Persona: Venture Capital and M&A Teams

Use Case: Anticipate upside opportunities and downside risks before they materialize.

Primary API(s): Search (Organizations) & Lookup an Organization

Goal: Anticipate upside opportunities and downside risks before they materialize

Use this Recipe when you want to proactively forecast which companies are most likely to generate outsized returns using Crunchbase Predictions & Insights API. This workflow supports forward-looking decision-making by combining machine learning–driven predictions with real-time company signals. Improve portfolio construction by prioritizing companies with strong predicted upside and flagging potential risk signals early, enabling smarter entry timing and more disciplined capital deployment.

Step 1

Filter Companies to Relevant ICP

In this step, we’ll target our relevant ICP using filters such as industry, geography, revenue range, financial benchmarks and operating status.

Endpoint

https://api.crunchbase.com/v4/data/searches/organizations

API Reference & Documentation

Using Search APIs
Search Organizations

Key Fields for this Query

field_id	What this field does	operator_id (these are the compatible operators per field)
last_funding_at	Identifies the date of most recent Funding Round	between;blank;eq;gte;lte
last_funding_type	Identifies the last funding round type (e.g. Seed, Series A, Private Equity)	blank;eq;includes;not_eq;not_includes
categories	Identifies the types of organization (e.g. SaaS, Android, Cloud Computing, Medical Device)	blank;includes;includes_all;not_includes;not_includes_all
growth_insight_direction	Filters by the direction of the company's growth trajectory	blank;eq;includes;not_eq;not_includes

Sample Query - Pull companies matching core ICP firmographics that are growing

This call is narrowing down companies to Seed and Series A as those that were funded in 2026. The field_ids ask to return information around categories (i.e., industries), the date the company was last funded at and the type, current valuation and the Growth Insight that indicates whether the company is growing or not.

POST /v4/data/searches/organizations HTTP/1.1
Accept: application/json
Content-Type: application/json
X-Cb-User-Key: ********
Host: api.crunchbase.com
Content-Length: 118

{"field_ids":[
   "categories",
   "identifier",
   "last_funding_at",
   "last_funding_type",
   "valuation",
   "growth_insight_direction"],


"query":[{
   "field_id":"last_funding_at",
   "operator_id":"gte",
   "type":"predicate",
   "values":["2026-01-01" ]},
{
   "field_id":"last_funding_type",
   "operator_id":"includes",
   "type":"predicate",
   "values":["seed","series_a"
   ]}]}

Here is an example of a response to the query above:

{
   "count": 191,
   "entities": [
       {
           "uuid": "31bb23c0-d028-43c0-a49c-16908a5867e8",
           "properties": {
               "identifier": {
                   "permalink": "lmarena",
                   "image_id": "64a0297694304c1b9ee644c9e0fca405",
                   "uuid": "31bb23c0-d028-43c0-a49c-16908a5867e8",
                   "entity_def_id": "organization",
                   "value": "LMArena"
               },
               "valuation": {
                   "value": 1700000000,
                   "currency": "USD",
                   "value_usd": 1700000000
               },
               "last_funding_at": "2026-01-06",
               "growth_insight_direction": "c400_growing",
               "last_funding_type": "series_a",
               "categories": [
                   {
                       "permalink": "artificial-intelligence",
                       "image_id": "930c72a5a7b544999596ac1c0dc8b549",
                       "uuid": "c4d8caf3-5fe7-359b-f9f2-2d708378e4ee",
                       "entity_def_id": "category",
                       "value": "Artificial Intelligence (AI)"
                   },
                   {
                       "permalink": "information-services-f579",
                       "image_id": "3561862d356f4b61ad312f13a43abe38",
                       "uuid": "f579213a-60af-8bb3-309b-1d80607ad2a9",
                       "entity_def_id": "category",
                       "value": "Information Services"
                   },
                   {
                       "permalink": "machine-learning",
                       "image_id": "e83f580a280f48f39d789180bce8c2d9",
                       "uuid": "5ea0cdb7-c9a6-47fc-50f8-c9b0fac04863",
                       "entity_def_id": "category",
                       "value": "Machine Learning"
                   },
                   {
                       "permalink": "product-research",
                       "image_id": "03a37b78c144455fa9b0a62b5c2a0f78",
                       "uuid": "f213df87-6356-e51f-245a-cf9b7e788b13",
                       "entity_def_id": "category",
                       "value": "Product Research"
                   }
               ]
           }
       },

Step 2

Reveal Key Signals for Identified Companies

In this step, we’ll reveal additional information about the organizations you identified in step 1, such as funding rounds, investors and press releases.

