• by Ray Schultz , Columnist, April 9, 2025

Small businesses can seek prospects and partners — and get found themselves — via an AI-driven B2B database called B2B Stars. 

Launched in Europe last year by Expandi Group, B2B Stars is now available in the U.S. It is designed to help businesses “find verified information, get discovered by potential clients, and qualify credible partners,” says Raffaele Apostoliti, CEO of B2B Stars. 

Apostoliti says “it has been hard for smaller businesses to get recognized through general purpose search engines, as companies are ranked on soft metrics like website traffic.” 

In some ways, B2B resembles an old-fashioned compiled database. It provides an online directory that covers 95% of B2B companies with 10+ employees, totaling over three million firms in Europe and the U.S.

The difference is the reputational overlay and the apparent two-way analytics. 

“The platform's emphasis on verified reviews and comprehensive reputation scores makes it a powerful asset for small and medium-sized businesses to gain access to a wealth of information that goes beyond traditional directories,” observes Mohamed Alaa Saayed, senior program director & fellow at Frost & Sullivan. 

Of course, you also need contact information such as email and phone if you are going to reach out to these firms. 

On the prospect side, SMBs can “cultivate their corporate reputation and leverage data to support their credibility and harness earned trust to drive long-term financial success,” says Giuliana Berchicci, U.S. director, B2B Stars.