Create User
To get access to StartupSpider just create a user login.
To activate the user you will receive an email to confirm your registered email address.
The table below is a short summary of the user manual chapters.
Just tipe in the "search" field what you looking for, select the entry which fits best and click on "Go to details". If you are new to StartupSpider, we recommend to read the Intro first. Start with completing your user profile, see who else is already on the platform (public profile) and keep a look on the alert / event notifications.
All features are described in the corresponding chapter. We are still working on many of the features and in the index table you also find the status.
For some of the features also videos are available (see below or view our YouTube channel)
| Area | Topic | Short description | User manual | Last updated | Video | Feature status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intro | Login | How to get access to the system (create login, change password etc) | Go to details | 06.01.2020 | #1_Video | Live |
| Intro | 4 things you want to know | Please read this section, before start using StartupSpider. This Intro gives an overview where to find what, logic of buttons etc. This will allow you to find everything much faster. | Go to details | 06.01.2020 | Live | |
| Your user data | UI Configuration | Define some specific configuration e.g. language, date format etc. | Go to details | 06.01.2020 | #2_Video | Live |
| Your user data | User & account information | Maintain user related information (confidential data), manage user account belonging, create company/startup account. | Go to details | 06.01.2020 | #2_Video #5_Video | Live |
| Your user data | Member data | In case you are a member of StartupSpider (e.g. connected platforms) you can manage your member specific data separately. | Go to details | 06.01.2020 | In prep | |
| Your user data | Create your own public profile | By creating your own public profile, you can define who can see what about you. | Go to details | 06.01.2020 | #2_Video #5_Video | Live |
| Community | Find & view public profile of others | Find the public profile of other users, companies and explicitly startups. | Go to details | 06.01.2020 | #3_Video #4_Video | Live |
| Community | Overview of platforms and institutions | Overview of platforms and institutions within the Startup-Ecosystem (“FindYourFit” and “Where2Go”). | Go to details | 06.01.2020 | In prep | |
| Community | Your friends | Increase your personal network of friends within the community. | Go to details | 06.01.2020 | Future release | |
| Community | Community messages | Inbox of (private) messages exchanged with a user of the startup-community. | Go to details | 06.01.2020 | Future release | |
| Notifications | Events | In case there are special StartupSpider-events (e.g. some interesting information, special sale, new software release) an event notification is made available. | Go to details | 06.01.2020 | Live | |
| Notifications | Alerts | In case there is information available specifically for you (e.g. some new information about a startup you are interested in, or also in case there is an issue with your account) an alert notification is waiting for you. | Go to details | 06.01.2020 | Partly | |
| Funding | Overview of campaigns | Get an overview of Crowd-/funding campaigns. Find and filter based on our own criteria.
You cannot invest on StartupSpider, but we will guide you smoothly to the platform, if you are interested in a campaign. | Go to details | 18.03.2021 | Live | |
| Funding | Details of a campaign | By selecting an Crowd-/funding campaigns opportunity additional information are revealed. | Go to details | 06.01.2020 | In prep | |
| Funding | Platforms usage criteria | Each platform has specific criteria who can invest (also due to regulation a platform must fulfill). Here you find the specific criteria of connected platforms. | Go to details | 06.01.2020 | In prep | |
| Information & updates | Progress-/ Lifecycle data | Each platform has specific criteria who can invest (also due to regulation a platform must fulfill). Here you find the specific criteria of connected platforms. | Go to details | 06.01.2020 | Future release | |
| Trading | Trading information | This section allows to search for trading opportunities on specific platforms. You cannot trade on StartupSpider, but we will guide you smoothly to the platform, if you are interested in a trading opportunity. | Go to details | 06.01.2020 | Future release |
How to get access to the system (create login, change password etc.)
To get access to StartupSpider just create a user login.
To activate the user you will receive an email to confirm your registered email address.
Just go to login page. There you can trigger to get again a confirmation email.
In case you would like to change your password, or you have forgotten your password, just go to Login. There you can initiate password change, or you can trigger the process "forgot password".
