Dynata LLC is an American company that performs consumer and business-to-business survey research.
History
SSI was founded in 1977 by Tom Danbury and Beverly Weiman. In 2005, SSI acquired Bloomerce bv of the
Netherlands
, Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
, an online sampling company in
Europe
Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
. SSI now manages proprietary online panels (under the names SurveySpot, Opinion Outpost, OpinionWorld, and Choozz).
In 2009, the firm played a role in launching the industry co-initiative, Research Voice.
Research Voice (www.research-voice.com) is a forum inviting all members of the marketing research chain—suppliers, researchers, end clients, consultants, associations, and participants themselves—to come together and express ideas on the development of innovative approaches to gathering opinions.
In July 2011, Survey Sampling International announced its merger with Utah-based Opinionology. Though a merger, the newly formed sampling and data collection company continues to operate under the SSI brand.
On December 17, 2014,
HGGC
HGGC, LLC is an American middle-market private equity firm based in Palo Alto, California, with over $7 billion of cumulative capital commitments. Since its inception in 2007, HGGC has completed transactions with an aggregate transaction value of ...
, a middle market private equity firm announced it had completed its majority investment in the parent company of SSI. Though HGGC bought control of SSI,
Providence Equity Partners
Providence Equity Partners L.L.C. is a specialist private equity investment firm focused on media, communications, education, and technology investments across North America and Europe. The firm specializes in growth-oriented private equity inves ...
and Sterling Investment Partners retained minority stakes in the business. Under the terms of the deal, Rich Lawson, HGGC's chief executive, became chairman of SSI.
Steve Young
Jon Steven Young (born October 11, 1961) is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons, most notably with the San Francisco 49ers. He also played for the Tampa Bay Bu ...
, a former professional football quarterback who is a partner at the private equity firm, also joined the board.
As of February 2015, SSI had 25 global offices in 18 countries, with its corporate headquarters in Shelton, CT, USA. It has over 3,300 employees globally, and more than 3,000 customers, including market research and consulting firms, Fortune 500 businesses, and universities.
In December 2017, an SSI office in the New City Commercial Center, Davao City, Philippines was destroyed in the
2017 Davao City mall fire with the loss of 37 employees. 83 SSI employees survived. Charges were filed against SSI but later dropped. SSI CEO Gary Laben announced that the firm will arrange counseling for its employees and will assist in the funeral arrangements for the victims. Laben added that a fund will be created to assist the families of the victims.
On December 20, 2017, Survey Sampling International merged with Research Now to become Research Now SSI.
On January 15, 2019, Research Now SSI rebranded as Dynata, which is how the company is now known.
In May 2024, Dynata filed for a prepackaged
Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code ( Title 11 of the United States Code) permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Such reorganization, known as Chapter 11 bankruptcy, is available to every business, w ...
reorganization in order to eliminate up to 40% of its total debt. The company is planning for its bankruptcy plan to be approved by early July 2024.
References
{{Reflist
Market research companies of the United States
Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024