StartupSearch.org - Tracking the World of 2.0

Startup Search is a newly launched directory of all things 2.0. It"s got listings of the highest traffic gainers, companies and their highest ranked partners, along with detailed descriptions of start-up products. Start-ups are given an overall score based on buzz and traffic which are depicted in handy little tabs below the description. Buzz is currently determined by the number of mentions a site gets as measured by Google, Technorati and Yahoo. Traffic is rated by Alexa, Compete, and Quantcast observations. There are Flickr images on the side panel for added visuals, although they frequently have little to do with the sites themselves. Startup also gives you broader searching parameters with queries by person, investors and partners; Google maps display base locations and there is additional info about a person"s experience, investment history, etc.. It"s still pretty early to tell how well they"ll do, but Startup has potential.

"Startup Search tracks the web technology ecosystem commonly referenced as "Web 2.0." We collect facts and figures about new web products, startup companies, key startup employees, and the funding dollars powering their growth.

Startup Search boasts a clean interface and it"s got plenty of additional information. There are nice screenshots of competiting sites and it"s easy to find the info you need. It"s a good quick reference guide.

There are quite a few similar sites out there already. How does it derive its ranking system? Is it solely based on Alexa? How do they pick companies to feature?