Please read this section, before start using StartupSpider. This Intro gives an overview where to find what, logic of buttons etc. This will allow you to find everything much faster
1. Via configuration and data section you can manage your private and public data, define language and format
2. The main menu has 4 parts: Funding opportunities / campaigns, information (progress / updates), trading opportunities and Startup-Community
3. The sub menu helps you to guide through each main menu
4. Event notifications allowing us to share information with the community
5. Alert notifications are special messages for you
6. Interacting with the system you can earn points
7. Depending on your points you can achieve a specific level
8. You can use the back & forth to interact with the application
9. If you exit the system, please use the Log off
If you are new to StartupSpider, you probably want to start with complete your user profile (go to "Your configuration & data", see "Confidential data" & "public profile"), see who else is already on the platform (go to main menu "Startup-Community", select "Public profile") and keep a look on the alert / event notifications.
All features are described in the corresponding chapter. We are still working on many of the features and in the index table you also find the status.
The first time you enter the system you are asked to fill in some minimum information and to accept the terms & conditions.
If you would like to update the information later or store additional information about you, you can go to "your configuration & data".
A user can either represent a private person or an employee of a company ("company" can be a project, startup or "normal" company). On many social platforms this is not possible, and it is difficult to know if a person says something and representing that company or as a private person. We believe this differentiation helps a lot.
When you create your user default wise you are created with a private account. If you want to present a company (e.g. a startup) you either can create this company account or if the company already exists, you can send a "user belonging"-request to that company account.
Via Configuration & data you can manage your data for your user and your account (private or company account).
Also you can define which information should be visible for other users by managing & configure your public profile. Keep in mind, as more as you share, as more other user will interact with you.
We believe in interacting at eye level. This starts with transparency and accepting if someone does not want to share all information up front.
Basic access and most functionality is for free. However, as every platform also we have to earn money. Otherwise it would not be possible to maintain this platform. However, this is only for special services. This should give you the freedom to enjoy this great platform.
In case you have a question and this user manual was not able to help you and answer it, please do not hesitate to contact us support@startupspider.com
At the moment we do not have an APP (yet!). However, we have built the application in a way, that most features are also ok if you use an IPad, an IPhone or an Android. However, we have recognized certain challenges. Mainly in sizing of drop downs. Therefore, we recommend the initial configuration (user data, account data) to be done by using a desktop (it is just handier).
In regards the Browser, we have tested Chrome, IE and Firefox. We have seen some sizing challenges with Safari, which we will try to fix with one of the next released.
Define some specific configuration e.g. language, date format etc.
You can select the language of the application (we start with supporting English and German and will add continuously additional languages).
As we are in international platform, we are allowing to store data in more than one language. Same goes for data sources (as we are collecting data from various sources for you and some providing data in more than one language). Therefore, you can also define which "content" language you would like to use. You even can define if information only available in other languages should not be shown at all (by blocking other languages). However, we recommend that you select your main language and in case a source supports only other languages, you still would be able to see it.
Another important configuration is, if we can use your data to create a better service for you. In future we will use AI-logic and present information in a way to you, based on how you interacted with similar data in the past. This should increase your user experience. Some services will even pre-requisite that you allow us to use your data (e.g. for matching purpose).
Currently the UI supports two languages (English and Germain). Maybe your preferred language is French. Of course, you can select French as Content language and English for the UI. In case content information is available in French we would display French and the UI (labels) would be e.g. in English.
Maintain user related information, manage user account belonging, create company/startup account
Define and manage the information about you (personal information like your name, your email address etc.). Some services pre-requisites that some of the data is entered and will not be available before.
In this section you can also manage your belonging (see also "user belonging"). You see any likes and followings you have made; and if other users are following you.
This user information is the basis to create your user profile. But worries, you can define what is shown to others and what not (see public user profile).
A user can either represent a private person or an employee of a company. When you initially create your user, default wise you are created with a private account.
If you want to present a company (e.g. a startup) you either can create that company account or if the company already exists (has an account), you can send a "user belonging"-request to that company account. Or that company may also send you a belonging invite.
When leaving a company just cancel your belonging. Your private account will automatically be reactivated.
