65+ Deals. $13bn+ in M&A. What 2025 Tells Us About the Future of Research & Data.

James Webb (Co-Founder - Talent Hatch)

January 28, 2026

Did you know 65+ M&A deals hit the research and data industry in 2025?

This wasn’t just a flurry of transactions, it was a strategic realignment of the entire space.

Three big shifts stood out:

Consolidation: Scale, specialism and reach are still top priorities.

Blurring Lines: The boundaries between insight, data, martech and media are disappearing.

Capital Influx: Private equity and growth investors are going big on data businesses.

The biggest moves:

> Qualtrics acquired Press Ganey Forsta in the largest deal of the year, valued at $6.75bn, combining healthcare, employee and customer experience under one umbrella.
> Adobe acquired Semrush for $1.9bn, expanding Adobe’s suite with SEO and competitive marketing intelligence.
> H.I.G. Capital acquired Kantar Media for $1bn, reinforcing the role of private equity in the measurement and media analytics space.
> T-Mobile acquired Vistar Media and Blis, extending into location intelligence and out-of-home advertising – an unusual but telling move from a telco stepping further into data monetisation.

AI is no longer an add-on in the research and analytics space.

It’s now a defining advantage, shaping how fast insights are delivered and who leads the market.

2025 saw a wave of AI-focused acquisitions:
> GlobalData acquired AI Palette (Singapore) and later Stylus, enhancing predictive trend analytics
> Mintel acquired Black Swan Data, strengthening AI-led forecasting
> NIQ moved to acquire Gastrograph AI, focused on product experience
> Mixpanel bought DoubleLoop, bringing AI into product metrics definition
> Largo.ai acquired QuMind, extending AI in community insight platforms

These deals aren’t about experimentation, they’re about future-proofing.

Research, marketing and media are no longer operating in silos.

The 2025 M&A wave shows just how fast these worlds are blending.

Performance marketing tools are merging with insight platforms:

> Later acquired Mavely for $250m, bringing creator commerce data into its social media platform
> Dotdigital bought Social Snowball, expanding its capabilities in influencer marketing
> SAMY Alliance made two content-focused acquisitions: Content Lab and team5pm
> Publicis Groupe bought Lotame, adding identity resolution to its stack. Not forgetting Publicis buying IPG

Meanwhile, Ipsos went global and deep:
> Ipsos focused on credibility in high-trust areas like health and public opinion buying infas (public sector), Ipec (polling), BVA (public opinion and behavioural research), and a healthcare unit from InMoment.

Summary

65+ M&A deals in 2025 and they didn’t just change company ownership, they reshaped the entire competitive landscape in research and analytics.

For clients, it means faster change, more integrated solutions and richer competition.
The firms that win in 2026 will be those who:

Adapt fast to tech shifts.
Build bridges between marketing, data and insight.
Know where value is really being created.

For professionals, this is a moment of transformation. Yes, there’s change but there’s also massive opportunity for those with adaptable skill sets.

Are you excited about this new era in research & analytics? Which acquisition surprised you the most? Drop a comment below to share your view. 👇

👋 I’m James Webb the founder of Talent Hatch.
📧 james@talenthatch.co.uk if you’re hiring or thinking about your next move.