Expert Network Intelligence

GLG (Gerson Lehrman Group)

Founded 1998 · New York, NY

GLG positions itself as the pioneer of the expert network category and one of the largest global platforms for first-hand professional insight. The firm says it works with approximately 1.2 million professionals across industries, roles, and geographies, serving investors, consulting firms, corporates, law firms, and other institutions through a broader stack that includes Calls, Surveys, Events, Library, Placements, Qualitative work, and Integrated Insights. Recent product evolution has pushed GLG further into AI-assisted workflow and research synthesis through myGLG and interactive transcript tooling.

AlphaSights

Founded 2008 · London, UK (Global HQ); New York, NY (Americas HQ)

AlphaSights is a global expert network founded in 2008 in London by Max Cartellieri and Andrew Heath. The firm connects decision-makers at investment funds, consultancies, and Fortune 500 corporations with domain experts for primary research. Unlike competitors that emphasize static database size, AlphaSights positions its custom-sourcing model — recruiting experts fresh against each brief — as a deliberate differentiator. The firm has grown to 2,000+ employees across nine offices worldwide, raised $400 million in September 2024 at a reported $4.2 billion valuation (led by Carlyle and TA Associates), and increasingly invests in AI-augmented workflows via AlphaGPT, AlphaGraph, and AlphaNow.

Third Bridge

Founded 2007 · London, UK

Third Bridge is an analyst-led expert network founded in 2007 as Cognolink and rebranded in 2015. The firm differentiates from access-model competitors through in-house analyst moderation of every expert call, producing structured, comparable, and reusable content. Third Bridge operates across 12 offices on four continents and serves 1,000+ clients, with particular strength in private equity due diligence. Its Library (formerly Forum) contains analyst-led interview transcripts covering 65,000+ companies, and its Maps product provides visual value-chain intelligence on 100,000+ companies. The firm has pursued an open distribution strategy for its content, partnering with Anthropic/Claude, Aiera, Hebbia, and other AI platforms in 2025.

Guidepoint

Founded 2003 · New York, NY

Guidepoint is a research enablement platform and one of the largest expert networks globally, founded in 2003 by Albert Sebag. Originally launched as Clinical Advisors to match cancer patients with clinical trials, the firm pivoted to the broader expert-network model and now connects more than 5,000 client organizations with 1.75 million+ advisors across 150+ industries. Guidepoint differentiates through breadth of coverage, flexible pricing, healthcare data products (Qsight), and its 2025 launch of Guidepoint360 — an AI-powered platform merging expert knowledge with generative AI via its AskGP interface.

Dialectica

Founded 2015 · London, UK (28 Margaret Street, Marylebone, W1W 8RZ — registered HQ); operational hub in Athens, Greece

Dialectica is a fast-growing B2B information services firm founded in 2015 by George Tsarouchas and Frederick Corkett. The company started in Athens with a small London sales office and has grown to 1,400+ employees across six offices on three continents, crossing $100 million in annual revenue. Dialectica differentiates through its Athens-based operational model (delivering high-quality service at lower cost than London/NYC-based competitors), aggressive AI investment ($25M+ in tech, 50+ GenAI tools, Dialectica IQ knowledge graph), and its Origin deal-sourcing platform for private equity. Named to the FT 1000 (Europe's fastest-growing companies) for five consecutive years (2021-2025). The company is entirely bootstrapped and founder-owned.