Best Market Research Consultants in San Francisco

Best Market Research Consulting Services in San Francisco

Though the San Francisco Bay Area is frequently defined as the global epicenter of innovation, it’s also a hub for some of the most advanced, boundary-pushing market research minds in the industry. In a region where startups sprout overnight and industry incumbents reinvent themselves every quarter, market research consultants play a critical role. They don’t just crunch numbers or conduct focus groups, they decode consumer behavior, shape product strategy, and help companies make confident, informed decisions.

In this 2026 edition of our Digital Reference series, we spotlight consultants who are driving deep insights in the San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley areas. From user-centric design research to sociopolitical polling, these professionals exemplify excellence and innovation in the market research space.

At Digital Reference, we believe the best way to understand market research is through the people who lead it. That’s why we take a hands-on, research-led approach to careful curate a list of industry experts. We focused on those with a clear point of view, strong community connection, and a proven track record of measurable impacts.

Whether you’re a product leader, startup founder, marketing exec, or fellow researcher, this list is for you. And if you’re new to market research, check out our guide on what marketing professionals do.

Let’s dive into the consultants making waves in the Bay Area this year.

🧠 Methodology: How We Built This List of Market Research Consultants in San Francisco

‍At Digital Reference, we highlight consultants whose insights drive confident decision‑making — not just buzz. For this San Francisco Bay Area list, we evaluated each consultant based on:

• The clarity, depth, and strategic relevance of their market research expertise
• Feedback and reputation from clients, collaborators, or partners
• Presence and thought leadership across platforms and in their work
• Ability to serve varied industries or lead in specialized research niches
• Contributions to the practice through methodological rigor, innovation, or shared insights

Want to build your own credibility? Start with our resource on why professional references matter and how to use them to support your reputation.

Meet the Experts Defining San Francisco’s Market Research Landscape

Joanna Jones

Founder & CEO at InterQ Research‍

Joanna Jones is a San Francisco leader in qualitative research, combining journalistic curiosity with strategic clarity. As founder of InterQ Research, she delivers in-depth interviews and UX testing that help tech startups and Fortune 500 clients uncover what people truly think.

Why Joanna stands out:

📝 Journalistic Interviews: Unlocks nuanced insights through structured, client-focused conversations.
🌍 Global Tech Expertise: Works extensively with international technology firms to localize products.
💻 UX Impact: Leads testing initiatives that improve digital experiences across finance, healthcare, and consumer electronics.

Joanna’s disciplined, client-centered approach ensures research is ethical, actionable, and consistently exceeds expectations.

Katrina Noelle

President of KNow Research and Co-Founder of Scoot Insights‍

Katrina Noelle has over two decades of experience delivering human-centered research in San Francisco. She blends hybrid qualitative methods to provide deep insights into consumer behavior for financial services and retail brands.

Why Katrina stands out:

🔗 Strategic Insight: Guides brands in decoding complex, evolving customer behaviors.
♀️ Inclusive Research: Specializes in female consumer behavior and belonging-centered studies.
⚡ Hybrid Methodologies: Pioneered mixed in-person and remote qualitative techniques before they became mainstream.

Katrina’s forward-thinking methods help brands understand people at a deeper level while staying ahead of market trends.

Janet Beach

Managing Partner at U.S. Marketing Services‍

Janet Beach brings strategic acumen to tech-focused market research. She supports startups and enterprises in validating ideas, assessing product-market fit, and connecting with high-level decision makers.

Why Janet stands out:

🎯 Executive Insight: Conducts high-caliber interviews with C-level executives.
📊 Integrated Approach: Combines qualitative and quantitative methods to optimize product positioning.
💡 Tech Expertise: Strong experience in SaaS, B2B tech, and enterprise solutions.

Janet’s expertise helps companies align product strategy with real-world market needs.

Veronica Raymonda

President & Founder at Quantum Market Research

Veronica Raymonda is a creative leader redefining customer experience research. She helps organizations strengthen audience relationships through brand strategy, qualitative innovation, and emotion-based testing.

Why Veronica stands out:

💬 Transformative Insights: Turns customer sentiment into clear strategic direction.
📦 Brand Expertise: Specializes in packaging, naming, and positioning research.
🌱 Innovative Methods: Uses emerging techniques including emotion-based testing and projective approaches.

Veronica’s work helps brands translate audience understanding into meaningful experiences.

