Prosapient
An expert network platform streamlining expert search and scheduling for investors and consultancies.
If you're a domain expert weighing whether to work with proSapient, this page gives you a straight answer on how the network operates, what it pays, and exactly how to get started.
What Is proSapient and Who Pays?
proSapient is a London-headquartered, tech-enabled expert network that connects institutional clients — private equity firms, hedge funds, strategy consultants, and large corporates — with domain experts who can speak to specific industries, markets, or operational questions. Clients pay proSapient a platform fee for access to that expertise; proSapient then passes a portion of that fee to the expert as a per-hour honorarium.
Founded in the UK, proSapient serves a global client and expert base and positions itself as a compliance-first network competing with better-known players like GLG, AlphaSights, Guidepoint, and Atheneum. The compliance-first framing is not just marketing: every engagement includes a conflict-of-interest screening step before any call is confirmed, which protects both the expert and the client.
Because its clients are primarily sophisticated institutional buyers — analysts and partners at PE and hedge fund firms, not generalist researchers — the calls tend to be focused, technically demanding, and efficient. You will rarely be asked to explain basic industry concepts; expect to be challenged on nuance.
proSapient's institutional client base means calls are high-signal and strategically focused, making it a worthwhile addition to any expert's network portfolio.
How proSapient Pays Experts
proSapient uses a standard expert-network honorarium model: you earn a per-hour rate (or a pro-rated fraction) for each completed consultation. There is no retainer, no base fee, and no guaranteed volume — it is entirely transactional.
proSapient does not publicly publish a rate card. Rates vary based on your seniority, geographic market, topic scarcity, and the specific client project. Across the broader expert-network industry, honoraria typically range from roughly $100 to $600 or more per hour for most professionals; C-suite executives or experts in highly scarce technical niches routinely negotiate above that ceiling. Your first proposed rate is not your final rate — if your profile is in demand, you have leverage.
A few practical details to confirm directly with proSapient at onboarding, as these can change:
- Currency: GBP, USD, and EUR are common depending on your country of residence
- Payment method: typically bank transfer or PayPal
- Payment timing: most expert networks settle within 30–60 days of a completed call; verify the current schedule with your proSapient contact
- Minimum call length: often 30 or 60 minutes — confirm at the time of booking
Understanding how expert network rates compare across platforms is one reason experts use a tool like a unified expert network dashboard to avoid leaving money on the table.
Rates are negotiable and tied directly to your scarcity — always confirm payment terms and propose a rate before signing your first agreement.
What Kinds of Calls You Can Expect
The dominant format is a one-on-one phone or video consultation, typically 30 to 60 minutes long. Topics are matched to your listed work history: industry dynamics, competitive landscapes, go-to-market models, regulatory environments, operational benchmarks, and similar strategic questions.
Your callers will usually be analysts, associates, or partners from PE and VC firms, hedge funds, or top-tier strategy consulting firms. They arrive prepared. They have a specific hypothesis they are testing or a knowledge gap they are trying to close, and they will use your time accordingly.
What you will not be asked to do: share confidential information, disclose material non-public information (MNPI), or breach any obligations to your current or former employer. proSapient's compliance layer is specifically designed to screen those situations out before the call is ever scheduled. If a topic edges into restricted territory during a live call, you are always entitled — and expected — to decline to answer.
Less commonly, you may receive requests for written survey responses or short-form research contributions, though live calls remain the primary format.
The client's identity is frequently kept confidential, though not always. Your proSapient research manager will tell you what they are permitted to disclose in the project brief.
Expect sharp, well-prepared callers asking strategic industry questions — prepare to go deep, not broad.
How to Get Onboarded: Step by Step
- Apply or get recruited — Submit a profile through proSapient's website or respond to direct outreach via LinkedIn or email from one of their research managers
- Profile review — proSapient assesses your work history against active client projects; turnaround varies by demand
- Compliance screening — Complete a conflict-of-interest questionnaire covering your current employer, public-company affiliations, and any existing confidentiality agreements
- Set your rate — Propose your hourly honorarium; proSapient may suggest a market-aligned figure, but the rate is negotiable
- Sign the expert agreement — Review and e-sign terms covering IP ownership, confidentiality obligations, and compliance commitments
- Receive your first project brief — A research manager sends a short description of the engagement topic and the client's focus areas
- Confirm availability and re-screen — Approve the specific call and re-confirm there are no conflicts for that particular topic
- Complete the call — Join via the phone number or video link provided; calls are typically recorded for compliance purposes
- Submit payment details — Provide bank or PayPal information if not already on file
- Get paid — Honorarium is processed per proSapient's current payment schedule
The compliance step is the most frequent source of delay. Having your disclosures documented and ready — current employer policies, any non-competes, board positions — will meaningfully accelerate the process. Experts who manage multiple network profiles often track this information centrally to avoid repeating it from scratch each time.
The compliance step is the most common delay — prepare your conflict disclosures before you apply, not after.
Tips to Get More (and Better) Requests
Getting onboarded is step one. Getting a steady flow of high-quality calls requires a bit of ongoing effort:
- Complete your profile with keywords — Research managers search by specific product names, geographies, and industry verticals; vague titles get skipped
- Keep past roles visible — Your work from five or ten years ago may be exactly what a client needs today
- Respond within one to two hours — Expert networks fill calls on tight deadlines; slow responders get replaced quickly
- Approve compliance checks fast — Speed at the screening stage translates directly into confirmed bookings
- Ask for a rate review after early calls — A few successful consultations give you a track record to justify a higher honorarium
- Stay accessible — Experts who are routinely unavailable drop off research managers' shortlists over time
- Track your activity across networks — Using a tool that consolidates your expert network profiles and call history helps you spot which networks are performing, manage competing requests, and benchmark your rates — exactly what a platform like myexpertnetwork.ai is built for
The experts who get called most are the ones who respond fast, stay current, and make compliance easy.
FAQ
How long does the proSapient onboarding process take?
It varies. If you respond to a recruiter's outreach for an active project, the process can move in 24 to 48 hours. Applying cold through the website may take longer depending on whether your profile matches a live client need. Having your compliance documentation ready speeds things up materially.
Can I set my own hourly rate?
Yes. proSapient invites you to propose a rate and may suggest a market-aligned figure, but the honorarium is negotiable. Experts in scarce niches or with C-suite backgrounds typically command higher rates. It is reasonable to revisit your rate after completing a few successful calls.
Will I know who the client is before the call?
Not always. proSapient often keeps the end client's identity confidential, which is standard practice across expert networks. The project brief will describe the topic and focus areas; your research manager can tell you what they are permitted to share about the client's identity.
What happens if a question on a call crosses into restricted territory?
You are always entitled to decline to answer any question that would require you to share confidential information, breach a non-compete, or disclose MNPI. proSapient's compliance framework is designed to prevent those situations from arising, but if one does, simply say you cannot answer that specific question. No reputable expert network will penalize you for appropriate compliance behavior.
Does proSapient operate outside the UK and Europe?
Yes. While proSapient is headquartered in London, it serves clients and experts globally. Experts based in North America, Asia-Pacific, and other regions regularly participate. Payment currency and method are confirmed at onboarding based on your country of residence.
Is proSapient worth joining if I am already on GLG or AlphaSights?
Yes, for most experts. Each network has its own client relationships and call flow, so being on multiple platforms increases your total opportunity volume. The marginal cost of adding proSapient is low once you have completed onboarding once. Managing multiple network profiles efficiently is one of the core use cases for an expert network management tool.