LittleSis
LittleSis is a US nonprofit operating a free, open-source relational database that maps connections between powerful individuals, corporations, and government officials, serving researchers, activists, journalists, and community organizers engaged in power-mapping and accountability work.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersUrbandale, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What LittleSis does
LittleSis is a US-based nonprofit organization (founded 2008; 1–10 employees; headquartered in Urbandale) that operates a free, open-source research platform known as the LittleSis Power Research Database. The platform is a relational database of 'who-knows-who' at the heights of business and government, designed to surface connections between wealthy individuals, corporations, and public officials. It is targeted at researchers, activists, journalists, and community organizers who use it for power mapping and strategic campaign building; secondary users include progressive advocacy organizations leveraging the platform for accountability work.
The core technology is a curated entity-relationship database accessible via the web, supplemented by a portfolio of microsites (Map the Power Toolkit, Powerlines, Big Tech Sells War, #AllEyesOnYass, Fossil Fuel Finance Hub) and a published-research program (the 'Eyes on the Ties' news vertical and longer investigative reports). LittleSis also runs in-person and online trainings to teach power-research methodology, evidenced by an 'RTFO Impact Summary 2024–25.' Distribution is community-led: the platform is free, open-source, and self-serve, reached through content marketing (blog, newsletter, published research) and organic social channels (Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook).
The revenue model is nonprofit donations and contributions; there is no paid pricing tier, and the database is provided at no cost. There are no disclosed funding rounds, parent companies, or institutional investors, and no evidence of government contracting or commercial subscription revenue. Strategic significance and operating capacity are therefore tightly linked to donor and grant support rather than commercial monetization.
LittleSis firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LittleSis
- Legal name
- LittleSis
- Website
- https://littlesis.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- LittleSis is a US nonprofit operating a free, open-source relational database that maps connections between powerful individuals, corporations, and government officials, serving researchers, activists, journalists, and community organizers engaged in power-mapping and accountability work.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LittleSis industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Open-source research database
- NAICS
- Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (51929), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital/Online Investigations & OSINT (Non-cyber) (BPAKAEAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Q&A and Knowledge Discovery Platforms (BPAMAAAF), Online Learning Content & Course Publishing Platforms (BPAMAJAL)
Keywords
Where LittleSis is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Urbandale
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
LittleSis business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: LittleSis is a nonprofit organization funded primarily through donations. The website features a prominent donate button, indicating individual and possibly institutional contributions support operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free access to the Power Research Database |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
LittleSis product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LittleSis operates a free, open-source online research database that maps the relationships between powerful individuals, corporations, and government entities. The platform also delivers companion toolkits, published investigative reports, and training programs aimed at researchers, activists, journalists, and community organizers who use these resources for accountability work and campaign building.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- LittleSis Power Research Database A free, open-source online research database that maps who-knows-who at the heights of business and government, designed as a powerful tool for strategic research into power networks and relationships. It serves researchers, activists, journalists, and community organizers.
- Map the Power Toolkit A toolkit providing people organizing for social change in their communities with the resources, tips, and framework needed to conduct power research for building campaigns.
- Power Research Trainings
Companies that use LittleSis
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
LittleSis technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
LittleSis partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Design Action CollectiveminorDesign Action Collective provided logo and website design/development services for LittleSis. The collective provides graphic design and visual communications for progressive, non-profit and social change organizations.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
LittleSis competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- ProPublica: Major investigative journalism nonprofit; comparable as a high-output accountability-research organization serving journalists and the public, though operating at much larger scale and broader scope than LittleSis.
- Sayari: Commercial OSINT and corporate-network analytics platform; comparable in underlying technology (mapping corporate and government relationships), but serves enterprise/compliance customers rather than nonprofit researchers.
- ICIJ (International Consortium of Investigative Journalists): Global network producing cross-border investigative journalism on power and corruption; comparable as a high-impact accountability-research entity, with broader international scope and resources than LittleSis.
Direct peers
- InfluenceMap: Nonprofit that maps corporate influence on climate and energy policy; directly comparable as a domain-specialized OSINT database used by researchers, journalists, and campaigners — closely aligned with LittleSis's Fossil Fuel Finance Hub.
- FollowTheMoney.org: National Institute for Money in Politics database of campaign contributions across U.S. states; directly comparable as a free, public-interest database surfacing connections between donors and political activity.
- OpenSecrets: Nonprofit research group tracking money in U.S. politics and lobbying; directly comparable as a free, public-facing database mapping the financial ties between wealthy individuals, corporations, and government officials.
- GovTrack: Nonprofit civic-tech project tracking U.S. federal legislation and legislators; comparable as a free, open-source research platform serving civic researchers, activists, and journalists with structured government data.
- MapLight: Nonprofit that reveals the influence of money on politics by linking campaign contributions to legislative votes; directly comparable in mission, audience (researchers/journalists), and database-driven research model.
Emerging players
- Documented: Nonprofit investigative news outlet covering immigration policy and power networks; comparable as a mission-driven accountability-research outlet using open-source methods to map influence.
- Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE): Nonprofit providing training, resources, and a community for investigative journalists; comparable as a research-and-training hub for accountability reporters, partially overlapping LittleSis's training and database offerings.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
LittleSis social profiles
Digital presenceLittleSis financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LittleSis leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
LittleSis funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LittleSis M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about LittleSis
What does LittleSis do?
LittleSis operates a free, open-source online research database that maps the relationships between powerful individuals, corporations, and government entities. The platform also delivers companion toolkits, published investigative reports, and training programs aimed at researchers, activists, journalists, and community organizers who use these resources for accountability work and campaign building.
Is LittleSis a public or private company?
LittleSis is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was LittleSis founded?
LittleSis was founded in 2008. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is LittleSis based?
LittleSis is headquartered in Urbandale, United States, in the North America region.
How does LittleSis make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Contributions.
Who are LittleSis's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are ProPublica, Sayari and ICIJ (International Consortium of Investigative Journalists). Direct peers are InfluenceMap, FollowTheMoney.org, OpenSecrets, GovTrack and MapLight. Emerging players are Documented and Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE).
Does LittleSis have an API?
No public API is recorded for LittleSis.
What industry is LittleSis in?
LittleSis's product category is Open-source research database. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAKAEAF, Digital/Online Investigations & OSINT (Non-cyber), with a secondary code of BPAMAAAF, Q&A and Knowledge Discovery Platforms. Its NAICS code is 51929 and its SIC code is 8600.