About Markteffect

Our approach

Whatever your research question may be, we can help you with it. We don't just do what you ask us to do; we want to really understand your research question before we get started. By listening carefully to you, analyzing your question, and only then giving advice, we ensure relevance. Because that's what really matters. With over 30 years of experience, we know the research market inside out and have in-depth industry-specific market knowledge. This helps us not only to understand what you are asking of us, but also to put your situation in the right context. That is why we are happy to provide you with appropriate advice. We use a proven approach, in which collaboration with our clients is central.

We are one of the five largest research agencies in the Netherlands and a major player in the field of market research. This is thanks to the excellent work of our team, our satisfied customers, and the philosophy of both founders: a customer is like a good friend, and that is how we treat them.

“When a client visits, it's nice to see everyone greet them or strike up a conversation. Out of genuine interest, just as you would when friends visit your home.” - Hesam Fahimi, Co-founder Markteffect & CEO The Relevance Group Benelux

Award-winning agency

Our team is committed to providing our clients with the best possible research process every day. From identifying the problem to applying the right research method and delivering the results and advice. Everything to help the client with strategic issues. That hard work has been rewarded several times in recent years with various professional awards, such as Data & Insights Bureau of the Year 2025, Emerce100 Agency, and FD Gazelle. 

Our team

The principle of happy people = happy customer = happy company permeates our vision. Beyond the high quality of our reports, collaborating with us is not only beneficial but also enjoyable. From our offices in Amsterdam and Eindhoven, our enthusiastic team of specialists is ready to make your research a success. With a combination of extensive knowledge of the research market and industry-specific teams, we possess the right expertise and experience to truly empathize with the client's situation. Curious about the faces behind Markteffect? Meet our team!

In addition to our core team, we also have our own fieldwork team of approximately 80 flexible employees with diverse nationalities. They focus on data collection for various (international) studies, both at external locations and from our in-house call center. Furthermore, we have access to various (international) panels comprising consumers, young people, and business decision-makers. This ensures we always provide the appropriate data collection for your research. You can find more information about the fieldwork team or the panel here.

History

Our story begins in 2007 at Rachelsmolen 1 in Eindhoven. Literally from their student desks, students Edgar de Beule, Hesam Fahimi, and then-market research lecturer and experienced researcher Maarten van Nieuwland decided to start a research agency together. Soon, an office was rented, and the journey began. There were no clients, no employees, but there was a vision. A vision where the client is central, customer intimacy is paramount, and growth is the starting point. 

Data & Insights Bureau of the Year 2025 (2025)
Markteffect is named the best Data & Insights Bureau of the Year 2025 by the professional jury of its industry association, Data & Insights Network, for the second time in five years. The jury praised Markteffect for “its impressive growth and the impact it makes in making the world a little better.”

DirectResearch continues under the name Markteffect (2025)
As of January 1, 2025, Markteffect and DirectResearch have continued under the name Markteffect. This collaboration combines the best of both worlds. This is a logical consequence of the intensive collaboration over recent years. “It is a logical step for us to now grow further as one brand,” explains founder and CEO Hesam Fahimi. For Fahimi, it is a special and memorable moment: “It makes us even stronger as a party where our clients can turn for all questions regarding market research and data analytics.” Read the full press release here.

Further expansions within The Relevance Group (2024)
In addition to Markteffect and DirectResearch, the portfolio will be strengthened in 2024 by the addition of digital growth consultancy IMG, full-service mobile technology consultancy Customlytics, and Dutch digital consultancy Techonomy. With these expansions, The Relevance Group responds to the growing demand for integrated and future-oriented solutions within market research. Read more about The Relevance Group here.

Markteffect and DirectResearch become part of The Relevance Group (2024)
As of January 1, 2024, Markteffect and DirectResearch became part of The Relevance Group. The Relevance Group consists of several international agencies, each with its own specializations in market research, data science, marketing technology, and AI. Through this collaboration, we gain more opportunities in the fields of data science, marketing technology, and AI. We remain a research agency, but when clients have a challenge where one of these specializations is desired, we can also assist them with that. Read more about the joint venture here.

