7 Startups Making Millions with Free Public Data—And How You Can Too
Nickie Louise
Posted On February 27, 2025
Every week, we covered hundreds of tech startups raising millions in funding, only for about 90% of them to fail miserably. The truth is, some of the most successful startups today aren’t selling products or services. They’re making millions just by organizing free public data and presenting it in a way that’s useful to businesses and consumers.
Public data is information available to anyone, often released by governments, organizations, and institutions. Instead of leaving it scattered across multiple sources, smart entrepreneurs are packaging it into something people are willing to pay for.
This includes:
- Government databases (crime reports, business registrations, foreclosures)
- Public health records (water quality, food contaminants)
- Education performance data (school rankings, university scores)
- E-commerce trends (most-watched products, trending sales)
- Local business information (company registrations, corporate filings)
Here’s how seven startups are turning this free information into serious cash.
7 Startups Making Millions with Free Public Data
1. Oasis Water App – Water Quality Data ($1M/year)
Business Model: Oasis Water pulls publicly available water quality reports from cities and bottled water companies. The app lets users scan a water bottle and instantly see the list of contaminants.
- How They Make Money: Subscription-based access
- Why It Works: People want transparency about their drinking water.
2. SpotCrime – Crime Data Mapping ($7M/year)
Business Model: SpotCrime gathers police reports and crime statistics, then presents them in an interactive map. Users can enter their ZIP code and see crime trends in their area.
- How They Make Money: Ad revenue and premium data access
- Why It Works: Crime data is highly relevant for local communities, real estate buyers, and law enforcement.
3. Nomad.com – Best Cities for Remote Work ($500K/year)
Business Model: Previously called Nomad List, this platform ranks cities for digital nomads based on the cost of living, Wi-Fi speed, and safety.
- How They Make Money: Membership fees and sponsorships
- Why It Works: Remote work is growing, and nomads need data-driven insights.
4. WatchCount – eBay Trends ($4.8M/year)
Business Model: WatchCount scrapes eBay’s public data to show the most-watched products on the platform.
- How They Make Money: eBay affiliate commissions
- Why It Works: E-commerce sellers and shoppers want real-time insights on trending products.
5. GreatSchools – School Rankings ($2.5M/year)
Business Model: GreatSchools pulls together public education data to rank schools by location and performance.
- How They Make Money: Ads and School Sponsorships
- Why It Works: Parents rely on school rankings when deciding where to live.
6. OpenCorporates – Business Registrations ($5M/year)
Business Model: OpenCorporates tracks and compiles newly registered businesses, selling the data to companies that target new business owners.
- How They Make Money: Paid API access and data sales
- Why It Works: Law firms, B2B companies, and investors want early access to new business leads.
7. Foreclosures.com – Real Estate Leads ($2M/month)
Business Model: Foreclosures.com scrapes foreclosure listings and sells subscription access to real estate investors looking for distressed properties.
- How They Make Money: Subscription-based model
- Why It Works: Investors want real-time updates to spot opportunities first.
Where to Find Public Data?
If you’re thinking about leveraging public data for a startup, here are some sources to check out:
- Government Portals
- Data.gov – The U.S. government’s open data repository
- EU Open Data Portal – European public data repository
- World Bank Data – Economic and development statistics
- Business Registrations & Corporate Data
- SEC EDGAR Database – Public company filings
- OpenCorporates – Global company registration data
- Education & School Rankings
- GreatSchools – U.S. school performance data
- IPEDS – U.S. college and university statistics
- E-commerce & Consumer Trends
- eBay’s API – Sales and trending product data
- Amazon’s Best Sellers – Top-selling items
- Crime & Safety Data
- FBI Crime Data Explorer – U.S. crime reports
- Local police department websites – City crime statistics
- Real Estate & Property Data
- Foreclosure Listings – Distressed property reports
- Zillow & Redfin APIs – Housing market trends
How AI Makes This Easier Than Ever
AI and no-code automation tools make it simple to scrape, analyze, and present public data in ways that businesses and consumers find useful.
Tools for Public Data Startups
- Web Scraping
- Data Structuring
- ChatGPT – Organizes and refines scraped data
- Google Sheets & OpenAI API – Automates data processing
- Website & App Builders
Final Thoughts
Public data is an untapped gold mine. Whether it’s tracking food safety, lost pets, housing trends, or consumer behavior, there are endless ways to package and sell useful information.
This article was inspired by insights from Tim Richard, who has highlighted how startups are profiting from free public data. His analysis has helped bring attention to the power of structured information in building profitable businesses.
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7 Websites Making Millions Using FREE Public Data
Below is a YouTube video from Tim Richard discussing seven websites making millions using free public data.
