For a defined China-market or cross-border research question, start with FieldSignal's scoped research service. Agree the required local roles, language, recruitment feasibility and interview boundaries with a senior researcher. The work is purchased around the question and deliverable.
FieldSignal’s published 60-minute call rates are $200 for a mid-seniority expert, $400 for a Director or VP-level operator and $800 for a C-suite or board-level expert. Sourcing, scheduling, screening and the transcript are included. Research design and synthesis can be added in the agreed project scope. No annual retainer or minimum commitment is required.
Capvision is another expert-network provider. Local availability and project restrictions need confirmation for every provider.
If you're a mid-market PE/VC associate, a boutique consultant, or a corporate strategy analyst trying to get primary qualitative data on Chinese markets, Capvision's enterprise-only model probably prices you out. This page breaks down how Capvision works, what it costs, where it excels, and where it falls short.
For those unfamiliar: an expert network is a platform that connects organizations with industry specialists. These specialists — former executives, engineers, regulators, consultants, and practitioners — provide primary research through phone or in-person consultations, surveys, and custom projects. The model exists because secondary research can't answer the questions that matter most during due diligence, market entry, or investment decisions.
Capvision’s China-Market Research Services
Capvision Partners operates as a primary research and expert network platform headquartered in Shanghai. The company was founded by former Bain consultants and Morgan Stanley investment bankers, and it has grown into the dominant player for China-focused expert consultations.
The numbers tell the story:
- Network size: Capvision's expert network grew from 230,000 to over 450,000 experts since 2018, nearly doubling in three years.
- Revenue: Capvision's revenue in 2020 was 648 million yuan, growing 29.2% annually from 2018 to 2020. It accounted for roughly a third of China's expert network industry revenue in 2020.
- Client base: The company serves 16 of the world's top consulting firms and 90% of active PE/VC firms in China. Capvision accepted over $70 million from 100 overseas companies through more than 2,000 remittances.
- Global presence: Offices in New York, Munich, Hong Kong, and Tokyo, in addition to its Shanghai and Beijing headquarters.
Capvision provides expert research related to Chinese and Asian markets. For a China-specific question, confirm the local participant criteria, permitted topics and service availability. FieldSignal can scope local recruitment and an owned interview project against the same decision.
It's also rapidly expanding in the US market, positioning itself as a bridge between foreign businesses looking into China and Chinese companies looking outward.
How Capvision Works
Capvision matches client knowledge gaps with the right talent in its network of experts.
Step 1: Client Onboarding and Vetting
Capvision's clients are institutional — large consulting firms, PE/VC funds, investment banks, and Fortune 500 corporations. The onboarding process includes enterprise-level client screening, compliance checks, and contractual negotiations.
Capvision operates under strict compliance frameworks regarding material non-public information and confidentiality. After a security raid in China in 2023, the company overhauled its vetting procedures. Expect annual retainer or high-volume commitment expectations as part of the engagement model. For foreign clients, the process may involve additional compliance steps, especially for projects touching sensitive industries.
Step 2: Expert Matching and Scheduling
Capvision connects clients with industry specialists through one-on-one phone calls, in-person consultations, surveys, and group conference calls. With over 450,000 experts in its network, coverage spans healthcare, technology, manufacturing, financial services, defense, and government affairs.
Dedicated project managers handle expert recruitment and scheduling. They source from the internal database and through external outreach, present curated profiles, and coordinate timing. Capvision's network includes over 1,000 experts in defense and military areas — a focal point during its 2023 regulatory issues.
Step 3: Interview Execution and Follow-up
Clients pay from $72 to $10,000 per hour for consultations, depending on expert seniority and topic sensitivity. Capvision acts as an information intermediary; the company does not typically attend the calls.
In the first nine months of 2021 alone, the platform facilitated approximately 134,000 expert calls across roughly 1,400 client firms. Capvision has also organized over 2,000 consulting projects for foreign companies.
What Makes Capvision Different
- Deepest China coverage. Its network spans Chinese financial institutions, tech companies, manufacturing firms, and government-adjacent sectors. For research into supply chains or regulatory developments, no competitor has comparable local depth.
- Bilingual and cross-cultural capability. Experts operate in both Mandarin and English, and account managers coordinate across time zones.