ME Research Group wins an FD Gazelle for the tenth time (2023)
Markteffect is among the fastest-growing companies in the Netherlands for the eleventh time. Every year, Het Financieele Dagblad organizes the FD Gazellen Awards: the prestigious award for the fastest-growing companies in the Netherlands. With multiple FD Gazellen Awards, it can be concluded that we have been strongly committed to the company's growth for over 15 years. Markteffect has also won this award in 2024 and 2025.

DirectResearch and Team Vier become one (2021)
As of January 1, 2021, it's official: Team Vier and DirectResearch will continue together as one research powerhouse. The new entity has a familiar name: DirectResearch, yet everything is different than before. The introduction of Team Vier's expertise and experience will take the market research agency to unprecedented heights.

Data & Insights Bureau of the Year 2020 (2020)
Markteffect is named Data & Insights Bureau of the Year 2020 by the professional jury of its industry association, Data & Insights Network (formerly MOA). This prestigious award is considered a great honor within the industry. It illustrates the pursuit of the highest quality results within a relevant and client-centric framework.

Collaboration with DirectResearch (2020)
In 2020, Jeannetta Berghahn and Remco Frerichs sold Team Vier to the ME Research Group. Team Vier works closely with DirectResearch: the two research agencies share the same office building and initiated a collaboration that strengthens both parties.

DirectResearch joins the ME Research Group (2019)
In 2019, DirectResearch was acquired by Eindhoven-based Markteffect and joined the ME Research Group. Within the group, there are two research agencies: DirectResearch and Markteffect, supported by the data platform Response2Data and Collecthor software.

Founding of Markteffect (2007)
In 2007, during their student years, Edgar de Beule and Hesam Fahimi founded the market research agency Markteffect. What began as an ambitious initiative evolved into an agency that not only delivered results but also enhanced the relevance of each study by looking beyond the initial questions.

Establishment of DirectResearch (2005)
DirectResearch was founded in 2005 by Okkie Boot. Its motto was "No fuss, research should be faster." The customer was central to the service, with the aim of building a strong relationship by offering direct and practical solutions.

Establishment of Team Vier (1983)
Four people, including Ton Berghahn, started the research agency Team Vier on Herengracht in Amsterdam because they believed things could be done differently.

With more than 100 employees and 30 years of experience, we know exactly what our clients need. This goes beyond delivering a strong research report; it is also about pleasant cooperation and building a lasting relationship. What once started small has now grown into an international player that continues to grow and innovate. Our joint venture with The Relevance Group underscores this ambition. Thanks to this collaboration, we not only remain relevant today, but we also guarantee that we can continue to make a lasting impact in the future.

CSR, sponsorship & partnerships

We attach great importance to making a contribution to society. That is why we have a CSR team that is involved in organizing various activities, among other things. During these activities, our employees are given the opportunity to contribute to society. These initiatives offer them the opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way to the well-being of others and to make a positive difference in their immediate environment.

Some examples include: sculpting with elderly people, going on an outing with residents of the COA, visiting the Prehistoric Village with elderly people, or organizing a fun Christmas bingo game during the holidays.

‘’Last year, our CSR team already undertook several engaging activities. Hopefully, this year we can inspire even more colleagues to join us for half a day. I believe it's excellent, enjoyable, and crucial that we do this as a company. For us, these activities require little effort, yet they bring so much joy to others. And that, in turn, makes me happy!’’ - Lieke Hamelink, Research Expert at Markteffect

‘’Within the CSR team, we have the opportunity to engage in meaningful work that unites and motivates people. It is valuable to contribute (together with others) to initiatives that truly make an impact. This work keeps me engaged and demonstrates how much we, as a team, can do for others.’’ – Majda Ćorović, Research Expert at Markteffect

Learn more about our partnerships