Expert360 vs. Catalant vs. Connectd: Three Consulting Marketplaces Compared (2026)
Three platforms, three geographies, three different value propositions. Here’s how Expert360, Catalant, and Connectd actually differ — and which one is right for your specific situation.
Catalant is best for US Fortune 500 companies needing ex-McKinsey/Bain/BCG consultants for large strategy and M&A projects — $150–$450/hr ($1,200–$3,600/day equivalent), enterprise procurement native, MBB pedigree matters for board audiences. Annual minimums typically $25,000+.
Expert360 is best for mid-market companies in Australia and APAC needing project-based consulting — $800–$2,000 USD/day ($1,200–$3,000 AUD/day for local consultants), project minimums ~$2,000, no annual contract, local market knowledge for AU/SEA/NZ operations. Expert360's entry point is orders of magnitude below Catalant's annual minimums.
Connectd is best for UK and EU startups seeking equity-based advisors and NEDs — £99–£299/month membership, cash + equity compensation model, advisory relationships rather than project work.
Overview
On the surface, Catalant, Expert360, and Connectd all appear to solve the same problem: connecting businesses with experienced external talent for strategy, advisory, and consulting work. But the three platforms serve meaningfully different needs, geographies, and engagement types.
Catalant (US, founded 2013) is a management consulting marketplace optimized for Fortune 500 enterprise clients, with a talent pool dominated by ex-McKinsey, Bain, BCG, and Big Four consultants. It’s built for large, structured consulting engagements with enterprise procurement infrastructure.
Expert360 (Australia, founded 2013) is the dominant platform for project-based consulting talent in the APAC region. Its talent pool includes ex-consultants alongside experienced operators and functional executives. It’s accessible to mid-market companies and doesn’t require annual contracts.
Connectd (UK, founded 2018) is a fundamentally different product: a marketplace connecting startups and scale-ups with advisors, non-executive directors (NEDs), and fractional executives. Unlike Catalant and Expert360 (both project-based), Connectd is built for longer-term advisory relationships — often structured with equity compensation rather than pure cash fees.
The question isn’t which is “best” in the abstract. It’s which fits your geography, budget, and engagement model. Most users, once they understand the distinctions, find the choice obvious.
Three-Way Head-to-Head
| Factor | Catalant | Expert360 | Connectd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded / HQ | 2013, Boston, US | 2013, Sydney, Australia | 2018, London, UK |
| Primary market | United States, Fortune 1000 | Australia, NZ, Southeast Asia | UK, EU startup ecosystem |
| Talent background | Ex-MBB/Big Four consultants | Ex-consultants + industry executives | Advisors, NEDs, fractional execs |
| Engagement type | Project-based consulting (weeks–months) | Project-based consulting (days–months) | Ongoing advisory relationships |
| Compensation model | Hourly/day rate or fixed-fee | Hourly/day rate or fixed-fee | Cash + often equity (0.1%–0.5%) |
| Pricing | $150–$450/hr ($1,200–$3,500/day) | $800–$2,000/day USD | £99–£299/month membership + negotiated terms |
| Annual contract req. | No | No | Monthly subscription |
| Minimum project size | ~$15,000+ (practical minimum) | ~$5,000+ (day-rate minimum) | No project minimum; subscription-based |
| Enterprise procurement | Strong (MSA, SOW, compliance) | Moderate (streamlined) | Light (startup-oriented) |
Catalant: US Enterprise Consulting
Catalant built its reputation on one core promise: access to ex-Big Three consultants without going through a Big Three firm. Its talent pool is genuinely weighted toward McKinsey, Bain, and BCG alumni, and this pedigree matters in US enterprise contexts — for board presentations, M&A diligence, and transformation projects where the brand of the consulting firm historically mattered.
The platform has evolved significantly since its founding. Catalant now supports end-to-end enterprise consulting procurement: master service agreements, SOW templates, project tracking, compliance controls, and procurement system integrations. For a Fortune 500 VP running multiple concurrent strategy projects, Catalant’s platform handles complexity that simpler tools can’t.
Catalant strengths
- The deepest pool of ex-MBB talent available on any platform
- Enterprise procurement infrastructure: MSAs, SOW management, compliance controls
- Strong track record with Fortune 1000 buyers
- Corporate development, M&A diligence, strategic planning — these are Catalant’s native use cases
- No annual contract required — project-by-project access
Catalant limitations
- US-centric — limited coverage outside North America
- Higher minimum project costs than Expert360 or Connectd
- Less accessible for SMEs and growth-stage companies
- Not designed for advisory or board-level relationships (Connectd does this better)
- Not designed for APAC work (Expert360 does this better)
Expert360: APAC Consulting Marketplace
Expert360 was built in Australia and has spent over a decade building the leading marketplace for consulting talent in the APAC region. Its consultants understand Australian regulatory environments, Southeast Asian market dynamics, and the operating realities of businesses in the region in a way that US- or UK-centric platforms simply can’t match.
The platform is also meaningfully more accessible than Catalant for smaller organizations. You can run a short assessment for $5,000–$10,000 AUD without committing to a large engagement. The consultant pool includes experienced operators and functional executives alongside ex-consultants — which often means better fit for projects where operational experience matters more than consulting methodology.
