Welcome to the Startups DB!
This is your built-in engine for discovering startups, exploring new technologies, and building shortlists directly inside Q-Scout.

Here’s a simple, friendly guide to help you get great results with as little friction as possible.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Behind the Scenes: What’s Actually Inside the Database

Before startups even reach the search screen, they go through our import filtering rules. These rules decide which companies from Crunchbase enter the Q-Scout Startup DB:

1. Funded Startups

All the active for-profit companies that raised money. This is the base filter, all others below complement it, adding on top.

2. Newer Startups (founded 2014 onwards) with no funding

Active, for-profit companies founded in the last ~10 years, but only if they’re not tiny micro-teams (more than 10 employees)

3. Midsize Older Startups (2004–2014) with no funding

Companies founded roughly 10–20 years ago, medium or large in size (not 1–50 employees)

4. Small New Startups (last ~4 years) with no funding

Active, recently founded small startups (1–10 employees).

5. Large Mature Companies with no funding

Big, established companies that never raised funding


If a company is missing key fields we rely on (like founding year or number of employees), it will NOT pass the import filters and will not be included in the database at all.

This means:

  • A company with no founding year won’t be imported

  • A company with no employee count won’t be imported

  • A company missing fields used in category rules won’t be imported

  • Only companies that clearly match one of our defined profiles (funded, new, midsize, small recent, or large mature) are included


Why this matters:

  • You don’t waste time on inactive or non-operational companies

  • You get a curated set that’s more aligned with scouting needs

  • Filters and search results behave more consistently

If you search for a startup you know exists on Crunchbase but it doesn’t appear in the results, it may simply not meet the import criteria due to missing data (see below on upcoming Ad-Hoc Import Panel).

How the Search Works

The Startups DB uses hybrid search, which blends two methods that work together:

1. AI-powered Search (meaning-based)

Understands what you mean, not just the words you type.
Perfect for broad or exploratory searches.

Pros:

  • Finds related ideas and synonyms

  • Great when you don’t know the exact terms

  • Surfaces hidden or unexpected matches

Cons:

  • Can sometimes be slightly broad

  • Depends on how well a startup describes itself

2. Full-Text Search (exact words)

Matches the specific keywords you type.
Great when you want something precise.

Pros:

  • Perfect for startup names, technologies, industries

  • Ideal for tightening results after an AI-powered search

Cons:

  • Misses startups that phrase things differently

  • Doesn’t understand intent

Why Both Matter

Using both gives you stronger and more reliable results:

  • AI-powered search finds the broader, smarter matches

  • Full-text keeps things accurate and focused

Together, they give you the fullest picture without you needing to guess the perfect wording.

Tips for Getting Better Results

1. Start Simple

Begin with a short, natural search phrase.
Examples:

  • “AI tools for HR”

  • “Green energy solutions in Europe”

  • “Digital twins for factories”

  • “Identity verification in fintech”

This gives the AI-powered search room to understand what you mean before filters narrow things down.

Filters are powerful but strict.
If a startup is missing fields like country, industry, or founding year, it won’t appear once those filters are applied.

If your list suddenly shrinks:

  • remove the strictest filters

  • or rerun the search without them

Often, great startups disappear only because a field is blank.

3. Use Search Patterns That Work

These formats consistently deliver strong results:

Technology + Industry

  • “Computer vision for manufacturing”

  • “AI cybersecurity for banks”

Problem + Solution

  • “Reduce energy costs in logistics”

  • “Real-time threat detection for cloud systems”

Technology + Region

  • “Greentech in Northern Europe”

  • “Fintech in Southeast Asia”

Advanced

  • “Digital twin platforms with API integrations”

  • “Predictive maintenance for rail systems”

4. Look at Insights for Quick Clarity

The Insights section gives you an immediate sense of what the startup really does. It’s the fastest way to confirm relevance without reading everything.

5. Revisit Saved Searches

The database updates regularly.
New data, AI-enhanced insights, and fresh website content can surface new relevant startups, so saved searches can improve over time.

Use the Built-In Tools Around the Results

Perfect when you scout the same area often.

Favorites

Click the star icon to track promising startups.

Compare View

See several startups side by side, like a table.

Clusters

Shows groups of similar companies.
Click a bubble to instantly refine your search.

Geo Map

If geography matters, visualizing locations helps.
Click any country to filter instantly.

Sonar View

See startups grouped visually by sector, size, stage, or geography.

Ad-Hoc Imports (Coming Dec-25)

Sometimes you are looking for a specific company or even non-profit organization which did not make the cut into startup DB. 

You’ll soon get a new feature:

Ad-Hoc Import

New option will allow you to run the same query with the same filters directly in Crunchbase to show additional results in a dedicated search panel on top the main search results.

You’ll be able to:

  • Run the same query directly on Crunchbase

  • Get companies that fell outside our standard filters

  • View company profile to confirm your need

  • Import it instantly into Startup DB

  • Trigger the AI-enrichment pipeline so Insights get added shortly afterward

This is perfect for:

  • One-off deep dives

  • Market-specific scouting

  • Competitive research

  • Specific requests for companies not yet in the DB

Quick Troubleshooting

“Why did a startup show up that looks unrelated?”

Check its description or Insights. The smart search found a contextual connection.

“Why do I get fewer results than expected?”

Probably missing fields. Try removing 1–2 filters.

“Why does a startup have empty Insights?”

Its website hasn't been scraped yet. It’ll be updated during the quarterly refresh.