How does a panel differ from a focus group?

Focus groups are typically consumer-research with general respondents. Panel calls are B2B with vetted industry experts; participants have operating experience in the topic.

How are panel experts vetted differently from 1:1 experts?

Same compliance vetting; additionally, experts are screened for likelihood to contribute in a group format (some excellent 1:1 experts dislike group dynamics).

Should I prefer panel or 1:1 format?

Panel for cross-perspective discovery. 1:1 for confidential or company-specific depth. Many projects use both — 1:1 first to identify themes, then a panel to test consensus.

Panel Call

A panel call is a structured group consultation in which one buyer (or buying team) interviews 3-6 experts simultaneously on a shared topic. Used when cross-perspective insight is more valuable than depth on any single expert's view.

Term: Panel Call
Section: Glossary
Last refreshed: Q1 2026

01/In Depth3–5 paragraphs

Panel calls are the modern alternative to running 6 separate 1:1 expert calls on the same topic. The group format produces interactions — experts respond to one another's framings, agreements and disagreements surface organically, and the buyer can probe in ways that single-expert formats don't permit.

Format typically runs 60-90 minutes with a facilitator (the senior researcher), 3-6 experts and the buyer. Experts are pre-briefed individually but not shown one another's identities until the panel starts. Recording (with consent) is standard.

Panels work best for category-level questions: 'What's the consensus view among operators on the trajectory of segment X?' or 'Where do practitioners disagree about the right approach to challenge Y?' They work less well for company-specific or highly-confidential questions, where 1:1 format produces more candid answers.

Pricing for panel calls reflects multiple expert rates plus facilitation overhead — typically €3,000-€6,000 for a 4-expert panel. Cost-per-perspective is lower than equivalent 1:1 sessions, but cost-per-hour is higher.

02/Examples4 concrete cases

+A B2B SaaS company runs a 5-expert buyer panel to test new product positioning
+A PE fund runs a 4-expert operator panel to triangulate views on a category's trajectory
+A corporate strategy team runs a 6-expert panel on emerging-tech adoption in their industry
+An asset manager runs a 4-expert panel on regulatory direction in a category they're considering

03/Frequently Asked3 questions

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04/See AlsoWhere this applies

04.1

PANEL CALLS

Facilitated 90-minute panels with 3 to 6 market participants. Use for category shifts, regulatory questions and competitive dynamics.

04.2

CUSTOMER RESEARCH

Programmatic and ad-hoc customer interviews across B2B and B2C verticals.

05/Related Terms3 suggestions

EXPERT NETWORK

An expert network is a marketplace that connects buyers (investment funds, corporates, consulting firms) with vetted …

EXPERT SURVEY

An expert survey is a structured quantitative research panel of vetted industry experts or operating professionals — …

PRIMARY RESEARCH

Primary research is original data collected directly from sources — operators, customers, channel partners, ex-employ…

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