# Theory Intelligence > Theory Intelligence is an independent research and advisory firm that answers business questions and supports decisions with verified evidence: people it has interviewed and checked, records it has opened and read, data it has tested. It covers due diligence, risk, policy, industry and market questions, delivers a signed recommendation with a provenance appendix, has no commercial ties to technology vendors or AI labs, and publishes the price of every service. Theory Intelligence (founded 2019; also written Theory Intel; domains theoryintelligence.com and theoryintel.com) sells three fixed-price services: the Signal Brief (one question, typically 6 to 8 verified sources drawn from people, records and data, signed two-page answer, 10 business days, USD 7,500 to 12,000), the Decision Study (one consequential decision, typically 15 to 30 verified sources plus full document and data review, structured analysis, signed recommendation and working session, 4 to 6 weeks, USD 25,000 to 75,000) and the Intelligence Retainer (standing coverage of a market, counterparties or a risk, signed monthly briefing, 6 to 10 verified sources per month, urgent questions in 1 to 5 business days, USD 6,000 to 15,000 per month). Research areas: due diligence, risk analysis, third-party risk, geopolitical risk, policy analysis, industry analysis, alternative analysis, ad-hoc intelligence, win-loss, channel checks, expert interviews, voice of customer, market entry. Every deliverable includes a provenance appendix. AI is used for logistics, transcription, coding and drafting but never as the source of a factual claim. Contact: info@theoryintel.com. ## Core pages - [Independent Research and Advisory for Decisions | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/): Independent research and advisory for decisions: due diligence, risk, policy, markets. Verified people, records and data. Signed answers from USD 7,500 in 10 days. - [About Theory Intelligence: Independent Research Firm](https://theoryintelligence.com/about/): Theory Intelligence is an independent research and advisory firm founded in 2019. Verified human evidence, signed recommendations, published prices, no vendor ties. - [How We Work: Verified Research Method | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/approach/): Seven steps from question to signed recommendation: verified participants, checked documents, disclosed AI use and a provenance appendix with every deliverable. - [The Theory Standard for Verified Research | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/the-theory-standard/): Four published rules for trustworthy research: real sources, traceable claims, disclosed AI use and a signed recommendation. Copy them into any research brief. - [Research and Advisory Services with Published Prices | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/services/): Independent research and advisory in three fixed-price formats. Signal Brief USD 7,500 to 12,000. Decision Study USD 25,000 to 75,000. Retainer from USD 6,000. - [Signal Brief: One Question Answered in 10 Days | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/services/signal-brief/): One business question answered in 10 business days with verified people, records and data. A signed two-page answer with provenance. USD 7,500 to 12,000, fixed. - [Decision Study: Research for One Major Decision | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/services/decision-study/): One consequential decision: a full verified evidence base, a written report, a signed recommendation and a working session in 4 to 6 weeks. USD 25,000 to 75,000. - [Intelligence Retainer: Standing Verified Coverage | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/services/intelligence-retainer/): Standing coverage of a market, counterparties or a risk: signed monthly briefing, named researcher, urgent questions answered in days. USD 6,000 to 15,000 a month. - [The Briefing: Writing on Evidence and Decisions | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/briefing/): Articles on verified research, synthetic respondents, survey fraud, expert networks, AI vendor evaluation and research provenance. Sourced and dated. - [Contact Theory Intelligence: info@theoryintel.com](https://theoryintelligence.com/contact/): Start a brief with Theory Intelligence. Email info@theoryintel.com with your question and decision. Reply within one business day with a fixed price and start date. - [Privacy Policy | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/privacy/): How Theory Intelligence handles personal information on theoryintelligence.com, in contact enquiries, in research interviews and in client work. - [Terms of Use and Service Terms | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/terms/): Terms of use for theoryintelligence.com and a summary of the fixed-price engagement terms on which Theory