Hey everyone,
One thing I’ve had to think about while building FastBusiness API is the obvious question:
Why build a company data API when bigger tools already exist?
There are already large data enrichment platforms out there. Clearbit is probably one of the first names people think of in this space.
But I don’t think every product needs a huge enterprise data platform.
A lot of builders, small teams, internal tools, student projects, CRMs, directories, and SaaS products just need a simple way to turn a business name into a useful structured business profile.
That is the gap I’m trying to build for.
FastBusiness API is focused on being simple:
- send a business name
- optionally include a website or country
- receive a structured business profile
- get fields like website, industry, sector, headquarters, business type, identifiers where available, stock information where available, description, confidence score, and source links
The way I’m trying to compete is not by pretending to be bigger than established tools.
I’m trying to compete by being easier to understand, easier to test, easier to integrate, and more approachable for smaller builders who just want business context without a massive setup process.
A few things I focused on while building it:
- simple REST API design
- clear documentation
- API key authentication
- usage tracking
- source links for returned data
- confidence scoring
- a dashboard for usage, billing, and keys
- pricing that makes sense for smaller users
I’m still early, and there is a lot to improve, but building against bigger competitors has forced me to be clear about what the product is and what it is not.
FastBusiness API is not trying to be everything.
It is trying to make one annoying workflow easier: getting structured business data from a company name.
Site: https://fastbusinessapi.com
For other founders/builders, how do you think about competing in a market where bigger tools already exist?
Top comments (1)
Building a personal finance app against YNAB and the big banks, so this resonates a lot.
The framing that helped me most was: big competitors define the category, but they also define all the things people find frustrating about the category. Those frustrations are your actual market. You don't need to beat them on breadth - you need to be the obvious choice for the people they're annoying.
For you that might be exactly the simplicity angle. Clearbit is enterprise-first. Someone building a quick internal tool or a side project doesn't want a sales call and a 6-figure contract. Being the one that works in 5 minutes and has sensible pricing for smaller volumes is a real moat, just a different shape than the big players have.
The 'not trying to be everything' framing in your post is the right instinct. Stick to it even when it feels tempting to add more.