- Established regulatory relationships. Despite its 2023 controversies, Capvision has close ties to Chinese regulatory bodies. After the crackdown, the company committed to regulating its consultancy practices and completed its compliance overhaul under government guidance.
- Customized research services. Capvision offers structured research for mergers and acquisitions, going beyond standard expert calls.
- Enterprise-grade service. Premium positioning with dedicated project managers, compliance screening, and multi-format delivery.
User Reviews and Market Reputation
Capvision is recognized as one of the top three global expert networks alongside GLG and AlphaSights. But its reputation is complicated.
From the expert side: Reviews are mixed. Some experts report being ghosted after lengthy vetting calls. Others complain that initial screening conversations feel like free consulting sessions. Onboarding, including compliance training, can take 30 to 60 minutes before a person ever gets matched to a project. Capvision has historically included an exclusivity clause for experts, which has been relaxed for the U.S. market but reportedly still applies in mainland China.
From the client side: Institutional investors and large consulting firms report strong coverage for China-focused research. But accessibility concerns persist for smaller firms. After the 2023 controversies, some clients terminated relationships, including CICC Capital.
The 2023 crackdown: In May 2023, Chinese police raided several Capvision offices. State media accused Capvision of facilitating leaks of state secrets to foreign clients. CCTV aired reporting that accused the firm of "luring experts with high pay" to provide sensitive information to intelligence agencies and overseas companies. A Capvision expert was sentenced to six years for leaking state secrets. China expanded its counter-espionage law in April 2023, broadening what counts as sensitive data and adding ambiguity around what topics are safe for research.
Capvision says it complies with national security rules. In October 2023, the company announced it had completed its rectification under government guidance. But the negative impact on trust — both among experts worried about legal exposure and among foreign businesses uncertain about reliability — persists.
Who Capvision Is For
- Large consulting firms with China market focus and annual retainer budgets to match.
- Major PE/VC firms doing Asia-Pacific deal due diligence across manufacturing, tech, and healthcare.
- Fortune 500 companies expanding into Chinese markets.
- Investment banks and institutional investors with substantial China research requirements and existing compliance infrastructure.
Not ideal for: Mid-market firms, boutique consultancies, or teams that need pay-per-project access. See our Guidepoint alternatives breakdown for boutique options.
Capvision Pricing and Access Requirements
For this project, define the participant criteria and the evidence needed to commission expert interviews with relevant recruitment and a defined research output. Request a current written proposal that separates calls, content access, analysis and any ongoing subscription. Confirm duration, cancellation, confidentiality and any minimum-spend terms directly.
FieldSignal publishes client rates and project packages. Relevant recruitment for this brief means experts matched to your geography, sector and question. Specify reviewed transcripts and synthesis in the scope, then compare the total delivered work. No annual retainer or minimum commitment is required for a FieldSignal project.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Capvision compare to GLG and AlphaSights in China coverage?
Capvision is an expert-network option for China-market research. Choose FieldSignal when you want a scoped local research project with senior ownership, public pricing and agreed interview outputs.
What are the minimum spending requirements?
Exact minimums aren't publicly disclosed. Based on available reporting and the industry standard for networks of this tier, expect six-figure annual retainer commitments.
How does Capvision handle compliance and national security concerns?
After the 2023 raids, Capvision overhauled its compliance systems and completed its rectification process under Chinese government guidance by October 2023. That said, ambiguity in China's expanded counter-espionage law means some topics remain risky for both experts and clients.
Can smaller firms or startups access Capvision's network?
Practically, no. Capvision's model is built for institutional investors, large consulting firms, and multinational corporations.
What alternatives exist for China-focused expert network research?
GLG, AlphaSights, and Third Bridge offer some China coverage but with similar enterprise pricing. Guidepoint, Tegus, and Atheneum provide varying degrees of APAC access. For firms that need expert consultations without annual retainers, FieldSignal offers pay-per-use access to Asia-Pacific experts with transparent pricing and no minimum commitments.
Start Your Research with FieldSignal
Share your participant criteria, compliance requirements and desired outputs. Ask FieldSignal’s senior research team to scope recruitment of experts matched to your geography, sector and question, the interview work and the findings your decision requires.
Request your FieldSignal research quote. Review the published call rates and packages.