Motherbase

What Motherbase does

Motherbase is an AI-powered SaaS platform that delivers real-time monitoring and intelligence on innovation ecosystems, continuously tracking 210,000+ entities (startups, scale-ups, corporates, investors) and 20M+ articles across 50+ sectors and 30+ technologies. The platform is operated by U SAS, trading as U Change (RCS Paris 813 731 155), with Guillaume Buffet as President, and is headquartered at 58 avenue de Wagram, 75017 Paris, with a second site in Annecy. Customers include corporate innovation and strategy teams, government and regional agencies, accelerators, and industry associations that need to identify emerging players, technologies, and partnerships before they become visible through conventional channels.

The product is structured around three integrated offerings: a SaaS monitoring platform with real-time alerts on tracked entities and themes, a Dynamic Directory that enables structured exploration and export of the underlying ecosystem data, and expert consulting engagements for bespoke analyses. Underlying technology combines web-scale content ingestion, natural language processing, and proprietary classification logic to surface relevant entities and signals. Go-to-market is sales-led with a hybrid self-serve layer; the company holds a UGAP listing that enables French public-sector procurement without per-tender qualification, and it maintains commercial and ecosystem partnerships with Numeum, French Tech Alpes, the Coq Vert (Bpifrance) community, and others. Revenue is generated through SaaS subscriptions, Dynamic Directory sales, and expert services.

The company operates with a small team of 5 employees and has not disclosed any external funding rounds, making it a founder-controlled, cash-generative niche data provider rather than a venture-backed scale-up. The customer base disclosed includes EY, CEVA Santé Animale, the Garde nationale, Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, WILCO, Bordeaux Technowest, and French Tech Normandie Caen, spanning large enterprise, public sector, accelerator, and association segments.

Name

Motherbase

Legal name

U SAS (U Change)

Website

https://motherbase.ai

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Motherbase is an AI-powered SaaS platform providing real-time innovation ecosystem intelligence by tracking 210,000+ entities and 20M+ articles. It serves corporates, government agencies, accelerators, and investors monitoring startups, scale-ups, and emerging technologies globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Innovation Ecosystem Intelligence Software

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

End-to-End Enterprise AI Platforms (MLOps & Model Lifecycle Management) (HDAEANAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Model Hosting, Serving & Inference Platforms (HDAAACAB)

Keywords

• Innovation ecosystem intelligence
• Startup monitoring platform
• AI market intelligence
• Ecosystem mapping software
• Technology trend analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. SaaS Platform Subscription: Access to the Motherbase platform providing data on 210,000+ entities and 20M+ articles, along with analysis tools for sourcing solutions, mapping ecosystems and automating monitoring
2. Dynamic Directory Service: Customized, fully automated directories with automatic updates, interactive mapping and simplified partner management for organizations
3. Expert Consulting Services: Expert support for sector studies, startup sourcing, and ecosystem mapping projects

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Motherbase is an AI-powered SaaS platform that detects, tracks, and analyzes startups and scale-ups worldwide through a continuously updated database of 210,000+ entities and 20M+ articles. The platform enables organizations to source innovative solutions, monitor technology trends, map innovation ecosystems, and automate partner directory management. It is sold primarily through subscriptions, with complementary dynamic directory services and bespoke expert consulting engagements.

Product overview

Motherbase is an innovation ecosystem intelligence platform that combines a core SaaS platform with modular add-ons to serve organizations monitoring startups and scale-ups. The main Motherbase SaaS Platform provides real-time access to 210,000+ entities and 20M+ articles, while the Dynamic Directory offers 100% automated directory management, and Expert Services delivers custom studies and ecosystem mapping. The authenticated My Motherbase web application serves as the unified access point for these capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Motherbase SaaS Platform Core SaaS platform providing real-time access to a global database of 210,000+ entities and 20M+ articles, with analysis tools for sourcing innovative solutions, mapping ecosystems, and automating competitive intelligence. Designed for corporate innovation teams, government agencies, accelerators, and investors.
• Dynamic Directory (Annuaire Dynamique) Fully automated and always-updated directory solution that creates and manages personalized partner directories with automatic updates, interactive mapping, and simplified partner management for organizations needing a curated ecosystem view.
• Expert Services (Accompagnement sur-mesure) Custom expert accompaniment services including sector studies, startup sourcing, and specific ecosystem mapping projects delivered by Motherbase specialists for organizations needing bespoke innovation intelligence work.
• My Motherbase (Web Application) Authenticated web application interface that serves as the unified access point for Motherbase users, providing entity listings, catalyst interactions, advanced search, and social network dynamics data.

Quantifiable outcome

• 210,000+ entities tracked in real-time
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• French Tech AlpescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 July 2025First partnership announced at French Tech Summit 2025. Joint mission to offer clear, global, and updated vision of innovation ecosystems to support their development and visibility. Focus on supporting sustainable Olympic Games 2030 through greentech startups.
• NumeumcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOngoing partnership where Motherbase provides AI intelligence for Numeum's monthly barometer on employment trends in French Tech startups. Collaborates on reports about employment, GreenTech trends, AI Generative growth, and regional dynamics.
• UGAPminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as proud member of UGAP, the French public procurement marketplace, enabling access to government customers.
• Coq Vert (Bpifrance)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of Coq Vert community by Bpifrance, the French green business initiative, demonstrating commitment to sustainable innovation.
• U Change (Parent Company)coreOthersMotherbase is a SaaS software solution provided by U SAS (U Change), headquartered at 58 avenue de Wagram, Paris. Guillaume BUFFET is President of U Change.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tracxn: Startup and company tracking platform providing sector intelligence and competitive monitoring. Overlaps with Motherbase's SaaS subscription offering for innovation ecosystem monitoring.
• Startup Genome: Global innovation ecosystem research organization producing startup genome reports and ecosystem rankings for governments and accelerators. Directly comparable in serving public-sector and accelerator customers with ecosystem intelligence.
• StartupBlink: Global startup ecosystem map and ranking platform with country and city-level data. Overlaps with Motherbase's innovation ecosystem mapping capabilities for governments and accelerators.
• PitchBook: Private capital market intelligence platform covering VC, PE, and M&A activity. Directly comparable to Motherbase's investor-facing use cases (deal sourcing, portfolio monitoring, ecosystem intelligence).
• CB Insights: Market intelligence platform focused on emerging technology, startup tracking, and corporate strategy. Competes with Motherbase in innovation scouting and corporate venture intelligence workflows for enterprise customers.
• Dealroom.co: European-headquartered startup and growth ecosystem intelligence platform serving investors, governments, and corporates. Closest peer to Motherbase given shared focus on European innovation ecosystems, government customers, and ecosystem-mapping use cases.
• Crunchbase: Leading global database of startups, funding rounds, and companies with subscription SaaS access for enterprise customers. Directly competes with Motherbase in innovation/startup intelligence, with broader coverage but a horizontal, US-centric focus.
• F6S: Startup and accelerator network with a global database of startups, programs, and ecosystem data. Comparable to Motherbase for accelerator and program-management use cases, though with a less curated enterprise focus.

Others

• OECD: International organization producing innovation ecosystem reports and indicators (e.g., OECD Innovation Strategy) for governments. Not a direct commercial competitor but a benchmark and sometimes alternative data source for government customers Motherbase serves.

Regional players

• EU-Startups: European-focused startup media and database covering EU ecosystem activity, jobs, and funding. Competes with Motherbase for European innovation ecosystem intelligence, primarily media-driven rather than SaaS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/uchangesolutions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/motherbase

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Motherbase