Following the announcement of Bolt Insight’s latest £7 million investment, we sat down with CEO & Co-founder of Bolt Insight, Hakan Yurdakul, to discuss what this milestone means for Bolt Insight, how the BoltChatAI platform is evolving and where he believes the research industry is headed.

This investment marks a significant step in our ambition to redefine qualitative research at scale and build the next generation of AI-powered insight tools.

Here, Hakan shares his perspective on what comes next.

Q1. What does this investment mean for Bolt Insight and the future of BoltChatAI?

Hakan: This investment is a real accelerator for us. Since launching BoltChatAI, we have shown that AI-moderated qualitative research can deliver scale, speed and depth in a way the industry hasn’t had before. The next phase is about turning BoltChatAI into a strategic intelligence layer that sits at the centre of how organisations make decisions.

With this funding, we can advance the platform much faster. Deeper capabilities, smarter analysis and a step-change in how teams interact with insight. We’re building towards a future where businesses can ask a question and instantly access what their consumers think, feel and do, supported by always-on, evolving intelligence.

It also allows us to strengthen accessibility, quality and global reach. BoltChatAI already operates in more than 50 countries, but this investment enables us to expand that footprint. More countries, more languages and an even deeper appreciation for cultural nuance.

What is equally important is that we are not just investing in technology. We are continuing to invest heavily in human expertise. Bolt is the only new-generation research company that truly combines traditional quantitative research, qualitative research and AI-powered qual, alongside full-service delivery and consultancy. We believe the future of insight sits at the intersection of technology and human judgement, not one replacing the other.

What excites me most is the opportunity to scale responsibly. As AI becomes more integral to insight generation, ethical design must stay at the heart of everything. This funding allows us to innovate rapidly while upholding the standards that have always defined Bolt.

Q2. How do you see the research industry changing over the next few years?

Hakan: I think we are moving into a world where insight becomes continuous. The old cycles of commissioning research will shift into something more fluid, where teams expect instant clarity rather than static reports. AI will enable this, but the bigger shift is cultural. Insight will be available to anyone, at any moment, in a way that feels intuitive to use.

The future of research is not only faster, it is more human. AI will take on the heavy lifting, freeing researchers to focus on interpretation, storytelling and getting to the heart of meaning. Their role becomes even more influential in shaping strategy.

We will also see a rise in longitudinal understanding, dynamic personas that evolve with real data, and continuous meta-analysis across markets and time. These are already core strengths of BoltChatAI, but I think they will become expectations across the industry.

And here’s a fun fact that really brings this moment into perspective. In AI terms, a ‘token’ is roughly three quarters of a word. All the humans on the planet combined speak an estimated 50 quadrillion tokens a year. In just the past 12 months, AI systems have already generated around 30 quadrillion tokens. At the current pace, it’s estimated that within the next two to three months, AI will have produced more words a year then humans do!

That might sound a bit scary at first, but I actually find it fascinating. We are standing at a genuine inflection point. Something we created is about to communicate more than we do. The question for businesses and researchers is not whether AI will be part of the future, but how we use it thoughtfully, ethically and in partnership with human intelligence.

Q3. Which areas of the platform are you most excited to develop with this investment?

Hakan: We want to push the boundaries of what interactive insight really means. Imagine being able to ask your entire body of research a question and get back a direct, evidence based answer. That is the world we are building for, and we are getting very close.

At the same time, we are doubling down on what makes Bolt different. Technology is only powerful when it is paired with experienced researchers who understand context, nuance and business reality. That combination of advanced AI, rigorous methodology and human expertise is where we believe real competitive advantage sits.

And yes, I know you want the full list of upcoming features, but if I shared everything now our product team might come after me! So…let’s just say there is plenty to be excited about. I’m really excited for our clients to get their hands on the next set of features and see how they make use of them.

Q4. What do you hope this funding will enable for your clients?

Hakan: I want our clients to feel empowered. Insight should remove friction, not create it. This investment helps us build tools that give teams clarity and confidence, so they can spend more time imagining solutions and less time gathering information.

Ultimately, this funding helps us bring businesses closer to the people they serve. When companies truly understand their consumers, everything else becomes easier. Better ideas, better decisions and stronger growth. That’s the ambition behind this investment.

Looking Ahead

This £7 million investment opens an exciting new chapter for Bolt Insight. With an expanded product roadmap, deeper AI capabilities and a growing global team, Bolt Insight is poised to reshape the future of market research.

Most importantly, it reinforces our commitment to building insight technology that is fast, ethical and human-centred. We can’t wait for what comes next.