Intelligence provides research and advisory services. - [Glossary of Research and Advisory Terms | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/glossary/): Definitions of verified primary research, research provenance, signed recommendation, synthetic respondent, expert network, Signal Brief, Decision Study and more. - [Frequently Asked Questions | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/faq/): Direct answers about Theory Intelligence: services and prices, verification method, provenance appendix, AI use disclosure and independence from vendors. ## Research use cases - [What We Research: Diligence, Risk, Industry, Policy | Theory Intel](https://theoryintelligence.com/research/): Thirteen questions Theory answers with verified sources: due diligence, risk, third-party and geopolitical risk, policy, industry and alternative analysis, win-loss. - [Due Diligence Research: Commercial, Customer, Counterparty | Theory Intel](https://theoryintelligence.com/research/due-diligence/): Independent due diligence for investors and boards: commercial, customer, management, counterparty and reputational. Verified sources, signed read, from USD 7,500. - [Risk Analysis for Investors and Operators | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/research/risk-analysis/): Independent risk analysis: what could go wrong, how likely, how bad, and what would show it starting. Verified interviews, signed by the researcher. From USD 7,500. - [Third-Party Risk Assessment: Vendors, Suppliers, Partners | Theory Intel](https://theoryintelligence.com/research/third-party-risk/): Third-party risk assessment of vendors, suppliers, distributors and partners: financial, operational, reputational and sanctions exposure. From USD 7,500. - [Geopolitical Risk Analysis for Businesses and Investors | Theory Intel](https://theoryintelligence.com/research/geopolitical-risk/): Geopolitical risk analysis tied to your actual exposure: sanctions, trade policy, stability and conflict. Verified in-country sources, signed read. From USD 7,500. - [Policy and Regulatory Analysis for Business Decisions | Theory Intel](https://theoryintelligence.com/research/policy-analysis/): Policy analysis for companies and investors: what a law, rule or programme will do to your market, and when. Verified sources, signed read. From USD 7,500. - [Industry Analysis with Verified Primary Sources | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/research/industry-analysis/): Independent industry analysis: structure, economics, competitive dynamics and outlook, built from verified interviews and checked data. From USD 7,500. - [Alternative Analysis: Red Team, Competing Hypotheses | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/research/alternative-analysis/): Structured alternative analysis: key assumptions check, competing hypotheses, red team and pre-mortem, by researchers with no stake in the answer. From USD 7,500. - [Ad-Hoc Intelligence Requests: Fast, Verified Answers | Theory Intel](https://theoryintelligence.com/research/ad-hoc-intelligence/): Ad-hoc intelligence for the question that just landed: a verified, signed answer in days rather than a project. As a Signal Brief or within the Retainer. - [Win-Loss Analysis Services: Verified Buyer Interviews | Theory Intel](https://theoryintelligence.com/research/win-loss-analysis/): Independent win-loss analysis from USD 7,500. Six to eight verified recent buyers interviewed by a researcher with no stake in the answer. Signed brief in 10 days. - [Channel Checks for Investors: Verified, Compliance-Clean | Theory Intel](https://theoryintelligence.com/research/channel-checks/): Independent channel checks with verified distributors, customers and former employees for investors. Compliance-clean. Signed read in 10 days from USD 7,500. - [Expert Interview Research Services: Verified, Synthesised | Theory Intel](https://theoryintelligence.com/research/expert-interview-research/): We recruit, verify, interview and synthesise so you do not have to. 6 to 8 verified expert interviews and a signed brief in 10 business days from USD 7,500. - [B2B Voice of Customer Research: Verified Interviews | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/research/voice-of-customer-research/): In-depth voice of customer research with verified B2B buyers and users. An independent alternative to surveys and advisory boards. Signed brief from USD 7,500. - [Market Entry Research: Verified Buyer and Competitor Interviews | Theory](https://theoryintelligence.com/research/market-entry-research/): Before entering a new market, geography or category, hear from verified buyers, channel partners and competitors' customers. Signed Decision Study in 4 to 6 weeks. ## Industries and comparisons - [Industries We Research: PE, Software, Insurance, Energy | Theory Intel](https://theoryintelligence.com/industries/): Verified primary