Whenever you are not belonging to a company, you have automatically a private account. With a private account it means you are acting completely as a private person.
You can manage your private address and the services you have signed up for with your private account. Some services are also specifically for private accounts and not for companies (or in a slightly different way)
If you join a company account, your private account will be set on hold, but nothing is lost. If you later leave the company account again your private account is automatically reactivated.
In case you would like to represent a company, a startup or a project (going forward only referred as "company account"), which does not yet exist on the platform, you must create a company account. This company can be a startup or any other company type, like a VC, a platform. But also large enterprises are welcome to join us, if they are interested in the startup scene and e.g. are looking for startups to interact with. Depending on company type, the account will be differently displayed (e.g. public profile)
As the creator you automatically have administrator rights assigned. As an administrator you can manage the information about the company, invite users to join the company (belonging invite) and accept belonging requests.
If you would like to leave the company, you first must get rid of our administrator role (either close the account or make sure at least one other user acts as an administrator).
A user can either represent a private person or an employee of a company. On many social platforms this differentiation is not possible, and it is difficult to know if a person says something as a representor of a company or as a private person. We believe this differentiation helps a lot.
In case you are a member of StartupSpider (e.g. connected platforms) you can manage your member specific data separately
As a member you can manage your member account information. This information is also used for several services and how to present your services to the community.
This feature is not yet supported.
Platforms and institutions (e.g. an Accelerator), we are working actively together (e.g. a Crowdfunding platform which is connected) are so called members. This area will allow a member to configure the information he would like to make available to you.
We are currently working on this functionality, which will only be visible to our members.
Just sign up the membership form
See application
By creating your own public profile, you can define who can see what about you
Via the "Configuration of public profile" you can define your user profile.
1) You can define which information is visible to whom (to all users, just to your friends, or to the groups you are active in or to nobody)
2) You can store additional information, relevant for your public profile.
3) You can also share documents with the community. They will be visible as part of your public profile.
To view your own public profile just go to "Community - Find & view public profile of others" and visit your own profile.
In case you are the Administrator of an account, you can also manage the public profile of the company.
1) You can store additional information, relevant for your public profile.
2) You can also share additional information with the community like company updates (which allows you also to share documents) and company news (e.g. like a short notice when you have achieved a milestone with your startup)
Depending on company type (e.g. if you are a startup or not), the information will not only be available via public profile, but also when users looking for Startup information.
To view your own public profile just go to "Community - Find & view public profile of others" and visit your own profile.
StartupSpider is a community platform. To interact with Startups or also with the community you want to now "who is on the other side". Or if you are looking for interesting startups, it should be easy possible to search for certain criteria of startups.
Also we believe in interacting at eye level. To achieve this, we also believe it is easier, if you know who is on the other side and allow the other person to know more about you as well.
Because of all this reasons we have introduced "public profile". This allows you to define how the others are “seeing” you, if they are able to "find you" and also it will have an impact how others are interacting with you.
Select "Startup-Community" in the main menu and click on "public profile" sub menu. This is how you can access the public profile finder. See below public profile finder.
Find the public profile of other users, companies and explicitly startups.
Via the "public profile finder" you can define the criteria relevant for you (by select filter aspects and define filter criteria).
Default only public profile of user are displayed. If you are interested in companies you must flag it accordingly.
After you have defined your criteria and clicked on search, the result is displayed as cards.
Click on the profile you are interested in and you will see the public profile of the selected card.
The profile is always displayed in a separate tab (either user or company). This allows you jump back & forth between profile and the filter/result.
As soon as you have found the public profile you are interested in and have clicked on it, the public profile is shown. You can also come to this view, when you click on the creator of a document etc.
This public profile view should allow you to get very fast an idea about the user or company by displaying "boxes" which should illustrate certain aspects of the user / company.
However, this is always an abstract and in certain cases also not all information is displayed (flagged with 3 bullet points, to notify you, that there is more). If you click on one of the boxes further details or the whole information is revealed.
StartupSpider is a community platform. To interact with Startups or also with the community you want to now "who is on the other side". Or if you are looking for interesting startups, it should be easy possible to search for certain criteria of startups.
