Atheneum
Atheneum Review
Based in Berlin, Atheneum is an expert network and knowledge-sharing platform that facilitates connections between clients and experts across various industries and regions worldwide. In this review, we will delve into the experience of working as an expert within Atheneum’s network.
Sophie – Our Expert Network Specialist: Sophie is from Hamburg, Germany and is our specialist on Expert Networks. After several years of working as a top executive, Sophie is now an independent consultant and is signed up as a council member of several networks. When she is not helping HuginX write Expert Network reviews, she can often be found enjoying thrilling Nordic noir crime series.
What’s the concept?
Atheneum is a digital platform that offers an exciting opportunity for professionals with industry experience and subject matter expertise to monetize their knowledge. The platform connects these experts with clients in need of their skills through expert calls, surveys, and in-person meetings. With Atheneum, users can earn cash by offering their expertise and experience to clients, and in return, get a small share of the revenue in the form of their consultation fee (more on that further down).
The platform’s business model is straightforward: Atheneum sells expert calls, surveys, and in-person meetings to clients such as hedge funds, private equity firms, and consulting firms. These clients seek validation from industry experts as part of their due diligence in the M&A process. Atheneum then shares the revenue generated from these interactions with the experts who participate in them.
Signing up to Atheneum is an easy process, and once accepted, experts can start offering their services to clients across a wide range of industries. The platform offers experts the flexibility to choose the engagements that match their skills, experience, and availability. Whether it’s a quick call or a multi-day, in-person engagement, experts have the freedom to set their fees, and Atheneum handles the payment process.
Atheneum’s value proposition is simple: providing a marketplace for knowledge exchange that benefits both experts and clients. Experts get compensated for their time and expertise, while clients gain access to valuable insights and industry expertise that can help them make better business decisions.
An example of Atheneum in action is when a private equity firm is looking to acquire a company in the healthcare industry. As part of its due diligence process, the firm wants to validate its investment thesis by speaking with experts in the healthcare space. Through Atheneum, the firm can easily connect with healthcare experts who can provide valuable insights into the industry and offer guidance on the potential acquisition. The experts, in turn, get paid for their time and expertise, and the private equity firm gains valuable insights that can help them make an informed investment decision.
Working as an expert in Atheneum’s network
As an expert on the Atheneum network, I have found the platform to be effective in connecting with clients in need of my expertise. The process is straightforward and efficient, starting with clients presenting Atheneum with a project designed to help answer a question or solve a particular problem. Atheneum then filters its vast talent pool to find suitable advisors.
One of the most significant advantages of being part of Atheneum’s network is the ability to set your own hourly consulting rate. However, keep in mind that Atheneum adds its fees as a markup to whatever rate you decide to set. The more you charge, the more they can mark up their rate. Therefore, it’s essential to set rates based on industry standards commensurate with your expertise and experience.
The team at Atheneum takes great care to ensure that all projects are within legal and ethical guidelines. They offer compliance training to new experts who join the network and screen all candidates to ensure that no glaring conflicts of interest exist if the consultant takes on a particular project. This is crucial as disclosing confidential information or non-public information when consulting on behalf of an expert network can have severe consequences.
Once matched with a project, Atheneum makes all the arrangements for the call, allowing experts to focus solely on providing value-added information to the client. The team also releases payment and requests feedback once the call has been completed.
Overall, as an expert on the Atheneum network, I have had a positive experience and appreciate the platform’s ability to match me with relevant projects while ensuring compliance with legal and ethical guidelines.
How do Expert Networks operate?
New to expert networks? Here is a quick guide to 10 key steps networks take when matching experts with clients for ad-hoc phone consultations.
Expert Networks explained in 10 steps
1. Client request recived
Expert Network receives specifications from client.
2. Search for candidates
Internal network checked for matching candidates
3. External resources utilized
Additional external candidates are sourced if needed
4. Vetting of candidates
Candidates are vetted over phone or through screener questions
5. Compliance and confirmation
Candidate undergoes compliance training
6. Scheduling of consultation
The phone consultation is scheduled
7. Consultation takes place
Phone consultation is conducted, usually on a single blinded basis.
8. Post-call confirmation
You receive confirmation of compensation amount after the call
9. Request payment
You'll fill in your payment details and request payment
10. Payment received
You receive the payment. Usually through bank-transfer, PayPal or pre-paid credit card.
