PitchBook is a financial data and software company that provides information on the private equity, venture capital, and M&A markets. Its database covers over 280,000 private companies, 550,000 funds, and 1 million investors. While PitchBook offers valuable data, its subscriptions can be expensive, ranging from $665 to $2,400 per user per year. However, there are some ways to access PitchBook for free or at a discounted price. This article will explore different options to help you get PitchBook services for free or cheap.
Use PitchBook at public libraries
Many public libraries across the US provide free access to the PitchBook Platform for their members. Libraries purchase a subscription on behalf of the community to support business research and economic development initiatives. You can visit your local public library to check if they offer PitchBook access. If yes, you can sign up for a library membership and log in to PitchBook through the library’s portal. This allows you to conduct searches and export data from PitchBook for free. You’ll get full access as long as you comply with the library’s membership terms.
Before visiting the library, call them up or check their website to confirm they offer PitchBook. You may also inquire about the login process, usage guidelines, and borrowing limits. If your local library doesn’t have PitchBook, you can request them to add the database to their collection. Many libraries take member recommendations into account when making subscription decisions.
Use academic libraries
If you are a student or faculty member at a university, your academic library may provide free access to PitchBook. Many academic institutions subscribe to PitchBook to support business, finance, and economic research. To access it, visit your university library’s website and look for PitchBook under the databases. You’ll typically find it listed under business/finance/accounting resources.
Once you locate PitchBook, the library should provide instructions on how to login through their portal. This usually requires you to enter your school credentials. As long as you have an active student/faculty account, you can search PitchBook and export data at no cost. Make sure to comply with your library’s usage and copyright policies. Also, remote access options differ between schools, so check with your librarians for details.
Use library reciprocal borrowing networks
Many public library systems participate in reciprocal borrowing programs that allow cardholders to access libraries outside their home county/city. These networks effectively expand the resources you can use for free with your library membership. You can check if a library in the network provides PitchBook access even if your home branch doesn’t.
For instance, Ohio, Georgia, and Indiana have statewide reciprocal borrowing programs. If you live in one of these states, ask your librarian to help identify libraries participating in the reciprocal program that offer PitchBook. Similarly, major cities like Los Angeles and New York allow cardholders to use other branches for free. You may find PitchBook at a branch other than your neighborhood one.
The key is taking advantage of reciprocal borrowing arrangements to widen your options. Before visiting another library, call them to verify PitchBook access for reciprocal program participants. You’ll typically need to present your home library card. Make sure to follow the lending rules for non-resident borrowers.
Use library cards from larger systems
Larger library systems serving big populations are more likely to offer niche databases like PitchBook. If you live near the jurisdiction of such a system, consider getting a non-resident membership.
For example, libraries serving Los Angeles County and New York City provide PitchBook to members. Even if you live just outside these areas, you may be able to pay a fee to join as a non-resident. This library card would let you login to PitchBook from anywhere for free.
The Brooklyn Public Library offers an $85/year eMembership that provides access to online resources. Nearby residents can explore this option to use PitchBook at no extra cost. Just remember to cancel the membership when you no longer need the database to avoid unnecessary charges.
Ask your local library to get PitchBook
If your library doesn’t offer PitchBook, you can request them to subscribe to it. Many libraries allow members to recommend databases, books, and other resources. This helps ensure the collection meets community needs.
Schedule an appointment with your librarian to discuss the benefits of adding PitchBook. Highlight the value it could provide to businesses and researchers in your area. Also, note if other nearby library systems offer the database. Polite requests backed by logical reasoning can sway libraries, especially if multiple people inquire.
Your librarian may ask you to submit the request online or via email. Be sure to emphasize the merits of a PitchBook subscription. Getting community support strengthens the case. If approved, the library will add PitchBook for all members to use for free. While not guaranteed, a polite request is worth a shot.
