Crowdtap

Crowdtap is a New York City-based marketing technology company that provides a subscription platform connecting brands with consumers for market research and peer recommendations. Originally developed as a survey-driven tool, the enterprise evolved into an advertising software provider generating authentic brand storytelling at scale. Before rebranding to Suzy in 2017, the organization reached profitability in 2013, grew to 55 employees, and secured $12 million in total capital across its Series A and Series B funding rounds. The platform has been utilized by over 100 major global corporate clients, including recognizable consumer brands such as General Mills, Heineken, and Kraft Foods. Its venture capital backing was led by institutional investors including Foundry Group and Tribeca Venture Partners. Crowdtap was initially incubated in 2009 before spinning out as an independent entity in 2011 under founders Matt B. Britton and Brandon Evans.

High-Level Overview

Crowdtap is a people-powered marketing and market research platform that connects brands with consumers to generate authentic content, product ideas, and insights through influencer marketing and consumer feedback. It serves major brands like General Mills, Heineken, Kraft Foods, P&G, Verizon, Walmart, and Yum Brands by enabling product ideation, marketing strategy, and earned media creation via a community of passionate members who answer daily questions for rewards such as gift cards and product samples[1][2][5][6]. The platform acts as an "operating system for brands" powered by everyday consumers, with a focus on fast, effective influencer activation and analytics; it has demonstrated growth through recognitions like Forbes' 100 Most Promising Companies in 2014 and Inc. 500's No. 54 fastest-growing private company[1].

Origin Story

Crowdtap emerged as a New York-based influencer marketing agency and platform, headquartered in the city and raising $15 million from investors including Foundry Group, Tribeca Venture Partners, Alta Communications, and The Mustang Group[1]. While exact founding details are not specified in available sources, the company gained early traction around 2014, earning accolades such as Forbes' 100 Most Promising Companies in America and Inc. 500 ranking, alongside workplace honors like Crain’s No. 3 Best Place to Work in New York and Mashable’s No. 6 Best Tech Company to Work For[1]. Key leaders include Chief Product Officer Nick Gauchat, with over a decade in product, technology, and digital marketing—including leading RepNation at ad agency MRY—and VP of Client Operations Warren, who advanced from account supervisor to oversee analytics, influencer activation, and project management amid company growth[4].

Core Differentiators

• Consumer-Centric Platform: Positions itself as a "new operating system for brands" by placing passionate consumers at the heart of marketing, enabling product ideation, strategy insights, and authentic content for earned media[1][3].
• Influencer and Rewards Model: Connects marketers with a growing community of users who answer thousands of daily questions, earning rewards, gift cards, and samples; brands gain user-generated content and opinions[2][5].
• End-to-End Market Research: Licenses software and services for comprehensive research, from consumer insights to influencer activation, analytics, and project management[4][6].
• Proven Leadership and Recognition: Backed by experienced executives with startup scrappiness and enterprise scale; past awards highlight rapid growth and workplace culture[1][4].

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Crowdtap rides the wave of influencer marketing and consumer-centric research, shifting brands from traditional ads to authentic, people-powered strategies amid an "ad-free future" where social proof drives engagement[1][4]. Its timing aligns with rising demand for real-time consumer insights and UGC (user-generated content), fueled by social media's role in shopping and events like back-to-school or Olympics viewership[4]. Market forces favoring scalable platforms for brands like P&G and Walmart amplify its influence, as it democratizes feedback loops, enhances earned media, and supports agile marketing in a fragmented digital ecosystem[1][2].

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Crowdtap is poised to expand its platform amid growing emphasis on AI-enhanced insights and authentic influencer ecosystems, potentially deepening integrations for real-time analytics and global consumer panels. Trends like privacy-focused research and shoppable social content will shape its trajectory, evolving its role from feedback aggregator to full-fledged brand intelligence hub. As consumer voices gain primacy, Crowdtap's people-powered model positions it to sustain influence in marketing tech, building on its foundational growth to capture more enterprise adoption[1][4][6].