Also we believe in interacting at eye level. To achieve this, we also believe it is easier, if you know who is on the other side and allow the other person to know more about you as well.
Because of all this reasons we have introduced "public profile". This allows you to define how the others are “seeing” you, if they are able to "find you" and also it will have an impact how others are interacting with you.
Please see "User data - Create your own public profile"
Overview of platforms and institutions within the Startup-Ecosystem (“FindYourFit” and “Where2Go”)
Find those platforms which in general could be interesting for you. E.g. if you are an investor, you are probably interested in platforms supporting specific types of startups (or specific phases). Also most platforms are accepting only specific types of investors (due to regulation).
With the "findYourFit" you are able to identify those, which may be interesting for you.
We are currently implementing this feature - you will love it!
Are you a Startup and are looking for the next development step? Maybe you need money, pitching training or a co-founder?
'Where2go' will help you to find your way and to get an overview of which platform / institution is offering what kind of startup-support.
We are currently implementing this feature - you will love it!
You as a Crowd-user or Investor you usually have a clear view "what you are looking for" and your own situation. This is the driver for selecting and filtering. Therefore, it needs a view, which allows to enter very clear criteria focusing on "startup types" and "investor acceptance criteria". Therefore, the question is "which platform fits your needs..." (findYourFit).
You as a Startup are in a different situation. It often starts with "what is really the next development step". Is it just money or do you have another need? When you know exactly what you are looking for, the question is still, if that platform accepts you in principle (many platforms do only accept startups from specific countries, of they focus on specific segments e.g. ICT). Therefore, the question is "where do you want to go...." (where2go).
Increase your personal network of friends within the community
"Friends" & "Network" is an important aspect of a community. Therefore, we will release functionality, which will allow you to find new friends and expand your network.
This feature is not yet available.
Mainly in the early phase it is most critical for a startup to build up its own community and network. Therefore, we will also release functionality explicitly for startups.
In the section "confidential data" you just "see" your friends. Via "find new friends & manage your community" allows you to find user, which have similar or a specific profile. We will also use AI to make proposals to you based on certain matching criteria.
Inbox of (private) messages exchanged with a user of the startup-community
Certain features allow you to send & receive private messages to & from other users (e.g. in context of micro ads). This view allows you (like an "inbox") to see new messages and to reply.
Another situation is, if you have created a data alert. If such an alert is triggered, you will also receive a message, which will guide you to that data news.
This feature is not yet available.
In certain situation you want to interact with another person privately, but you don't want to switch to other service providers / tools (e.g. mail or messaging systems) or you want to interact with this user, but without already now reveal information like your email address or phone number (so it allows you to build up the relationship step by step).
Another reason is because a data alert (you have configured) was triggered. This also generates a message, which guides you to that data.
In case there are special StartupSpider-events (e.g. some interesting information, special sale, new software release) an event notification is made available.
There are situations where we (from StartupSpider) would like to notify you about something special. There are 4 types of event notification supported
1) If there is a special sale for StartupSpider CreditPoints (not yet available)
2) If there is a special event to earn StartupSpider CreditPoints (not yet available)
3) If there is some special news, we believe could be interesting for the community
4) If there is some big info we would like to share. Here you will also find announcements of a new release or known bugs
Some events can get clicked away, others not (e.g. announcement of a new release). An event is only available during a certain time period and vanishes afterwards.
If you have flagged an event as "don't show again" (which is not possible for all events), but you would like to see it again, just click on "see all". There you can even "undo" the flagging.
The buttons are only available, if there is information available. If e.g. no "Big Info"-Message is currently available, the button "big info" will no appear.
By creating your own public profile, you can define who can see what about you
There are situations, where something happens and a specific alert is created for you
1) If there is a problem with your user account (e.g. information missing, or you have an open belonging invite etc.)
2) If there are community news
3) If you have unready private messages (from another user or e.g. due to a data alert)
Depending on alert type, they are shown as long as the problem is not solved, or just ones and afterwards they are understood "as read".
There are several situations which require your attention e.g.
- You are getting a belonging invite from a company and have to decide if you would like to accept the invite. As long as you have not accepted or rejected the invite this message remains active.