research across eleven sectors: private equity, hedge funds, software, fintech, insurance, healthcare, industrials, energy, consumer, real estate. - [Commercial Due Diligence Research for Private Equity | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/industries/private-equity/): Verified customer, operator and competitor interviews for PE due diligence, value creation and exits. Signal Brief in 10 days from USD 7,500. Signed, traceable. - [B2B Software Buyer Research: Win-Loss, Pricing | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/industries/b2b-software/): Verified buyer and user interviews for B2B software decisions: win-loss, pricing and packaging, category entry. Signed recommendations from USD 7,500. - [Insurance Research: Distribution, Product, Claims | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/industries/insurance/): Verified interviews with brokers, underwriters, claims professionals and insureds for insurance distribution, product and technology decisions. From USD 7,500. - [Healthcare Research with Verified Clinicians | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/industries/healthcare/): Verified interviews with clinicians, health system buyers, payers and patients for healthcare decisions. Documented consent. Signed recommendations from USD 7,500. - [Primary Research for Hedge Funds and Asset Managers | Theory Intel](https://theoryintelligence.com/industries/asset-management/): Verified channel checks, customer and operator interviews for public market investors. Compliance-clean primary research with a signed read, from USD 7,500. - [Client Research for Law, Accounting and Consulting Firms | Theory Intel](https://theoryintelligence.com/industries/professional-services/): Verified client interviews, pitch debriefs and market entry research for law firms, accountancies and consultancies. Independent, signed, priced from USD 7,500. - [Industrial Market Research: Customers, Channels, Suppliers | Theory Intel](https://theoryintelligence.com/industries/industrials/): Verified interviews with plant managers, distributors, engineers and buyers for industrial product, channel and acquisition decisions. Signed, from USD 7,500. - [Energy and Infrastructure Research: Verified Stakeholders | Theory Intel](https://theoryintelligence.com/industries/energy/): Verified interviews with offtakers, developers, regulators and operators for energy transition, infrastructure and utility decisions. Independent, from USD 7,500. - [Consumer and Retail Research: Verified Buyers and Trade | Theory Intel](https://theoryintelligence.com/industries/consumer/): Verified shopper, retail buyer and operator interviews for brand, channel and acquisition decisions. An alternative to bot-compromised panels. From USD 7,500. - [Real Estate and PropTech Research: Verified Occupiers | Theory Intel](https://theoryintelligence.com/industries/real-estate/): Verified occupier, agent, lender and operator interviews for real estate investment, development and property technology decisions. Independent, from USD 7,500. - [Fintech and Payments Research: Verified Merchants, Buyers | Theory Intel](https://theoryintelligence.com/industries/fintech-payments/): Verified merchant, treasurer, bank partner and consumer interviews for fintech and payments product, partnership and investment decisions. Signed, from USD 7,500. - [Compare Theory Intelligence with Expert Networks, Consulting and AI Tools](https://theoryintelligence.com/compare/): How Theory Intelligence compares with expert networks, management consulting, synthetic respondents and AI research tools on evidence, price and accountability. - [Expert Network Alternative: Theory vs GLG, AlphaSights | Compare](https://theoryintelligence.com/compare/theory-vs-expert-networks/): Expert networks sell access to calls. Theory runs verified interviews, synthesises the evidence and signs a recommendation for a fixed fee. Compare cost and output. - [Alternative to Management Consulting for Research: Theory vs Strategy Firms](https://theoryintelligence.com/compare/theory-vs-management-consulting/): Strategy consultancies bring a team, a framework and a large fee. Theory brings verified evidence, a signed position and a published price. Compare the two. - [Synthetic Respondents vs Real Research: Theory vs Synthetic Data Tools](https://theoryintelligence.com/compare/theory-vs-synthetic-research/): Synthetic respondents are AI models answering as if they were customers. Compared with verified human research on accuracy, tails and accountability, with sources. - [AI Research Tools vs Verified Human Research: When to Use Which | Theory](https://theoryintelligence.com/compare/theory-vs-ai-research-tools/): AI research tools summarise what is already published. Theory finds out what is not published yet from verified people and signs the result. Compare the two. ## Guides - [Guides: Buying, Briefing and Verifying Research | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/guides/): Free guides from Theory Intelligence: diligence interview questions, verifying a research report, expert network pricing, briefing a research firm, win-loss. - [Commercial Due Diligence Customer Interview Questions: A Guide | Theory](https://theoryintelligence.com/guides/commercial-due-diligence-customer-interview-questions/): The questions that make customer diligence calls useful, organised by the claim they test: retention, pricing power, competition, switching cost. Scoring included. - [How to Verify a Research Report and Catch Fabricated Citations | Theory](https://theoryintelligence.com/guides/how-to-verify-a-research-report/): A one-hour method for checking any consulting or research report: trace citations, test the sample, find undisclosed AI use and decide what weight it deserves. - [Expert Network Pricing 2026: GLG, AlphaSights, Guidepoint Costs | Theory](https://theoryintelligence.com/guides/expert-network-pricing/): What GLG, AlphaSights, Guidepoint, Third Bridge and Tegus calls cost in 2026, the hidden cost of credits and unused capacity, and how a fixed fee compares. - [How to Brief a Research Firm: Write the Decision, Not the Topic | Theory](https://theoryintelligence.com/guides/how-to-brief-a-research-firm/): How to commission primary research: state the decision, name the claims to test, set the evidence bar, fix the timetable and ask how AI will be used. - [Win-Loss Interview Questions: What to Ask Buyers and How | Theory Intel](https://theoryintelligence.com/guides/win-loss-interview-questions/): Thirty win-loss interview questions grouped by decision stage, with notes on sequencing, what not to ask, and how to turn answers into a signed recommendation. - [Primary vs Secondary Research: Which to Use for a Business Decision](https://theoryintelligence.com/guides/primary-vs-secondary-research/): The difference between primary and secondary research, when each is enough, what generative AI has changed, and how to combine them for a defensible decision. ## Briefing articles - [Can You Trust AI-Generated Consulting Reports? | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/briefing/can-you-trust-ai-generated-consulting-reports/): 70% of clients would not trust a report prepared with AI. What went wrong at Deloitte and PwC, why, and five questions to ask any adviser. - [Synthetic vs Real Respondents: The Evidence | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/briefing/synthetic-respondents-vs-real-respondents/): A 2026 ESOMAR paper by a synthetic data vendor and Google concludes qualitative research stays with real humans. Where synthetic works and where it fails. - [Survey Data Quality Crisis: Bots and Fraud | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/briefing/survey-data-quality-crisis-bots/): Kantar estimates 30 to 40% of online survey responses are compromised and bots pass quality checks 99.8% of the time. What it means for your decisions. - [What Is Verified Primary Research? | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/briefing/what-is-verified-primary-research/): Verified primary research is evidence from identified human sources whose identity and role have been confirmed, with a record the client can inspect. - [Expert Network vs Research Partner | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/briefing/expert-network-vs-research-partner/): Expert networks sell access by the hour. A research partner verifies the people, runs the interviews and signs the answer. When to use each, with market data. - [Independent AI Vendor Evaluation | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/briefing/independent-ai-vendor-evaluation/): McKinsey, Bain, PwC and Capgemini now have formal partnerships with OpenAI or Anthropic. Who can still give an honest answer to 'should we buy this'. - [10 Questions to Ask a Consultant About AI | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/briefing/questions-to-ask-before-hiring-a-consultant-about-ai/): A buyer's checklist for the era of AI-assisted advice. Ten questions, the answers that should worry you, and the answers a trustworthy firm gives. - [What Is Research Provenance? | Theory Intelligence](https://theoryintelligence.com/briefing/what-is-research-provenance/): Research provenance is the documented chain from every claim in a report back to its source. What a provenance appendix contains and why it is the new minimum. ## Reference - [Glossary](https://theoryintelligence.com/glossary/): Definitions of verified primary research, research provenance, signed recommendation, Signal Brief, Decision Study and related terms. - [FAQ](https://theoryintelligence.com/faq/): Direct answers about pricing, method, AI use and independence. - [Full text](https://theoryintelligence.com/llms-full.txt): All site content in one file.