SIGNALInfrastructure Software·Jun 20, 2026, 3:59 PMSignal55Short term

Show HN: StartupWiki – A Free Alternative to Crunchbase

I've been building StartupWiki, a free startup database designed to make it easier to discover and research companies. The original motivation was frustration with how difficult it can be to find information on early-stage startups. Most databases need accounts, or subscriptions, ro just feel too cluttered. I wanted a website that felt like Wikipedia, no accounts, no subscriptions, no weird metrics, just go in, the info is on the page. The project is still very early, but currently includes: Startup profiles Search and filtering Company categorization Public API (in progress) I'm especially in

Why this matters
Why now

There is a persistent demand for transparent and accessible data on early-stage startups, driven by the increasing complexity of the startup ecosystem and the proprietary nature of existing databases.

Why it’s important

This initiative addresses a market gap for independent, unbiased startup information, potentially democratizing access to crucial data for investors, founders, and researchers who cannot afford or access traditional platforms.

What changes

The barrier to entry for discovering and understanding early-stage companies is lowered, fostering a more open environment for startup analysis and potentially increasing competition for established data providers.

Winners
  • · Early-stage startups
  • · Independent investors
  • · Startup researchers
  • · Open-source data advocates
Losers
  • · Crunchbase
  • · Proprietary data providers
  • · Expensive data subscriptions
Second-order effects
Direct

More efficient discovery and analysis of new startups due to increased data accessibility.

Second

A potential shift in the valuation and funding landscape for early-stage companies as more data becomes publicly available and scrutinizible.

Third

The emergence of new analytical tools and services built atop open-source startup data, further fragmenting the market for business intelligence.

Editorial confidence: 90 / 100 · Structural impact: 35 / 100
Original report

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