Endpoint

https://api.crunchbase.com/v4/data/entities/organizations/{entity_id}

API Reference & Documentation

Using Search APIs
[https://data.crunchbase.com/reference/getorganization-2](Get Organization)

In this query, we’re going to look at forward facing predictions regarding IPOs and Funding from the returned UUIDs (highlighted in yellow) that were returned to us in step 1

GET /v4/data/entities/organizations/replit?field_ids=identifier,growth_insight_direction,growth_insight_confidence,&card_ids=funding_predictions,layoff_predictions,ipo_predictions HTTP/1.1
Accept: application/json
X-Cb-User-Key: *************
Host: api.crunchbase.com

Response

From this response, we can tell that LMArena is classified as growing and is viewed by the model as having a very high likelihood of raising funding in the near term, with funding probability scores consistently in the ~0.90–0.95 range across multiple snapshots from late July through early October 2025; the associated time-to-event distributions are overwhelmingly concentrated in the next 0–5 months, indicating strong confidence that any fundraising activity would occur soon. In addition the repeated linkage to the same Growth Insight, along with references to a product launch and partnership announcement, reveals these signals are primary drivers behind the model’s sustained positive outlook.

{
   "properties": {
       "growth_insight_direction": "c400_growing",
       "identifier": {
           "uuid": "31bb23c0-d028-43c0-a49c-16908a5867e8",
           "value": "LMArena",
           "image_id": "64a0297694304c1b9ee644c9e0fca405",
           "permalink": "lmarena",
           "entity_def_id": "organization"
       }
   },
   "cards": {
       "funding_predictions": [
           {
               "generated_on": "2025-10-04",
               "identifier": {
                   "uuid": "213a4da5-af74-4ca1-9b4b-746ebc23d7c6",
                   "value": "Funding Prediction 2025-10-04",
                   "image_id": "9936fca57e3145ccb3d9f8e15975538b",
                   "entity_def_id": "funding_prediction"
               },
               "probability_score": 0.9039,
               "created_at": "2025-10-06T20:11:15Z",
               "partnership_announcement": {
                   "uuid": "5ce714d9-fad5-4495-8761-20c95f0d9a9a",
                   "image_id": "9936fca57e3145ccb3d9f8e15975538b",
                   "entity_def_id": "partnership_announcement"
               },
               "updated_at": "2025-10-06T20:11:15Z",
               "probability_tier": "p200_positive_low",
               "probability_score_timeseries": {
                   "months_24_plus": 1.077442552104743E-6,
                   "months_00_to_05": 0.9999987543203556,
                   "months_06_to_11": 1.059329221048746E-7,
                   "months_12_to_24": 6.230417009239019E-8
               },
               "growth_insight": {
                   "uuid": "5e308c44-f2eb-45e2-99b9-ec327b844167",
                   "value": "Growth Insight 2025-07-14",
                   "image_id": "75e16c7af7234747a3af2f4333c8bf33",
                   "entity_def_id": "growth_insight"
               },
               "product_launch": {
                   "uuid": "a6de206c-98cc-416a-98c8-6f30b0751f51",
                   "image_id": "9936fca57e3145ccb3d9f8e15975538b",
                   "entity_def_id": "product_launch"
               },
               "organization": {
                   "uuid": "31bb23c0-d028-43c0-a49c-16908a5867e8",
                   "value": "LMArena",
                   "image_id": "64a0297694304c1b9ee644c9e0fca405",
                   "permalink": "lmarena",
                   "entity_def_id": "organization"
               }
           },
           {
               "generated_on": "2025-09-27",
               "identifier": {
                   "uuid": "7ce1740c-d9dd-4a14-a8fd-6e916b80e888",
                   "value": "Funding Prediction 2025-09-27",
                   "image_id": "9936fca57e3145ccb3d9f8e15975538b",
                   "entity_def_id": "funding_prediction"
               },
               "probability_score": 0.9426,
               "created_at": "2025-09-27T20:23:51Z",
               "partnership_announcement": {
                   "uuid": "5ce714d9-fad5-4495-8761-20c95f0d9a9a",
                   "image_id": "9936fca57e3145ccb3d9f8e15975538b",
                   "entity_def_id": "partnership_announcement"
               },
               "updated_at": "2025-09-27T20:23:51Z",
               "probability_tier": "p200_positive_low",
               "probability_score_timeseries": {
                   "months_24_plus": 7.792316755550052E-7,
                   "months_00_to_05": 0.9999990255378147,
                   "months_06_to_11": 5.324143854831174E-8,
                   "months_12_to_24": 1.4198907138434E-7
               },
               "growth_insight": {
                   "uuid": "5e308c44-f2eb-45e2-99b9-ec327b844167",
                   "value": "Growth Insight 2025-07-14",
