When CrunchBase, our free database of startup and people information, released an API we started to observe some really interesting applications being built on it. But one of the most interesting could just be Crunchvision which puts on a map the startups indexed in CrunchBase. This service was created in a couple of days by Mapeed, a French startup which provides tools for creating and serving Google maps that include a high volume of data.
If Crunchvision was built on Google maps “manually” it would show an endless number of markers that would make the map unreadable. Mapeed is able to address this issue by grouping the markers and providing a clean result that remains accessible at decent speed. In CrunchVision for example you can zoom in and still have a clear impression on the startup density by region or city. This is not a surprise, but this is a great service to realize that Silicon Valley is no longer the only hot spot for startups, although it still remains No. 1 by far.
CrunchVision is still missing a few key features including a search engine or filters enabling the creation of ad-hoc maps (maps of startup that raised money, that provide financial services…). But this is a good starting point. Especially if you are an entrepreneur and want to know who operates in your neighborhood.