OnFrontiers
Expert network specializing in two niche markets: frontier/emerging markets (100+ countries across Latin America, Africa, MENA, and Asia) and U.S. federal government contracting (17,000+ vetted federal SMEs). Official Expert Platform Partner of GPCA/EMPEA.
Services
Best For
When Not Ideal
Key Strengths
- ✓ Unique dual positioning in emerging markets and federal government — no direct competitor serves both
- ✓ Official Expert Platform Partner of GPCA (formerly EMPEA) validates emerging market credibility
- ✓ ChemCapital strategic investment connects OnFrontiers to the largest USAID for-profit contractor
- ✓ GovTribe integration provides direct distribution channel to federal contracting community
- ✓ CEO Brian Caouette's Harvard Kennedy School background gives authentic development sector expertise
- ✓ Expertise in 100+ countries including geographies underserved by all other expert networks
- ✓ Enterprise Knowledge Network platform enables organizations to build proprietary expert networks
Watch-outs
- ⚠ Niche positioning means limited relevance for mainstream financial services or corporate research
- ⚠ Smaller expert database (17K federal + 5K emerging markets) compared to generalist networks with 500K+
- ⚠ Limited brand recognition outside the development and federal contracting communities
- ⚠ Revenue estimated at $1.5-3.8M suggests relatively small scale
- ⚠ Employee count contracted ~17% in one recent year, suggesting growth challenges
- ⚠ Technology platform is less mature than established expert network portals
Deep Dive
1 Overview
2 History
Brian Caouette (CEO) co-founded OnFrontiers in 2014 with Anne Kroijer (CSO) and Kyle Teague (CTO). Caouette holds an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School in International Development and Economics, and had previously founded Farmbuilders as an Echoing Green Fellow. Kroijer co-designed the platform's knowledge marketplace approach, while Teague brought technical expertise from Georgia Tech. OnFrontiers joined the Techstars NYC Summer 2016 accelerator, gaining early-stage investment and mentorship. The company built its emerging markets expert network through partnerships with organizations like GPCA/EMPEA. A strategic inflection came when Chemonics International, the largest USAID for-profit contractor, made a strategic investment through its subsidiary ChemCapital, expanding OnFrontiers into the federal government contracting space with a Kenya office.
3 Services in Detail
Expert Consultations (Emerging Markets)
30-60 minute phone/video consultations with vetted subject matter experts covering 100+ countries across Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, MENA, CEE & CIS, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Experts matched on recency, relevancy, and depth of knowledge, typically available within 24-48 hours.
Federal Government Expert Access
17,000+ vetted federal subject matter experts supporting government contractors, agencies, and policy organizations. Includes key personnel sourcing, proposal support, and advisory services tailored to federal acquisition processes.
Enterprise Knowledge Networks
SaaS platform enabling organizations to build proprietary networks of internal and external experts. Makes human knowledge visible, interpretable, and accessible within an organization while connecting to OnFrontiers' broader marketplace.
Harness Expertise Intelligence
Intelligence platform providing structured access to expertise data, enabling organizations to identify knowledge gaps, track expert engagement patterns, and optimize their use of human expertise.
Long-term Consulting Engagements
Multi-month advisory relationships, document review, and consulting projects that go beyond single consultations for clients needing sustained expert input.
4 AI & Platform
OnFrontiers has evolved from a simple marketplace to an 'Enterprise Knowledge Network' platform — a SaaS tool that makes human knowledge visible and accessible within organizations. The Harness product adds expertise intelligence capabilities, helping organizations understand and optimize their use of expert knowledge. AI assists with expert discovery, matching, and the structuring of knowledge across the platform.
- ◆ Enterprise Knowledge Network SaaS platform
- ◆ Harness expertise intelligence and analytics
- ◆ AI-assisted expert discovery across emerging markets and federal domains
- ◆ Automated matching based on geography, language, and subject matter
- ◆ Integration with GovTribe for federal contractor tools
- ◆ Knowledge graph connecting internal and external expertise
5 Compliance
OnFrontiers operates across two highly regulated environments: international development (requiring sensitivity to local regulations, conflict of interest, and political considerations) and U.S. federal government contracting (requiring adherence to federal acquisition regulations and security clearance protocols). The company's compliance framework is adapted for these unique requirements rather than the financial services focus typical of most expert networks.
- ● Federal government compliance aligned with FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulation) requirements
- ● Development sector compliance with attention to local regulations and political sensitivity
- ● Expert vetting with emphasis on local knowledge verification
- ● Conflict-of-interest screening for government and development engagements
- ● ChemCapital/Chemonics partnership validates compliance for USAID-related work
- ● Audit trail for all expert interactions
OnFrontiers' dual focus on emerging markets and federal contracting places it in a distinct compliance environment. Federal work requires adherence to FAR regulations, while development work involves USAID, World Bank, and multilateral institution standards. This differs significantly from the MNPI/securities-focused compliance typical of finance-oriented expert networks.
6 Client Fit
OnFrontiers is uniquely positioned for organizations working in emerging/frontier markets or the U.S. federal government space. These are niche markets where traditional expert networks have limited coverage. Clients focused on developed market finance or corporate strategy will find more comprehensive options elsewhere.
- → Development organizations (USAID, World Bank, multilateral institutions) needing emerging market expertise
- → Federal government contractors seeking subject matter experts for proposals and projects
- → PE/VC firms investing in frontier and emerging markets (GPCA/EMPEA members)
- → NGOs and international organizations conducting field research in hard-to-reach geographies
- → Government agencies and policy organizations requiring specialized advisory
7 Notable Facts
- • CEO Brian Caouette holds an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School and was an Echoing Green Fellow
- • Official Expert Platform Partner of GPCA (Global Private Capital Association, formerly EMPEA)
- • ChemCapital (investment arm of Chemonics International, largest USAID for-profit contractor) is a strategic investor
- • 17,000+ vetted federal subject matter experts — among the largest federal expert databases
- • Experts have shared insights on 100+ countries across six emerging market regions
- • GovTribe partnership integrates expert profiles directly into federal contractor tools
- • Joined Techstars NYC Summer 2016 accelerator
- • Total funding of approximately $7.6M from 12 investors
8 Source Notes & Methodology
- ℹ OnFrontiers official website (onfrontiers.com) — company overview, services, and platform description
- ℹ Tracxn — funding details ($7.58M total), employee count, and revenue estimates
- ℹ Crunchbase — company profile, founders, and investor list
- ℹ Techstars — NYC Summer 2016 cohort listing
- ℹ GPCA (Global Private Capital Association) — Expert Platform Partner announcement
- ℹ Chemonics International — ChemCapital strategic investment details
- ℹ GovTribe partnership announcement (2025) — federal expert integration
9 Data Confidence Ratings
Each data point in this profile is graded for source confidence. Here's what each badge means:
This profile's ratings
10 How We Researched This
This profile was researched and written by the ExpertNetworks.net editorial team using a multi-source methodology:
- Primary sources: Company website, press releases, SEC/regulatory filings, and official announcements
- Third-party verification: Industry reports (Integrity Research, Inex One), news coverage (TechCrunch, Bloomberg, FT), and data aggregators (PitchBook, Tracxn, Crunchbase)
- Cross-referencing: Claims were checked against multiple independent sources where possible; single-source claims are flagged
- Confidence grading: Each data point is rated as Verified, Positioning (company-claimed), or Inference (estimated from indirect evidence)
We do not accept payment from any expert network for inclusion or favorable coverage. If you spot an error, contact us with the correction and source.
Last fact-checked: 2026-03-07