer Service, and more. Services include speaker consultation, fee negotiation, contract management, and travel coordination. The company represents speakers ranging from $5,000 to over $100,000, with most bookings falling in the $10,000-$50,000 range for 60-90 minute presentations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Non-exclusive model ensures unbiased recommendations focused solely on client meeting success
Companies that use 4 Speaking Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
4 Speaking Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
4 Speaking Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Major Exclusive BureausminorSpeakInc maintains long-standing relationships with all major exclusive bureaus, allowing them to book exclusive speakers for clients at no additional cost. This relationship enables access to speakers not directly represented by SpeakInc.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
4 Speaking Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Premiere Speakers Bureau: Speakers bureau focused on business, leadership, and motivational keynote speakers for corporate events. Highly comparable to SpeakInc in service model and primary customer segment of corporate meeting planners and association event organizers.
- Keppler Speakers: Boutique speakers bureau specializing in business and leadership keynote speakers for corporate audiences. Directly comparable in service model (consultative speaker matching, booking, and event coordination) and target market (corporate buyers and association event planners).
- Leading Authorities: One of the largest US speakers bureaus, offering keynote speakers, business speakers, and celebrity talent for corporate events and conferences. Directly comparable to SpeakInc in target customer (corporate event planners), service model (full-service booking and coordination), and speaker fee tiers.
- BigSpeak Speakers Bureau: A leading speakers bureau booking keynote, motivational, and business speakers for corporate events. Competes head-to-head with SpeakInc in the same customer segment (meeting planners, Fortune 500 companies) and operates a similar non-exclusive model with online self-service booking.
- Eagles Talent Speakers Bureau: Speakers bureau connecting event planners with keynote, motivational, and entertainment speakers for corporate and association events. Comparable to SpeakInc in service offering, customer base, and commission-based revenue model.
- National Speakers Bureau: Established speakers bureau serving corporate and association clients with keynote speakers across business, leadership, and motivational topics. Directly comparable to SpeakInc in full-service model, enterprise customer base, and assortment of professional and celebrity speakers.
- The Harry Walker Agency: A long-established bureau representing A-list keynote speakers, political figures, and celebrities for corporate events. Comparable to SpeakInc as a premium speakers bureau serving large enterprise and association clients, though it tends to skew more toward exclusive, high-fee celebrity talent.
- All American Entertainment (AAE): Speakers bureau and event talent agency providing keynote speakers, entertainers, and celebrities for corporate events. Comparable to SpeakInc across target market, service offering, and business model, with a strong online self-service booking platform that is somewhat more tech-forward.
- All American Speakers Bureau (AASB): Speakers bureau offering keynote, motivational, and celebrity speakers for corporate events, conventions, and association meetings. Closely comparable to SpeakInc in offering scope, fee tier coverage, and customer base of corporate event planners and association organizers.
- Executive Speakers Bureau: Bureau specializing in business, leadership, and motivational keynote speakers for corporate events and conferences. Comparable to SpeakInc across target customer (corporate event planners), full-service booking model, and speaker fee tier coverage.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
4 Speaking Inc. social profiles
Digital presence4 Speaking Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
4 Speaking Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
4 Speaking Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
4 Speaking Inc. 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 4 Speaking Inc.
What does 4 Speaking Inc. do?
SpeakInc operates a non-exclusive speakers bureau that sources, recommends, and books keynote, motivational, business speakers and entertainers for corporate events, conventions, trade shows, and professional gatherings. The company provides full-service booking including speaker consultation, fee negotiation, contract preparation, travel coordination, and event support, representing speakers in fee ranges from $5,000 to over $100,000 across 60+ topic categories.
Is 4 Speaking Inc. a public or private company?
4 Speaking Inc. is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was 4 Speaking Inc. founded?
4 Speaking Inc. was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is 4 Speaking Inc. based?
4 Speaking Inc. is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does 4 Speaking Inc. make money?
One revenue line is on record: speaker Booking Commission.
Who are 4 Speaking Inc.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Premiere Speakers Bureau, Keppler Speakers, Leading Authorities, BigSpeak Speakers Bureau, Eagles Talent Speakers Bureau, National Speakers Bureau, The Harry Walker Agency, All American Entertainment (AAE), All American Speakers Bureau (AASB) and Executive Speakers Bureau.
Does 4 Speaking Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for 4 Speaking Inc..
What industry is 4 Speaking Inc. in?
4 Speaking Inc.'s product category is Speaker Bureau Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSACADAA, Meeting & Conference Planning & Coordination, with a secondary code of THAHACAI, Speaker, Program & Abstract Management Services. Its NAICS code is 56192.