                   "image_id": "75e16c7af7234747a3af2f4333c8bf33",
                   "entity_def_id": "growth_insight"
               },
               "product_launch": {
                   "uuid": "a6de206c-98cc-416a-98c8-6f30b0751f51",
                   "image_id": "9936fca57e3145ccb3d9f8e15975538b",
                   "entity_def_id": "product_launch"
               },
               "organization": {
                   "uuid": "31bb23c0-d028-43c0-a49c-16908a5867e8",
                   "value": "LMArena",
                   "image_id": "64a0297694304c1b9ee644c9e0fca405",
                   "permalink": "lmarena",
                   "entity_def_id": "organization"
               }
           },
           {
               "generated_on": "2025-09-22",
               "identifier": {
                   "uuid": "318365e3-f527-4239-a325-69f42a9a09e2",
                   "value": "Funding Prediction 2025-09-22",
                   "image_id": "1e9ee3dffc5248a9b08dccef53216b2b",
                   "entity_def_id": "funding_prediction"
               },
               "probability_score": 0.9437,
               "created_at": "2025-09-22T21:47:48Z",
               "partnership_announcement": {
                   "uuid": "5ce714d9-fad5-4495-8761-20c95f0d9a9a",
                   "image_id": "9936fca57e3145ccb3d9f8e15975538b",
                   "entity_def_id": "partnership_announcement"
               },
               "updated_at": "2025-09-22T21:47:48Z",
               "probability_tier": "p200_positive_low",
               "probability_score_timeseries": {
                   "months_24_plus": 7.807686994025912E-7,
                   "months_00_to_05": 0.9999990058215359,
                   "months_06_to_11": 6.219934400284515E-8,
                   "months_12_to_24": 1.512104206729221E-7
               },
               "growth_insight": {
                   "uuid": "5e308c44-f2eb-45e2-99b9-ec327b844167",
                   "value": "Growth Insight 2025-07-14",
                   "image_id": "75e16c7af7234747a3af2f4333c8bf33",
                   "entity_def_id": "growth_insight"
               },
               "product_launch": {
                   "uuid": "a6de206c-98cc-416a-98c8-6f30b0751f51",
                   "image_id": "9936fca57e3145ccb3d9f8e15975538b",
                   "entity_def_id": "product_launch"
               },
               "organization": {
                   "uuid": "31bb23c0-d028-43c0-a49c-16908a5867e8",
                   "value": "LMArena",
                   "image_id": "64a0297694304c1b9ee644c9e0fca405",
                   "permalink": "lmarena",
                   "entity_def_id": "organization"
               }
           },
           {
               "generated_on": "2025-09-22",
               "identifier": {
                   "uuid": "7eda9460-1c4d-41b7-87e8-b4af497bea13",
                   "value": "Funding Prediction 2025-09-22",
                   "image_id": "9936fca57e3145ccb3d9f8e15975538b",
                   "entity_def_id": "funding_prediction"
               },
               "probability_score": 0.8433,
               "created_at": "2025-09-22T22:12:28Z",
               "partnership_announcement": {
                   "uuid": "5ce714d9-fad5-4495-8761-20c95f0d9a9a",
                   "image_id": "9936fca57e3145ccb3d9f8e15975538b",
                   "entity_def_id": "partnership_announcement"
               },
               "updated_at": "2025-09-22T22:12:28Z",
               "probability_tier": "p200_positive_low",
               "probability_score_timeseries": {
                   "months_24_plus": 1.597437306062023E-11,
                   "months_00_to_05": 0.9999984655393923,
                   "months_06_to_11": 1.533041410270687E-6,
                   "months_12_to_24": 1.403223201681309E-9
               },
               "growth_insight": {
                   "uuid": "5e308c44-f2eb-45e2-99b9-ec327b844167",
                   "value": "Growth Insight 2025-07-14",
                   "image_id": "75e16c7af7234747a3af2f4333c8bf33",
                   "entity_def_id": "growth_insight"
               },
               "product_launch": {
                   "uuid": "a6de206c-98cc-416a-98c8-6f30b0751f51",
                   "image_id": "9936fca57e3145ccb3d9f8e15975538b",
                   "entity_def_id": "product_launch"
               },
               "organization": {
                   "uuid": "31bb23c0-d028-43c0-a49c-16908a5867e8",
                   "value": "LMArena",
                   "image_id": "64a0297694304c1b9ee644c9e0fca405",
                   "permalink": "lmarena",
                   "entity_def_id": "organization"
               }
           },
           {
               "generated_on": "2025-09-13",
               "identifier": {
                   "uuid": "5d91ae32-1c44-4440-b747-f2283047f40e",
                   "value": "Funding Prediction 2025-09-13",
                   "image_id": "93de4960abae4f128c8711af00b298b8",
                   "entity_def_id": "funding_prediction"
               },
               "probability_score": 0.9458,
