TechCrunch created Crunchbase as a database of startup and business information.
Crunchbase began in 2007 as a project associated with TechCrunch, the technology news website founded by Michael Arrington. Its early purpose was to track the startups, founders, funding rounds, and acquisitions discussed in technology coverage.
The database grew into an independent business-information platform containing profiles for companies, investors, executives, and financing events. It became a frequently used reference for researching startup histories and venture capital activity, although database entries can change and should be checked against primary sources for formal claims.
Crunchbase is sometimes confused with TechCrunch because of the shared origin and name. TechCrunch is a media publication, while Crunchbase is a structured database and company-information service. Crunchbase became a separate company after being spun out from AOL in 2015.