Prolific

What began in 2014 as an idea between two researchers, Ekaterina Damer and Phelim Bradley, has blossomed into a pivotal platform at the forefront of online research and AI development. Prolific was born out of a direct need for a more reliable and ethical way to gather high-quality data. As researchers themselves, the founders experienced firsthand the frustrations of existing methods for recruiting participants, which were often slow, unreliable, and ethically questionable. They envisioned a platform that would connect researchers with a diverse and engaged pool of participants, ensuring fair compensation for their time and contributions. This vision laid the groundwork for what Prolific is today: a trusted marketplace for ideas and a powerful tool for discovery.

From its early days, Prolific distinguished itself by prioritizing the quality of its participant pool and the integrity of the data collected. The platform was designed to be self-service, removing the bottlenecks and middlemen that often plagued the research process. This allowed researchers from academia and industry to quickly and efficiently launch studies and gather insights. The company's commitment to its founding principles paid off, as it steadily grew its user base of both researchers and participants. By 2019, Prolific had gained significant traction, leading to its participation in the prestigious Y Combinator accelerator program. This marked a significant milestone in the company's journey, providing the resources and network to scale its operations and impact. Today, Prolific is not just a tool for academic research; it has become an essential component in the development of artificial intelligence. As the demand for high-quality human-annotated data has exploded, Prolific has positioned itself as a key provider, enabling AI developers to train and validate their models with diverse and reliable human insights. With a new study launched every two minutes, Prolific continues its mission to power the world's research and build a future where human insight drives breakthroughs in science and technology.