               "created_at": "2025-09-13T17:55:47Z",
               "partnership_announcement": {
                   "uuid": "5ce714d9-fad5-4495-8761-20c95f0d9a9a",
                   "image_id": "9936fca57e3145ccb3d9f8e15975538b",
                   "entity_def_id": "partnership_announcement"
               },
               "updated_at": "2025-09-13T17:55:47Z",
               "probability_tier": "p200_positive_low",
               "probability_score_timeseries": {
                   "months_24_plus": 5.908159196109343E-7,
                   "months_00_to_05": 0.9999991729915882,
                   "months_06_to_11": 9.309243641527163E-8,
                   "months_12_to_24": 1.431000556748384E-7
               },
               "growth_insight": {
                   "uuid": "5e308c44-f2eb-45e2-99b9-ec327b844167",
                   "value": "Growth Insight 2025-07-14",
                   "image_id": "75e16c7af7234747a3af2f4333c8bf33",
                   "entity_def_id": "growth_insight"
               },
               "product_launch": {
                   "uuid": "a6de206c-98cc-416a-98c8-6f30b0751f51",
                   "image_id": "9936fca57e3145ccb3d9f8e15975538b",
                   "entity_def_id": "product_launch"
               },
               "organization": {
                   "uuid": "31bb23c0-d028-43c0-a49c-16908a5867e8",
                   "value": "LMArena",
                   "image_id": "64a0297694304c1b9ee644c9e0fca405",
                   "permalink": "lmarena",
                   "entity_def_id": "organization"
               }
           },
           {
               "generated_on": "2025-09-06",
               "identifier": {
                   "uuid": "0ae0b109-f62f-49af-8eee-c885ca616147",
                   "value": "Funding Prediction 2025-09-06",
                   "image_id": "87bf5aecd77349db87cd7f8da7263beb",
                   "entity_def_id": "funding_prediction"
               },
               "probability_score": 0.906999651231303,
               "created_at": "2025-09-08T17:42:23Z",
               "partnership_announcement": {
                   "uuid": "5ce714d9-fad5-4495-8761-20c95f0d9a9a",
                   "image_id": "9936fca57e3145ccb3d9f8e15975538b",
                   "entity_def_id": "partnership_announcement"
               },
               "updated_at": "2025-09-08T17:42:23Z",
               "probability_tier": "p200_positive_low",
               "probability_score_timeseries": {
                   "months_24_plus": 0.2495311948693514,
                   "months_00_to_05": 0.1501442833256478,
                   "months_06_to_11": 0.1276009775102754,
                   "months_12_to_24": 0.2006028309191082
               },
               "growth_insight": {
                   "uuid": "5e308c44-f2eb-45e2-99b9-ec327b844167",
                   "value": "Growth Insight 2025-07-14",
                   "image_id": "75e16c7af7234747a3af2f4333c8bf33",
                   "entity_def_id": "growth_insight"
               },
               "product_launch": {
                   "uuid": "a6de206c-98cc-416a-98c8-6f30b0751f51",
                   "image_id": "9936fca57e3145ccb3d9f8e15975538b",
                   "entity_def_id": "product_launch"
               },
               "organization": {
                   "uuid": "31bb23c0-d028-43c0-a49c-16908a5867e8",
                   "value": "LMArena",
                   "image_id": "64a0297694304c1b9ee644c9e0fca405",
                   "permalink": "lmarena",
                   "entity_def_id": "organization"
               }
           },
           {
               "generated_on": "2025-09-06",
               "identifier": {
                   "uuid": "3c7ee95f-8b20-406e-8421-0341aa429e3e",
                   "value": "Funding Prediction 2025-09-06",
                   "image_id": "7d1ea21414f44abb9d103a94a274b667",
                   "entity_def_id": "funding_prediction"
               },
               "probability_score": 0.9435,
               "created_at": "2025-09-08T16:38:04Z",
               "partnership_announcement": {
                   "uuid": "5ce714d9-fad5-4495-8761-20c95f0d9a9a",
                   "image_id": "9936fca57e3145ccb3d9f8e15975538b",
                   "entity_def_id": "partnership_announcement"
               },
               "updated_at": "2025-09-08T16:38:04Z",
               "probability_tier": "p200_positive_low",
               "probability_score_timeseries": {
                   "months_24_plus": 2.016490228717889E-7,
                   "months_00_to_05": 0.9999997558802515,
                   "months_06_to_11": 1.215398290969351E-8,
                   "months_12_to_24": 3.031674279244361E-8
               },
               "growth_insight": {
                   "uuid": "5e308c44-f2eb-45e2-99b9-ec327b844167",
                   "value": "Growth Insight 2025-07-14",
                   "image_id": "75e16c7af7234747a3af2f4333c8bf33",
                   "entity_def_id": "growth_insight"
               },
               "product_launch": {
