FlareSight

FlareSight is a web and API service for finding startup funding activity through SEC filings. It is best suited to investors tracking deal flow and teams prospecting around new raises. Its filing-linked records and focused filters are useful; sustained contact research and API use sit behind paid plans.

Overview

Funding amounts and filing details are drawn from SEC filings, and each record links to its Form D. FlareSight says it tracks more than 127,000 startups and refreshes daily; most companies appear within 24 hours of filing, after prior-day filings are processed at 6am UTC. That makes it a timely source for filing-based signals, not a guarantee of a complete view of every funding event.

Profiles can include founder names, roles and LinkedIn profiles. Sector, company description and founder data is enriched from additional sources and verified where possible, adding context for follow-up while keeping the filing as the basis for funding details.

Key features

Search and tracking

Filters for sector, stage and geography let users narrow the company set to deals or prospects that fit their focus. The free plan includes all search filters, but limits users to five profile views a day. That is enough for light browsing, but restrictive for prospecting or research that involves checking many companies. Its one free watchlist is view-only; Starter adds three watchlists, status tracking and notes for users who need to manage ongoing follow-up.

Contacts and outreach

Paid plans provide monthly contact reveal credits, and contacts revealed on any plan can be exported to CSV from the dashboard. Top-ups cost $0.50 per credit. Pro raises the allowance to 250 monthly credits and discounts top-ups by 30%; those benefits matter to higher-volume users, but the plan costs substantially more.

API and data handling

API access is included with Pro, so teams building data workflows should weigh its $80 monthly price against the need for regular access beyond the web interface. The privacy policy says passwords are stored as hashes, Stripe handles payment cards and FlareSight does not sell personal data. Its listed subprocessors include Supabase, Vercel, Stripe, Resend, Sentry, PostHog, Google, Anthropic and Hunter. Support typically replies within one business day.

Pricing

Free is a useful way to search and sample profiles, but the five-view daily cap limits deeper evaluation. Starter is the sensible paid choice for individual users or small teams that need contacts and outreach tools; Pro is for heavier contact use or API workflows. Both paid prices are stated with annual billing, so the lower monthly figures should be read alongside the $288 and $960 annual charges.

Platforms

FlareSight is available on the web, with API access for Pro subscribers. Users who only need occasional searches can stay in the browser; API access is a meaningful reason to consider Pro only when integrating data into another workflow.

Who it's for

The maker identifies outbound sales representatives, recruiters, agency founders, VCs tracking deal flow and founders benchmarking a raise as intended users. The strongest fit is for people who can act on filing-linked company and founder information: sales and recruiting teams can focus outreach, while investors can follow new activity by sector, stage or geography. Founders seeking a benchmark should treat the service as a filing-based signal rather than a comprehensive account of fundraising.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Funding details link back to Form D records, giving users a direct path to the underlying filing.
• Daily processing and typical appearance within 24 hours make the service relevant for monitoring newly filed activity.
• All search filters are available on Free, so users can assess sector, stage and geography targeting before paying.
• Starter combines contact reveals with digests and drafted openers, reducing the steps between finding a company and beginning outreach.

Cons

• Five profile views per day on Free make broad company-by-company research impractical without upgrading.
• Contact reveals are credit-limited even on paid plans, and additional Starter credits cost $0.50 each.
• API access is reserved for Pro, making it a costly requirement for users who need integration but not 250 monthly contact credits.
• Because the funding signal is grounded in SEC filings, it should not be treated as a complete record of all funding activity.

Alternatives

Startup Databases is a directory of related options for readers who want to compare startup research tools broadly.

• Tracxn is another freemium option, with a free trial and plans described as usage-limited Lite and unrestricted Premium; choose it if those access tiers better fit your needs.
• StartupDB is a free web and API database with an MCP server and REST API, no account or API key, and 120 requests per minute per IP with no daily cap. Choose it if open API access without a subscription is the priority.
• FirstGlance is a free option for web, Android and iOS.
• ITjuzi is a freemium option with paid monthly and quarterly plans measured in download credits; consider it if those plans suit your research needs.
• Techboard offers an annual funding-data subscription for access to funding data underlying reports issued to date; consider it if that report-linked data access fits your use.
• Dealroom is a freemium option with paid tiers that include export and business-email credits; consider it if those credit-based allowances are a better match.
• Beauhurst is a paid service with bespoke subscriptions based on data requirements, user count, integrations and commitment length; choose it if a tailored subscription is preferable.
• BetaList is another freemium option.

Verdict

FlareSight is a strong choice for investors and prospecting teams who want fresh, searchable funding signals anchored to SEC filings, especially if sector, stage and geography filters are central to their work. Its free tier is useful for occasional discovery, but the daily profile cap and paid contact reveals make it a poor fit for sustained research on a tight budget. Choose Starter for modest outreach needs; look elsewhere if you need broad funding coverage or API access without committing to Pro.