- There are some missing data with your account. As long as you have not fixed the issue, the message will remain active.
- There are problems with a sub-account. As long this is not fixed, the message will remain active.
- You are administrator of a company account and that account received a belonging request from a user. As long as you (or one of the other administrators) have decided on the request, the message will remain acitve.
- You are administrator of a company account and there are issues with some of the company information, which require your attention. As long as this is not solved, the message will remain active.
- You are administrator of a company account and one of the other administrators have lefte the account. As soon as you have read this message, the message will not been shown again.
- ....
By clicking on it, it will either tell you how to solve it or guide you to the right place.
A community news is like a "news feed". As soon as something happens in the startup-community (e.g. someone published a company news) a "news message" is created. Over time the system will "learn" which news are more interesting for you than others. Or allow you to focus only on the news since your last login. If you click on "see all" and by using "paging" it will remove any applied filters and allow you to go back in the history.
However, if you have missed something and can't find it by just going back in the history, you can always go to the menu "information" (or public profile) and search manually for it.
A private message either is due to another user, who contacts you, or also in case of a data alert, you have configured, which was triggered. As soon as you have read the message ones (either by clicking on the "private message"-alert or by going to "private messages" (community menu) and ready the message directly from there, the alert will disappear. Of course, you can always go to menu "private messages" and read them there again (until they are deleted).
The buttons are only available, if there is information available. If e.g. no "unread private message" is currently available, the button will no appear.
Get an overview of Crowd-/funding campaigns. Find and filter based on our own criteria.
You cannot invest on StartupSpider, but we will guide you smoothly to the platform, if you are interested in a campaign.
StartupSpider connects many Crowd-/funding platforms. Based on your filter criteria you are able to find funding opportunities & Crowd-/funding campaigns you are interested in.
If one of the campaigns raises your interests, just click on it and you will see additional information.
You cannot invest on/via StartupSpider. However, if you are interested in one of the campaigns we are smoothly guide you to that platform and opportunity.
By selecting an opportunity additional information are revealed.
If you have selected a campaign, you see all the additional detail information.
Some platforms reveal some information only, if the user is e.g. a certified investor or has at least a user account. In some cases, a request even goes to the startup and the startup can define, if some information is made available to the requestor or not (e.g. business case). Because of this, in such situation we show a lock.
Each platform has specific criteria who can invest (also due to regulation a platform must fulfill). Here you find the specific criteria of connected platforms.
As the funding does not happen on StartupSpider, but the funding platforms, it is also possible to see the criteria of that platform (this allows to get an understanding which type of investors are accepted or the details of the funding approach, which is applied by that platform). However, this is only indicative and the final answer is with the corresponding platform.
You cannot invest on/via StartupSpider. However, if you are interested in an investment opportunity, we smoothly guide you to that platform and opportunity.
Here you can search for information about how a startup is progressing etc. You can also share thoughts, ideas, feedback with others.
Are you interested how a startup/project/founder is doing? You can search explicitly for such information (lifecycle data). The details of the results will be displayed as part of the finder. You also find if the community is discussing the topic.
In this view you are also able to find publish ads. Or knowledge entries.
This feature is not yet available.
StartupSpider connects many sources. Not just the connected platforms, but also additional sources like company registers. Startups who using also the Community-platform of StartupSpider do also have the opportunity to generate / source the information via the community layer.
Because of this multi-source concept it may happen, that some information are coming from more than just one source. This helps us to validate the information and indicate this for you.
This section allows to search for trading opportunities on specific platforms. You cannot trade on StartupSpider, but we will guide you smoothly to the platform, if you are interested in a trading opportunity.
Find trading opportunities based on your criteria. View the details of the trading opportunity.
As the trading does not happen on StartupSpider, but trading platforms, it is also possible to see the criteria of that platform (this allows to get an understanding which type of investors are accepted or the details of the trading model which is applied by that trading platform). However, this is only indicative, and the final answer is with the corresponding platform.
You cannot trade on/via StartupSpider. However, if you are interested in a trading opportunity, we smoothly guide you to that platform and opportunity.