— Press

A studio that builds companies — and the record to show it.

For interviews, quotes, background, logos, and photography. We respond to press inquiries within two business days.

press@i12s.com
01 — Key facts

The numbers behind the model.

Founded
2009

One of the first startup studios in the United States.

Companies built
11

Across 25+ years of operator experience.

Prior return
1,460×

Maverick Direct Marketing Holdings — $5K invested.

Current phase
2026

Launch year · Startup Ecosystem in a Box, first cohort in conversation.

02 — Boilerplate

Copy-paste ready.

Standard language for articles, press releases, and conference programs. Use in full or excerpt. For custom quotes or interviews, reach out.

InsightStudios is a startup studio founded in 2009 that builds companies in partnership with cities. Combining a 25-year validation methodology, an operator-led team, and a vertically integrated system of Startup School, Accelerator, Studio, and Fund, it produces five $10M+ companies per city partnership within 3–4 years.

Founded by David Linhardt — 11× entrepreneur, 5× Fortune 500 executive, and the creator of Maverick Direct Marketing Holdings, which generated five consecutive profitable startups on $5,000 of invested capital for a 1,460× return — InsightStudios is headquartered in the United States and operates nationally. Learn more at i12s.com.

03 — In the conversation

Recent coverage & mentions.

  1. 01
    Feature · 2026

    "The quiet return of the American startup studio"

    A long-form look at how operator-led studios are rebuilding regional tech economies outside Silicon Valley and New York.

    — publication pending
  2. 02
    Interview · 2026

    "Why we charge from day one"

    David Linhardt on the InsightStudios approach to customer-funded validation and why most pre-revenue startups are a fiction of product-market fit.

    — publication pending
  3. 03
    Panel · 2026

    SelectUSA Summit — City & Studio

    On building durable anchor companies in mid-market cities through public-private startup partnerships.

    — appearance pending

Recent, verified coverage will replace these placeholders as it is published.

04 — Press kit

Logos, photography, and brand assets.

InsightStudios
Wordmark · Primary

Monolithic

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i12s
Wordmark · Short

i12s lockup

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InsightStudios
Wordmark · Reversed

For dark surfaces

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Brand guidelines
Design system

Colors, type, tone

View
Founder photo
David Linhardt

On request

Request
Deck / one-pager
Background material

On request

Request
05 — Press contact

Talk to us.

For interview requests, quotes, background, or anything else press-related. We respond within two business days.

Press inquiries
press@i12s.com

General
hello@i12s.com

Response time

Within two business days for press, five for general.