Read more about how expert networks operate
The importance of compliance
Atheneum takes compliance seriously and has implemented strict measures to ensure experts comply with ethical and legal standards. The expert network conducts thorough screenings of all experts before allowing them to participate in projects.
One way they ensure compliance is by providing all experts with comprehensive training on compliance and ethical issues. The training covers topics such as insider trading, anti-bribery, confidentiality, and conflicts of interest. Experts are required to complete the training before they are allowed to participate in any projects.
Atheneum also has a dedicated compliance team that reviews each expert’s background and experience to identify any potential conflicts of interest or ethical issues. The team examines the expert’s employment history, education, and professional certifications to ensure they meet the necessary qualifications and are free from any conflicts of interest.
Furthermore, they conduct ongoing monitoring of experts to ensure they remain compliant with all ethical and legal standards. The expert network uses a sophisticated software program that scans for any potential conflicts of interest or ethical violations.
By taking a proactive approach to compliance, Atheneum ensures that all experts are qualified, experienced, and free from any ethical or legal issues that could compromise the integrity of the consulting process. This commitment to compliance and ethical standards is one reason why Atheneum is a trusted and respected expert network in the industry.
Focused on the healthcare sector
While Atheneum covers all industries globally, they also have niche expertise within the healthcare sector.
The expert network’s approach to identifying healthcare experts begins with its extensive database of professionals, including physicians, researchers, and industry executives. They use sophisticated algorithms to match the expertise of their experts with the specific needs of their clients.
Atheneum also employs a team of healthcare industry experts who are responsible for reaching out to potential experts and verifying their credentials. They conduct thorough interviews to ensure that the expert’s knowledge and experience align with the specific needs of their clients. Additionally, Atheneum regularly hosts expert events and webinars that are tailored to specific industries, including healthcare. These events provide an opportunity for Atheneum’s experts to network with their peers and stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends and developments.
Is it difficult to qualify as an expert with Atheneum?
Let’s talk about what it takes to qualify as a subject matter expert in the first place. Have you ever worked for a specific industry or company for an extended period? If so, did you acquire knowledge that could be useful for others?
If the answer is yes, chances are you qualify to work on projects related to your field or prior employers. The truth is, you don’t have to determine whether you’re qualified or not. HuginX says, let Athenehum do that for you! Just apply and let them figure out if they could use you or not.
Let’s talk numbers
Consultants who are part of Atheneum’s network can typically earn between $100 and $500 per hour depending on their seniority and the scarcity of their knowledge. Atheneum’s compensation model is based on the concept of supply and demand. The more in-demand and scarce an expert’s knowledge is, the more they can charge for their time and expertise.
For example, a consultant with extensive experience in a highly specialized field such as nanotechnology may be able to charge more than a consultant with more general experience. Similarly, a consultant who has worked in senior positions in their industry and has a reputation for providing high-quality insights may be able to command a higher fee.
Atheneum also takes into account the seniority of the consultant when determining compensation. Senior-level consultants with extensive industry experience and a proven track record of success are typically able to charge more for their time than consultants who are earlier in their careers.
What are the pros and cons of signing up with Atheneum?
While Atheneum may seem like an enticing opportunity for professionals to monetize their knowledge, there are both pros and cons to signing up with this expert network. On the positive side, Atheneum offers fair compensation to experts for their time and expertise. This compensation is paid in cash through bank transfer, which is what most consultants prefer. Additionally, Atheneum offers excellent support to its users, making the platform easy to navigate and ensuring that experts are connected with the right clients. This can also provide a professionally challenging experience, allowing experts to expand their knowledge and expertise in their industry.
However, there are also negative aspects to signing up with Atheneum. One of the biggest concerns is the lack of transparency regarding how data is shared with their clients, such as transcripts of calls. It’s easy to get confused about how information is being used and shared with clients, potentially leading to privacy concerns.
Another issue is that the invitations to participate in engagements can be sporadic, leaving experts without a consistent stream of income. Additionally, the lack of feedback when not qualifying for an engagement can be frustrating for experts who are looking to improve their skills and increase their chances of being selected for future engagements.
This is how we review gigs
Disclosure: While HuginX is editorially independent, we may earn commissions on sign-up links.
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