Use limited free trials
PitchBook offers limited free trials that provide temporary access to database features. Users can sign up for a 7-day free trial of the standard PitchBook Platform. You have to enter your credit card information to begin the trial, but you won’t be charged if you cancel within 7 days.
This free trial lets you explore the PitchBook Platform to evaluate the data. You can conduct searches, build charts, and export limited datasets. While the access is shorter, the free trial does give a sense of PitchBook’s capabilities. Just be sure to cancel within 7 days to avoid being charged $665+ for a paid subscription.
PitchBook also provides free 30-day trials of some add-on products like Search Excel Exports, API Access, and Data Visualization. These extended trials allow more time to experience the features but require cancellation to avoid billing. PitchBook sometimes offers special trial promotions too, so look out for those.
Use free limited datasets
PitchBook publishes limited datasets for free on its website. These snapshot reports contain useful charts and tables on topics like PE Breakdowns, VC Valuations, and Top Angel Investors. Anyone can access them without a subscription.
While not as robust as the full database, these free datasets do provide helpful PE/VC analysis. You can view and download the visualizations covering key market trends. Examples include:
– US PE Breakdown – comps table with deal and exit counts, investment totals, and other useful PE metrics.
– VC Valuation Report – chart showing median and average pre-money valuations by stage.
– Most Active Angel Investors – table listing top angel investors by number of investments.
PitchBook refreshes these sample datasets periodically to ensure relevance. Subscribers get much more data, but these free snapshots offer limited insights without a paid account.
Attend free webcasts and events
PitchBook frequently hosts free educational webcasts and events that provide market analysis. These sessions are led by PitchBook analysts who discuss and interpret interesting data.
You can attend the webcasts live or view recordings to hear insights based on PitchBook data. Recent examples include webcasts on topics like software valuations, PE portfolio company growth, and unicorn companies. While you don’t get direct access to PitchBook, the analysts share relevant findings, charts, and visualizations.
PitchBook also attends industry conferences and university events to showcase sample data. You may find booths with stations allowing brief exploration of the PitchBook Platform. PitchBook may also distribute promotional reports containing charts at these events. Attending is a chance to interact with the data at no cost.
View limited profiles on PitchBook’s website
The PitchBook website offers snippets of information on select companies and funds visible to non-subscribers. These limited profiles display basic facts like location, industry, key contacts, and total raised. They provide a sample of the complete profiles available on the full PitchBook Platform.
You can search for a specific company or individual to see if PitchBook has a partial profile available. This lets you check basic details and get a sense of the Platform’s data. Of course, subscriber access provides more robust profiles, but these snippets are viewable without a paid account.
Follow PitchBook reports and newsletters
PitchBook publishes free reports, analysis, and newsletters that distill key findings. You can visit their website to browse recently released content with insights based on their market data.
Examples include their “A Year in Review” series with breakdowns of annual PE, VC, and M&A activity. This analysis highlights important trends like median deal sizes, activity by sector, exits, and more. They also post occasional research reports on topics like generational investing patterns and emerging technologies. Useful insights without accessing the underlying data.
You can also sign up on their website for free email newsletters like PE News, VC News, and M&A News. These newsletters summarize notable deals and events from the previous week. It provides summarized updates on major developments across PitchBook’s coverage areas.
Follow PitchBook’s social media accounts
For quick snapshots of interesting data, follow PitchBook’s social media accounts on platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn. Their analysts regularly share charts, graphs, and visualizations highlighting noteworthy findings.
Examples include charts comparing activity across regions, top investments by sector, and median valuations by stage. Commentary puts the stats into context. You can re-share interesting visuals that PitchBook posts to stay on top of important trends.
While you don’t get access to the raw data, PitchBook’s social accounts provide free bite-sized insights. Checking their posts lets you spot key trends and news based on their market intelligence.
Partner with someone who has access
If you know someone at a research organization, university, or company that subscribes to PitchBook, you can request to partner with them. Many schools and businesses permit a limited number of guest passes for database access. Employees and students can assign these to friends without accounts.
