The most visible startup investment platforms, October 2026

October 2026 · 15 questions asked in English, worldwide · ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Gemini and Google AI Mode · 60 answers read

Leader

Republic

33Heralded Score, range 4–48

Where engines disagree most

FundersClub

1/4engines put it in their top three

Top three on Gemini, not on Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews and ChatGPT

Brands

Rank Brand Rank change Heralded Score All AI Search Score trend Mentioned Recommended By engine Mentioned by Change
1 Republic US New entry 33 , range 4–48 10#1 71#1
33
  • : score 33 · #1
17% 2% First reading
2 OurCrowd IL New entry 4 , range 1–39 4#2 3#10
4
  • : score 4 · #2
5% 0% First reading
3 FundersClub US New entry 3 , range 1–29 4#3 1#13
3
  • : score 3 · #3
4% 0% None First reading
– Acurast CH Unranked Too few answers Not measured 0= #14
–
  • : Unranked
1% 0% None First reading
– Angel Investment Network GB Unranked Too few answers Not measured 7#6
–
  • : Unranked
2% 0% None First reading
– AngelList Meridian US Unranked Too few answers Not measured 4#8
–
  • : Unranked
2% 1% First reading
– AngelList Syndicates US Unranked Too few answers Not measured 14#5
–
  • : Unranked
3% 0% First reading
– Capital Cell ES Unranked Too few answers Not measured 0= #14
–
  • : Unranked
0% 0% None First reading
– CircleUp US Unranked Too few answers Not measured 44#2
–
  • : Unranked
4% 2% None First reading
– Companisto DE Unranked Too few answers Not measured 0= #14
–
  • : Unranked
0% 0% None First reading

“=” marks brands whose score ranges overlap, so the test cannot separate them. Every brand named in at least three answers is ranked. AI and Search give each brand’s score and rank on that side alone. By engine has one dot per engine (ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Gemini and Google AI Mode), darker the more often it names the brand.

Most cited sources

Rank Source Type Cited in Engines Pages cited Brands its pages mention
1 businessangelinstitute.org Reference 6.7% 2 of 4 1 Not read
2 angelschool.vc Reference 5.0% 2 of 4 2 4
3 growthequityinterviewguide.com Reference 3.3% 1 of 4 2 Not read
4 rivier.edu Reference 3.3% 1 of 4 1 Not read
5 corporatefinanceinstitute.com Reference 1.7% 1 of 4 1 Not read
6 esade.edu Reference 1.7% 1 of 4 1 Not read

Questions asked

QuestionLanguageMost recommended
best platforms to invest in startups English No brand recommended
equity crowdfunding platform for startups English No brand recommended
how to raise money from investors online English No brand recommended
how to invest in startups with small amounts English No brand recommended
equity crowdfunding vs angel investors English No brand recommended

Each engine's top three

Google AI Mode

No brand named in at least three answers.

Method

Each leaderboard ranks brands on two sides. AI is how ChatGPT, Gemini, Google AI Overviews and Google AI Mode answer the board's buyer questions. Search is Google's top 10 results for the keywords behind those questions. All combines the two, where Search is measured.

For the AI side, each month Heralded asks every engine the same buyer questions, twice each, and reads every answer. An answer counts 0 for a brand it leaves out, 50 for a brand it names and 100 for a brand it recommends, and the Heralded Score is built from those. A brand named in at least three answers gets a score and a place.

How the leaderboards are measured