Exploring the future of Crunchbase
Crunchbase
2024
Brief
Creating a prototype to explore future possibilities for Crunchbase and AI.
Project details
Working directly with the CEO, we envisioned ambitious features for the future of Crunchbase while remaining somewhat grounded in today's product. Starting with reimagined profiles for companies and hubs, we incorporated derived data like predictions and analyses into as many touchpoints as possible. This evolved into deeper predictions and workflows, including an AI assistant capable of managing tasks, offering insights, and even analyzing a company’s data to suggest potential investors or hires. Fast-paced and exploratory, this project wasn’t intended to be a shippable product but served as inspiration for new ideas that could shape Crunchbase’s future.
Prediction Analyzer
The Prediction Analyzer was a central component that influenced every aspect of this demo. It examines a hub—a collection of companies with shared characteristics, such as AI SaaS companies exhibiting a positive growth trend—and generates predictions not only for the industries involved but also within a broader global context. Clicking into a specific prediction reveals detailed insights into the rationale behind it. The analyzer then goes a step further by offering additional predictions based on potential outcomes, creating a cascading effect of insights based on evolving scenarios. Turtles all the way down!
AI agent everywhere
This early concept of an AI Agent emphasized functionality and efficiency over a conversational approach to achieving user goals. While this design limited flexibility within specific contexts, it prioritized efficiency as a trade-off, enabling swift access to a user’s most frequent actions and tailored suggestions based on user and company data. Although further exploration ultimately led to a more dynamic and responsive approach, starting with this streamlined concept provided a valuable foundation for ideation and deeper exploration.
Integrating into workflows
Whether on a hub, profile, or search page, the right-rail workflows were designed to be contextually aware of the data a user is viewing, enabling immediate action. From simple tasks like creating to-dos to tracking stages of a workflow or deal, and even integrating with external CRMs to push content, this panel aimed to streamline user workflows and enhance productivity.
Enhanced workflows
Exploring the integration of the AI Agent into workflows opened up new possibilities. In this example, the focus is on tasks like sending an email. Beyond providing content suggestions, the AI Agent would recommend contacts based on past successes, prioritize tasks through a holistic view of the day’s workload, and offer insights into the company and broader market—among many other capabilities. The goal was to enable users to complete tasks, such as sending an email, within just two or three clicks, while offering ample customization to ensure that each interaction is as authentic and informed as possible.
Custom insights for you
Whether identifying ideal investors for a startup, enhancing team workflows and efficiency, exploring market innovations, or even suggesting the type of company an individual should start, this concept was ambitious—aiming for transformative impact. While this snapshot captures just one aspect of personalized insights, the AI Agent was integrated throughout the product, constantly learning and observing. At the core of this demo, the AI Agent fueled discussions and sparked ideas about Crunchbase’s future direction, helping to shape a vision for its next evolution.