                   "uuid": "a6de206c-98cc-416a-98c8-6f30b0751f51",
                   "image_id": "9936fca57e3145ccb3d9f8e15975538b",
                   "entity_def_id": "product_launch"
               },
               "organization": {
                   "uuid": "31bb23c0-d028-43c0-a49c-16908a5867e8",
                   "value": "LMArena",
                   "image_id": "64a0297694304c1b9ee644c9e0fca405",
                   "permalink": "lmarena",
                   "entity_def_id": "organization"
               }
           },
           {
               "organization": {
                   "uuid": "31bb23c0-d028-43c0-a49c-16908a5867e8",
                   "value": "LMArena",
                   "image_id": "64a0297694304c1b9ee644c9e0fca405",
                   "permalink": "lmarena",
                   "entity_def_id": "organization"
               },
               "generated_on": "2025-08-09",
               "identifier": {
                   "uuid": "80d42ba3-dab8-4db2-bddb-45726d806ac3",
                   "value": "Funding Prediction 2025-08-09",
                   "image_id": "9936fca57e3145ccb3d9f8e15975538b",
                   "entity_def_id": "funding_prediction"
               },
               "probability_score": 0.9443,
               "created_at": "2025-08-10T04:15:49Z",
               "updated_at": "2025-08-10T04:15:49Z",
               "probability_tier": "p200_positive_low",
               "probability_score_timeseries": {
                   "months_24_plus": 6.487293592804731E-7,
                   "months_00_to_05": 0.9999992985584716,
                   "months_06_to_11": 2.740984321651438E-8,
                   "months_12_to_24": 2.530232612362989E-8
               },
               "growth_insight": {
                   "uuid": "5e308c44-f2eb-45e2-99b9-ec327b844167",
                   "value": "Growth Insight 2025-07-14",
                   "image_id": "75e16c7af7234747a3af2f4333c8bf33",
                   "entity_def_id": "growth_insight"
               }
           },
           {
               "organization": {
                   "uuid": "31bb23c0-d028-43c0-a49c-16908a5867e8",
                   "value": "LMArena",
                   "image_id": "64a0297694304c1b9ee644c9e0fca405",
                   "permalink": "lmarena",
                   "entity_def_id": "organization"
               },
               "generated_on": "2025-08-02",
               "identifier": {
                   "uuid": "a3abe374-c75f-4eda-a7f5-13350446dbb7",
                   "value": "Funding Prediction 2025-08-02",
                   "image_id": "7d1ea21414f44abb9d103a94a274b667",
                   "entity_def_id": "funding_prediction"
               },
               "probability_score": 0.9449,
               "created_at": "2025-08-02T18:00:30Z",
               "updated_at": "2025-08-02T18:00:30Z",
               "probability_tier": "p200_positive_low",
               "probability_score_timeseries": {
                   "months_24_plus": 4.659676981721657E-7,
                   "months_00_to_05": 0.9999994907451835,
                   "months_06_to_11": 1.515363306192773E-8,
                   "months_12_to_24": 2.813348519923712E-8
               },
               "growth_insight": {
                   "uuid": "5e308c44-f2eb-45e2-99b9-ec327b844167",
                   "value": "Growth Insight 2025-07-14",
                   "image_id": "75e16c7af7234747a3af2f4333c8bf33",
                   "entity_def_id": "growth_insight"
               }
           },
           {
               "organization": {
                   "uuid": "31bb23c0-d028-43c0-a49c-16908a5867e8",
                   "value": "LMArena",
                   "image_id": "64a0297694304c1b9ee644c9e0fca405",
                   "permalink": "lmarena",
                   "entity_def_id": "organization"
               },
               "generated_on": "2025-07-26",
               "identifier": {
                   "uuid": "fb418f20-0e80-4c3c-8be9-4a525c890374",
                   "value": "Funding Prediction 2025-07-26",
                   "image_id": "930c72a5a7b544999596ac1c0dc8b549",
                   "entity_def_id": "funding_prediction"
               },
               "probability_score": 0.9402,
               "created_at": "2025-07-26T20:15:58Z",
               "updated_at": "2025-07-26T20:15:58Z",
               "probability_tier": "p200_positive_low",
               "probability_score_timeseries": {
                   "months_24_plus": 1.168148687727568E-6,
                   "months_00_to_05": 0.9999987639372785,
                   "months_06_to_11": 3.531571302585468E-8,
                   "months_12_to_24": 3.259832064259601E-8
               },
               "growth_insight": {
                   "uuid": "5e308c44-f2eb-45e2-99b9-ec327b844167",
                   "value": "Growth Insight 2025-07-14",
                   "image_id": "75e16c7af7234747a3af2f4333c8bf33",
                   "entity_def_id": "growth_insight"
               }
           }
       ]
   }
}