Expert360 strengths
- Market-leading coverage of APAC consulting talent (Australia, NZ, Southeast Asia)
- No annual contract — project-by-project access with lower minimum spend
- Mix of ex-consultants and experienced operators — broader talent profiles than Catalant
- Faster procurement process for smaller organizations
- Growing US and UK presence for organizations with global needs
Expert360 limitations
- US network is thinner than Catalant’s for enterprise consulting
- UK network is thinner than Connectd’s for advisory relationships
- Less ex-MBB pedigree concentration than Catalant
- Not designed for equity-based advisory relationships (Connectd does this better)
Connectd: UK Startup Advisory Platform
Connectd is the most differentiated of the three platforms. Rather than project-based consulting, it’s built around longer-term advisory relationships — connecting startups and scale-ups with experienced advisors who provide strategic guidance on an ongoing basis, typically alongside equity compensation.
For early-stage and growth-stage startups in the UK and Europe, Connectd addresses a genuine gap. You want a former VP of Sales who’s scaled a SaaS business to $50M ARR to sit on your advisory board and meet quarterly. You can’t afford to pay consulting rates, but you can offer 0.25% equity over two years. Connectd is built precisely for this arrangement.
Connectd strengths
- Equity + cash compensation model makes it accessible for cash-constrained startups
- Strong UK and EU startup ecosystem coverage
- Built for ongoing advisory relationships, not one-off projects
- NED (non-executive director) placement — a use case neither Catalant nor Expert360 serves well
- Transparent membership pricing (monthly subscription vs. opaque project markups)
Connectd limitations
- Not designed for project-based consulting work (Catalant and Expert360 do this better)
- APAC coverage is very limited
- Equity-based model isn’t appropriate for every company or every advisor relationship
- Less suited for enterprise buyers who need compliance infrastructure
Pricing Compared
Platform cost comparison across common scenarios
| Scenario | Catalant | Expert360 | Connectd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access cost (ongoing) | No membership; pay per project | No membership; pay per project | £99–£299/month membership |
| Strategy project, 4–6 weeks | $25,000–$80,000 (fixed-fee) | $15,000–$50,000 USD (day rate) | Not designed for projects |
| Fractional CFO, 6 months | $50,000–$120,000 (US) | $30,000–$80,000 AUD (APAC) | £0–£5,000 cash + 0.25% equity |
| NED / board advisor | Not a primary use case | Some capability; not core | Core use case; equity-based |
| US Fortune 500 M&A diligence | $40,000–$100,000 (ex-MBB) | Limited US coverage | Not designed for this |
Consultant Quality & Backgrounds
Catalant has built its brand heavily on the ex-MBB narrative. The platform actively markets the pedigree of its consultants, and a significant portion of its talent does come from top-tier strategy consulting backgrounds. This is a genuine differentiator for clients who need Big Three methodology and credibility for internal or board-level presentations.
Expert360’s talent pool is more varied — which is both a strength and a challenge. You’ll find former Big Four consultants alongside experienced CFOs, CMOs, and general managers who built their expertise running actual businesses. For projects where operational experience outweighs consulting methodology, Expert360’s talent pool can be a better fit.
Connectd’s advisor pool is different in character again: these are typically senior executives with startup-scaling experience who want to contribute their expertise on an ongoing basis, often in exchange for equity. The depth is in specific functional areas (revenue, product, finance) with proven startup track records, not consulting methodology.
Platform Experience
Catalant has invested significantly in enterprise procurement infrastructure: master service agreements, compliance controls, SOW templates, and integration with large company procurement systems. For a Fortune 500 VP running six concurrent consulting projects, Catalant’s platform handles the administrative overhead well.
Expert360’s platform is leaner but faster to use for smaller organizations. Posting a brief, reviewing proposals, and getting a project started can happen within days. There’s less friction, but also less enterprise-grade infrastructure.
Connectd’s platform is optimized for matching startups with advisors: you create a company profile, describe what you’re looking for, and advisors express interest. The matching is less structured than project-based platforms but more appropriate for advisory relationships, where fit and chemistry matter more than a formal proposal process.
Expert360 vs Catalant vs Connectd: The Three-Way Verdict
- Fortune 500 strategy and M&A diligence
- Projects requiring ex-Big 3 credibility
- Enterprise procurement environments
- US-based transformation projects
- Australia, NZ, Southeast Asia operations
- Mid-market companies, flexible scope
- Mix of consulting + operator expertise
- No annual contract required
- UK/EU startups seeking advisors or NEDs
- Equity-based advisory arrangements
- Ongoing strategic guidance, not one-off projects
- Cash-constrained but equity-rich startups
The three platforms are genuinely complementary rather than directly competitive. Geography is usually the deciding factor: if you’re a US enterprise, Catalant. If you’re APAC-based or operating in the region, Expert360. If you’re a UK/EU startup seeking advisors or board members, Connectd. Most organizations have a clear fit that becomes obvious once you map your need to the platform’s core use case.
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