Prolific

Prolific operates a platform that connects researchers with over 120,000 vetted participants for surveys, behavioral studies, and AI training data collection. Their participant pool spans demographics worldwide, enabling everything from academic psychology research to enterprise AI model evaluation. Clients include Google, Hugging Face, Stanford, and Asana.

Founded in 2014 at Oxford University by Phelim Bradley and Ekaterina Damer, Prolific started as a solution to the researchers' own frustration with finding quality study participants. The company joined Y Combinator in 2019 and has since grown to 180 employees distributed across the UK, US, and beyond. They operate remote-first with optional offices in London, Manchester, and New York, emphasizing flexibility and autonomy.

Prolific offers UK employees 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, private health insurance, a $1,000 home office budget with annual top-ups, and transparent salary bands. US employees receive comprehensive healthcare, 401(k), and a substantial vacation package. Both groups get share options, a $1,000 learning budget, and a monthly wellness stipend.