From this response, we’re able to conclude:

LMArena is classified as growing, with consistently high funding prediction probabilities (~0.90–0.95) and time-to-event distributions heavily concentrated in the next 0–5 months. Repeated signals tied to product launches and partnership announcements reinforce the model’s confidence that near-term fundraising activity is likely.

Having this level of forward-looking visibility into growth trajectory, funding probability, and underlying drivers allows your team to anticipate upside before it materializes—and to adjust entry timing, ownership targets, or risk exposure ahead of the broader market.

Additional Suggestions

Suggested CRM / Deal Tool Mapping (Salesforce, HubSpot, Affinity, DealCloud)

Map prediction probabilities into custom fields for sorting and prioritization
Create simple flags like “High Upside = Yes” when funding or IPO probability crosses your threshold
Create “Elevated Risk = Yes” when closure or downside risk signals increase
Add prediction summaries directly into Investment Notes / IC memo prep
Trigger alerts when prediction scores materially change over time

Suggested Data Warehouse / Reverse ETL Setup

Store historical prediction scores to track changes in outlook over time
Build simple probability-weighted models to estimate expected value
Push upside/risk flags and priority scores back into Affinity, DealCloud, or your CRM

Best Practices

Treat predictions as decision-support signals, not guarantees
Combine prediction data with qualitative context to strengthen conviction
Use longer horizons (9–18 months) for strategy, shorter horizons for sourcing and risk monitoring
Regularly compare predictions to actual outcomes to refine internal thresholds