Guidepoint
Guidepoint is one of the larger expert networks and operates a standard business model. It was founded in 2003 by Albert Sebag, an organic chemist that had “developed a deep Rolodex of the world’s leading physicians” (link).
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The history of Guidepoint
In June 2020, Guidepoint had 800+ employees working across 14 offices in 9 countries. Its expert database contained 650 000+ unique experts and was second only to GLG’s expert network. Although expert phone consultations remain Guidepoint's core service, the firm also offers a range of other expertise services:
Guidepoint Insights (a product similar to Third Bridge’s Forum) offers subscribers the possibility to attend teleconferences and live meetings with top-tier experts, the transcripts of which are later available in the Insights Library;
Guidepoint Legal Solutions team (similar to GLG Law) helps clients to find expert witnesses meeting their litigation needs;
Unlike other large expert networks, Guidepoint also has a wide offering of quantitative data products under the name of QSIGHT. The service provides clients with almost real-time information on actual spend, market growth, pricing dynamics and market share shifts among manufacturers in different key industries.
Other healthcare-focused expert networks include FirstThought, Techspert, Inlightened, BTHT and Atheneum.
Guidepoint – timeline and notable events
2003 – Founded in New York City as Clinical Advisors.
2007 – Rebranded as Guidepoint Global.
2009 – Acquired Vista Research, one of the first expert networks, for $10-15m. Employees at Vista had started the competing networks Primary Insight and Ridgetop Research, and later also Mosaic Research.
2011 – Mentioned in relation to an insider trading case, but not accused of any wrongdoing.
2015 – Acquired Innosquared, a German expert network with a strong presence in Europe.
2019 – Launched Insights, a product similar to Forum offered by Third Bridge.
2019 – Inex One identified Guidepoint as a global player in our review of the expert network industry.
2021 - Guidepoint announced its database had reached 1 million experts, and established offices in Athens and Shanghai.
2021 - Inex One reaffirmed Guidepoint's status as a global player in the expert network market sizing.
2022 - Guidepoint agreed to pay a total of $4.4m in two separate lawsuits concerning overtime compensation to more than 500 former Associates, Analysts and Research Managers.
2023 - Two weeks before Christmas, Guidepoint laid off the entire German team of ~60 people. This included the remainders of Innosquared, which it acquired in 2015.
Guidepoint cubs
Over the years, some Guidepoint employees have moved on to start their own expert networks. These include:
2009 - ExpertConnect was launched in NYC by former Guidepoint and GLG managers.
2019 - Bridger, serving primarily NYC asset managers, and Pangea SI, focused on the energy sector.
2020 - FirstThought, a life-science focused network, founded by ex-Guidepoint and GLG managers. Went bankrupt in the summer of 2023.
2023 - Swissmen, an expert network based in Dubai.
Guidepoint revenue estimate
Guidepoint's revenue is difficult to assess. The company does not publish financials, and has shared few estimates in the media. Based on benchmarks, and available data, we estimate Guidepoint to do north of $200m revenue in 2021.
For the publicly available benchmarks:
In October 2020, Guidepoint announced its database contained 770,000+ experts, doing "3,500+ interactions" per week. Let's assume the typical Guidepoint interaction costs ~$1,000, annual revenue would be $140-182m (counted on 40-52 weeks of business per year). However, the term "interactions" could mean many things, making this range shaky. Most interactions are interviews, but Guidepoint also does some longer engagements (more $/engagement), and lots of quick surveys (less $/engagement).
In April 2022, Guidepoint said it does "1,000+ daily interactions". Assuming they mean working days during 40-52 weeks per year, they'd do 200-260,000 interviews. At $1k each, Guidepoint would be doing $200-260m. As per above, this estimate is shaky.
Estimating revenue/employee is slightly less biased. We estimate that Guidepoint has a lower revenue/head than many large peers, given its low pricing. See full details of this in the expert network market sizing.