The guest credentials provide full access for a specified period, often a few days up to a couple of weeks. This allows you to explore PitchBook as if you had your own license. Given the cost, subscribers are often willing to share guest passes to help out professional contacts researching the markets PitchBook covers.
The catch is that you need to know someone willing to use their allotted guest passes for you. If no one in your network has an active PitchBook subscription, this option is difficult. But for many, tapping their subscriber contacts is the most convenient way to get PitchBook access for free, even if only temporarily.
Use credits through your school or organization
Some academic institutions and companies have “credits” with certain database providers. They can use these credits to grant individuals limited-term access, even if the school/company doesn’t subscribe.
For instance, a university may have a stash of PitchBook credits from participating in case studies or research. If you explain you need access for a project, the librarians may be able to create a guest account using these unused credits. Some companies also have leftover trial credits that could get you access.
The catch is this requires the organization to have credits with PitchBook and the willingness to use them at your request. If both conditions are met, you may get approval to use PitchBook at no cost for a short period, like a few weeks. Be sure to thank the school or company for their courtesy in using valuable credits on you.
Use PitchBook at a subsidized university
Some universities that help subsidize access to PitchBook for students and faculty at other schools. This provides a discounted way to get access if your own institution doesn’t subscribe.
For example, Carnegie Mellon University offers subsidized PitchBook access to students and professors at schools participating in their Open Learning Initiative. You pay a small membership fee, complete a verification process, then get login credentials. This provides 12 months of PitchBook access at a fraction of the regular cost.
See if your school qualifies for discounted access through similar programs from universities like Carnegie Mellon. Reach out to your librarians for assistance in determining eligibility and signing up. This could save you hundreds of dollars if you need PitchBook for research and education purposes.
Wait for a free trial period
PitchBook occasionally offers free trial periods where anyone can sign up for temporary access. They have previously granted library cardholders free trials for up to three months.
You can monitor the PitchBook website and blog to watch for special trial offers. Sometimes they provide these for special events like Small Business Week or as part of a larger promotion. If you don’t qualify through other options, keeping an eye out for a free trial period could provide the PitchBook access you need at zero cost.
Checking their website, newsletters, and social media accounts increases your chance of catching a future trial offer. Free access granted for special occasions may meet your PitchBook requirements.
Get access as a potential PitchBook client
If you’re interested in purchasing for your organization, you can request a demo and free trial as a prospective PitchBook client. Contact their sales team to inquire about PitchBook products relevant to your needs. Let them know you’d like to thoroughly evaluate the platform before making a purchase decision.
PitchBook provides demos and trials to buyers considering subscriptions for business purposes. As long as you convey you’re genuinely interested in buying, you may gain free short-term access. This allows potential customers to test out the database and inspect the data before committing to a paid contract.
Just bear in mind this route requires feigning interest as a serious buyer. Use judiciously and avoid abusing the good faith of their sales team. But for some, this could justify free access to PitchBook for a brief period.
Join as a PitchBook employee
One way to get permanent free access to PitchBook is to join the company as an employee! PitchBook workers get login credentials that provide full access for as long as they work there.
PitchBook hires research analysts, data specialists, software engineers, salespeople, and various corporate roles. If you have qualifications relevant to their open positions, you could land a job with PitchBook. Once hired, you’d have unlimited access to the database you support by contributing work.
The downside is you have to get hired by PitchBook, pass training, and provide ongoing value in your role. But for those interested in working for a financial data firm, employment comes with the major perk of getting all of PitchBook’s resources for free.
Conclusion
While paid PitchBook subscriptions can be expensive, there are creative ways to access the database at little or no cost. Libraries often provide the simplest route to get PitchBook for free if they offer subscriptions. Failing that, you can explore trial periods, limited datasets, guest passes, special academic programs, and other helpful options outlined above. With persistence and planning, you can likely find a method that fits your needs and budget constraints. Let us know in the comments if you have discovered any alternate ways to use PitchBook for free!