Crunchbase Launches Marketplace for Third-Party Data

Crunchbase, the well-known database for tech company information, has launched its new "Crunchbase Marketplace." This initiative aims to position Crunchbase as the definitive "master database for companies" by integrating third-party data sources alongside its own proprietary information. The marketplace functions similarly to an app store, allowing users to subscribe to additional data sets from various providers.

Key Features and Offerings: The Crunchbase Marketplace offers access to a diverse range of data, including:

Web traffic statistics: Provided by partners like SimilarWeb.
Tech stack information: From companies such as BuiltWith and Siftery.
App install metrics: Offered by Apptopia.
IT purchasing data: Available through IPqwery.
Trending product usage and purchase intent data: Provided by Bombora.
Patent and trademark filings: From Enigma.
Stock quotes: From TradingView.
Government filings and extended background information: From sources like Wikipedia and Wayback Machine.

Partnerships and Expansion: The marketplace is launching with 13 partners, with four of them going live immediately. Crunchbase's CEO, Jager McConnell, stated the company's goal is to have around 100 partners within the year. This strategy leverages Crunchbase's existing traffic of nearly 40 million unique visitors per year to attract data providers.

Monetization and User Acquisition: To access the marketplace, users are required to register, either as free users or by subscribing to Crunchbase's Pro tier. This strategy is expected to drive more users to the Crunchbase platform itself. Currently, the split between free and paid data feeds is approximately 50/50.

Pricing and Future Development: The current pricing for paid data feeds is $49 per user per month. However, Crunchbase is actively monitoring adoption rates and considering adjustments to pricing. They are also exploring future developments such as:

Voucher programs: Allowing existing paying users to access marketplace data without additional charges.
Bundled packages: Creating curated sets of data feeds tailored to specific user roles (e.g., marketing, sales, VC).
Freemium models: Offering a limited amount of data for free within a feed, with options to pay for more comprehensive access, mirroring successful app store monetization strategies.

Strategic Vision: McConnell emphasized that Crunchbase will always maintain ownership of its core data nodes, including logo, name, address, funding, and founding information. The marketplace strategy is designed to complement this core data and position Crunchbase as a trusted source for all company information online. By partnering with other data providers, Crunchbase aims to aggregate a vast amount of information, competing with established players like LexisNexis and Hoover's, and offering a more modern solution for the fragmented data landscape. The company sees this as a crucial step in building the ultimate business intelligence platform.