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Community Data
What it is
Community Data is an open database of more than 1 million people and companies, with an initial focus on the startup ecosystem. Its structured records cover people, companies, locations, sectors, funding stages, and curated collections. Developers can query the data through a public GraphQL API and use it to build applications; the project also invites them to list those apps in its apps repository. Records are kept as JSON documents in an open-source repository and checked against JSON Schema definitions, with invalid commits rejected. Anyone can contribute by creating or editing a JSON file. Contributors may use a proof-of-concept editor that connects through GitHub and requires a GitHub account. Enhancer scripts can organize information from public APIs or websites into the project’s schemas. Verified document owners are recorded by GitHub username, and their pull requests are automatically merged without review. Schema changes are proposed by pull request and reviewed by core contributors during monthly governance calls. The project uses the MIT License, copyright 2025, and is free to use.
For and against
For
- Public GraphQL API for querying data
- Schemas cover people, companies, and funding stages
- Anyone can contribute JSON files
- Invalid documents are rejected at commit
Against
- The editor requires a GitHub account
- Owner pull requests merge without review
The verdict
Community Data offers a free, open repository and API for working with startup ecosystem records. Its contribution and validation model may suit developers and data contributors comfortable with GitHub and JSON schemas.
Who it suits
It suits developers building applications with structured startup ecosystem data, as well as people who want to contribute or consume that data. The public API and open repository provide ways to access and work with the records.
Plans and prices
Community Data
Open-source database · public GraphQL API
Read 9 Oct 2026 · communitydata.io
On the record
- API
- The project provides a public GraphQL API for querying data and building custom applications.communitydata.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Contributions
- Anyone can contribute by creating or editing a JSON file in the repository.communitydata.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Coverage
- The site describes the database as containing more than 1 million people and companies.communitydata.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Data enhancers
- Enhancer scripts can use public APIs or websites to structure information and import it into the repository.communitydata.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Data format
- Data is stored in an open-source repository as JSON documents that conform to JSON Schema definitions.communitydata.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Data models
- The listed schemas cover people, companies, locations, sectors, funding stages and collections.communitydata.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Data ownership
- A contributor can prove ownership of a data document through a core disambiguation attribute, and the verification service records the contributor's GitHub username as an owner.communitydata.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Editor
- The proof-of-concept data editor is a Next.js application that interacts with the GitHub API, and contributors authenticate with GitHub accounts.communitydata.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Enhancers
- Data enhancer scripts can consume public APIs or websites, structure information to the canonical schemas and import it into the repository.communitydata.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Governance
- Schema change proposals are reviewed by core contributors during monthly governance calls.communitydata.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The site describes connections to GitHub for repository contributions and the editor, and Twitter, LinkedIn, or a personal website as possible proof sources for person records.communitydata.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The public GraphQL API and open data repository are presented for developers building applications and others consuming or contributing structured startup ecosystem data.communitydata.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- License
- The site states that the project is licensed under the MIT License, copyright 2025.communitydata.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Ownership
- Verified owners of a data document are recorded by GitHub username, and pull requests from listed owners are automatically merged without review.communitydata.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Community Data is a collaboratively maintained database of JSON documents focused initially on the startup ecosystem.communitydata.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Third-party apps
- The project invites developers to build applications using its GraphQL API and list them in the apps repository.communitydata.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Validation
- Each repository commit is validated against its corresponding JSON Schema, and invalid documents reject the commit.communitydata.io · read 9 Oct 2026
