# Thielos expert participation reference

Thielos is an expert network operated by Thielos Labs Inc., an applied AI lab focused on primary research.

Leading consulting firms and investors rely on Thielos for the industry knowledge behind their most important decisions. We connect them with executives and specialists who have worked in the industries they’re studying.

## Why firms speak with experts

Consulting and investment firms research industries to understand how businesses and markets work. Online information often does not provide the detail they need. They want to speak with people who have worked in the areas they are studying and can explain what happens on the ground.

A team might want to understand how customers choose a supplier, which purchasing criteria matter most, how competitors differ, or how a market is structured. An expert’s firsthand experience helps the team understand the reasons behind the numbers and the practical details that are difficult to learn from published information alone.

These conversations often inform confidential market research reports, investment assessments, and strategy work. The client’s research and project details are confidential. Experts contribute their general industry knowledge and professional judgment, within the limits of what they are permitted to discuss.

## Why experts work with Thielos

Compared with traditional expert networks, Thielos keeps less of the client’s fee, so more reaches the expert. We also assess your experience against the project before reaching out, so you spend less time screening for consultations that do not fit your background. For experts, that means higher pay and less wasted time.

## Why did Thielos contact me?

A client is working on a question your background fits. We research each project and contact people whose professional experience is relevant to it. The invitation starts a discussion about the project and your experience.

## How do I join Thielos?

We contact experts directly when their experience fits a project. We do not take general applications or sign-ups. If we have reached out to you, reply to that message and we will discuss the opportunity with you.

## How do I know a message is really from Thielos?

Visit https://thielos.com/experts#verify-email to check whether the sender’s email address or domain is recognized by Thielos. The checker compares it with our official outreach directory. To confirm a particular message, forward it to hello@thielos.com and our team will confirm it in writing.

## Who runs Thielos?

Thielos was founded by Hunter Hammarberg, Co-founder and CEO, and Brendan Royals, Co-founder and CTO. Hunter previously worked in Bain & Company’s Private Equity Group and has experience in rates and FX derivatives. Brendan was a quant research engineer at Millennium, developing investor research tools, and a machine learning engineer at Babylon Farms, a Series A-backed startup. Their profiles are at https://thielos.com/about. You can reach them at hunter@thielos.com and brendan@thielos.com.

## Who are Thielos’s clients?

Consulting firms, investors, and diligence teams researching companies and industries. Your experience informs their decisions on acquisitions, investments, and strategy.

## Does participation cost anything?

Thielos never charges experts to participate. Experts are paid for consultations they take.

## Can I participate while employed?

Yes. During onboarding, you attest that you are permitted to participate under your employment agreement and employer’s policies, and that you have any required approvals. We screen projects for conflicts, and calls do not cover your current employer. You participate in a personal capacity.

## What if I’m asked something I can’t discuss?

Thielos clients sign agreements not to request confidential, proprietary, or material non-public information. They are seeking your general industry knowledge and professional experience. If a question touches on something you cannot discuss, you can always decline to answer or leave the call. Let your Thielos contact know so we can address it.

## What information do you share with clients?

Clients receive relevant professional background and a written version of your screening answers to assess your fit for the project. The screening audio is not shared with the client. Your contact details are not shared without your consent. Your professional profile is kept on file so you can be considered for future engagements that match your expertise. It is not publicly listed or sold. You can ask us to stop contacting you and remove you from consideration for future requests. For questions about how your information is handled, contact hello@thielos.com.

## Does an invitation mean I’ve been selected for a call?

An invitation starts a discussion about fit. A consultation goes ahead if the client selects you and you agree to participate. We confirm the topic, timing, and your rate before the call.

## How much am I paid, and when?

You set your own hourly rate and currency in onboarding. The rate is disclosed to the client and is the rate the consultation is booked at. Thielos does not negotiate it down. Thielos arranges payment after successful completion of the consultation at your stated hourly rate, proportional to the length of the call. The client does not pay you directly. Onboarding offers ACH bank transfer, with an arrival time of 0–2 business days, or a mailed check, with an arrival time of 3–14 days. The engagement agreement sets out the full payment terms.

## What does a consultation involve, and do I need to prepare?

Most consultations are 30–60 minute calls with a client about a topic you know through your professional experience. They generally require no preparation. We discuss the topic with you beforehand so you can assess whether it fits your experience and the boundaries you need to observe.

## Can I say no to a request?

Yes. You can decline any request for any reason. Declining does not affect which requests you see. You can also set companies or topics off-limits.

## What happens if I reply?

Your invitation links to onboarding for a specific project. The form explains the research topic, identifies your Thielos contact, and describes the consultation. You review and correct your relevant professional details, set your hourly rate, currency, and payment method, and review the engagement agreement. You provide availability and answer screening questions to give the client context on your experience. After submission, your information is reviewed for the engagement. If selected, our team contacts you to coordinate the consultation and confirm the details. Completing onboarding does not guarantee a call, and project timelines vary.

## Why are screening answers spoken?

The spoken questions give the client context on your experience and help us confirm that each expert is a real person. There is no video. Your answers are recorded, and only a written version of those screening answers is shared with the client. The form includes a microphone check. Each question appears when you start recording. Most answers take 30–90 seconds, with up to two minutes available per question. Answer from your own experience, without AI tools or external sources. If a question does not apply to you, say so.

## Does Thielos tell my employer?

We do not share your participation, project details, or consultation history with your employer. You must still follow your employer’s policies and any required approvals for outside consulting.

## What confidentiality terms apply to clients?

Every client agrees to our confidentiality terms in writing before a call is booked. Clients may not attribute your comments to you by name or publish the consultation or your comments publicly. Your insights are used for the client’s confidential research.

Check the address or domain at https://thielos.com/experts#verify-email. To confirm a particular message, contact hello@thielos.com.

## Expert experience

“The team asked thoughtful, relevant questions and clearly understood the industry, making the entire process professional and refreshingly easy.”

Matthew Slaine, Founder, Hortora Advisory. https://thielos.com/experts#expert-testimonial

## Official sources

[Experts](https://thielos.com/experts)

[Company and founders](https://thielos.com/about)

hello@thielos.com