Data.world raises $18.7 million to connect open data sets | VentureBeat | Entrepreneur | by Bérénice Magistretti

"Users can sign up for free on the Data.world website, create a profile, and start importing data from any source — docs, scripts, charts, and more. The company created its own language, dwSQL, which allows users to access Data.world’s underlying semantic graph database using SQL — a more popular and universal language — instead of SPARQL, the more complex language of the Semantic Web.

Users can then visualize the imported data, filter through it, and share it on their Data.world profiles for comment or input.

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The startup’s business model is similar to GitHub’s, according to Hurt, in that the service is free unless users want to store data in a private workspace. If so, Data.world charges a small monthly fee. (Data.world is currently in preview mode, so early users aren’t being charged for private accounts at this time.)

Hurt wouldn’t disclose the number of customers, but said the startup has consistently beaten user acquisition goals and received nearly 2,000 invitation requests just a few days after launching last June.

Anyone can post on Data.world as there is no vetting process. This Wikipedia-esque way of sharing data could be worrisome in this day and age of 'alternative facts.' But the social and interactive nature of the network also enables lively discussions based on data provided by the government, academic institutions, and scientific research centers."