Walter Good

President at Pinpoint Research‍

Walter Good leads Pinpoint Research, delivering rigorous, statistically sound quantitative insights across Northern California. His team focuses on telephone interviewing, tracking studies, and political polling.

Why Walter stands out:

📞 CATI Expertise: Expert in computer-assisted telephone interviewing and survey methodology.
📈 High-Volume Research: Executes large-scale survey deployment and longitudinal tracking.
🗳️ Political Insight: Provides polling expertise for voter sentiment analysis.

Walter’s methodological rigor ensures reliable insights that inform strategy and decision-making.

Ben Tulchin

President at Tulchin Research

Ben Tulchin is a recognized authority in political research and public opinion. Through Tulchin Research, he advises campaigns and organizations on strategy, messaging, and voter behavior.

Why Ben stands out:

🗳️ Voter Insight: Deep understanding of public sentiment, policy impact, and grassroots dynamics.
💡 Strategic Advice: Guides clients in translating research into actionable messaging.
📰 Media Recognition: Research cited nationally and leveraged for political strategy.

Ben’s expertise bridges rigorous research and actionable political strategy.

Lilah Raynor

Founder & CEO at Logica Research‍

Lilah Raynor leads Logica Research, providing insights into the financial behaviors of emerging generations. Her research helps fintech firms, banks, and investment services anticipate evolving consumer needs.

Why Lilah stands out:

💰 Future-Focused Research: Publishes the Future of Money Study, a key industry resource.
📊 Customer-Centric Insight: Guides financial innovation with actionable analysis.
🎤 Thought Leadership: Frequently featured in business media and industry events.

Lilah’s work empowers financial organizations to innovate for tomorrow’s consumers.

Stan Kwon

Founder & CEO of Beta Hat

Stan Kwon helps publishers, developers, and entertainment brands understand players and optimize growth. At Beta Hat, he combines quantitative and qualitative research to support game development, strategy, and branding.

Why Stan stands out:

🎮 Industry Expertise: Deep experience in gaming and emerging tech research.
📊 Custom Research Design: Provides focused, actionable insights for major clients like EA, Take Two, and Blizzard.
🏗️ Team Builder: Creates research teams, methods, and client partnerships that last.

Stan’s high-impact approach ensures research translates directly into growth and engagement.

David Mitroff

Founder & CEO at Piedmont Avenue Consulting

David Mitroff blends behavioral psychology and market research to support brand positioning, consumer behavior understanding, and digital experience. His multidisciplinary approach serves startups and large-scale businesses alike.

Why David stands out:

🧠 Behavioral Insight: Applies psychology to decode purchasing decisions and user friction.
📊 Strategic Advisory: Guides rebranding, repositioning, and cross-functional alignment.
🎓 Educational Leadership: Leads workshops and training to operationalize insights.

David’s research empowers teams to make consumer-informed, strategic business decisions.

Robin Boyar

Founder at thinktank research and strategy

Robin Boyar is an innovative researcher specializing in emerging media, gaming, and Gen Alpha insights. Her firm designs custom UX testing and behavioral research to support next-generation consumer understanding.

Why Robin stands out:

🎮 Gameplay Expertise: Deep understanding of player behavior and motivations.
🧒 Next-Gen Insight: One of few researchers attuned to Gen Alpha trends.
🛠️ Custom Labs: Designs bespoke testing environments for observation and iteration.

Robin’s work keeps brands ahead of emerging trends in media and youth-focused markets.

Looking Ahead: Why San Francisco Will Remain a Powerhouse for Market Research

The market research consultants highlighted above aren’t just shaping strategy in the Bay Area, they’re influencing how research is done across industries. In a region that thrives on experimentation, iteration, and human-centered design, these professionals play an essential role.

They help tech companies understand users, assist healthcare orgs in refining patient experiences, and guide policymakers with data-driven insights. In a city defined by change, their insights are what bring clarity.

And that’s exactly what we do here at Digital Reference. We exist to highlight the most forward-thinking, insight-driven professionals in the industry. Whether you’re looking for your next research partner or want to learn from the best, we’re here to make that easier. To explore more consultants from other regions, browse our Marketing Consultants to Watch series and follow us for regular updates.

Know someone in the Bay Area who deserves a spotlight? We'd love to hear about them. Digital Reference is always on the lookout for new talent to feature.

For more insights, don’t miss our spotlight on leading market research consultants in Los Angeles.