Strategy & Portfolio
Market Map
A visual overview of a startup ecosystem or market segment — mapping companies by category, stage, geography, or other characteristics.
A market map is a visual framework categorizing companies operating in a specific market segment. VCs create market maps to understand competitive landscapes when evaluating investments: who are the players, how are they positioned, where are the gaps? Market maps help identify: direct competitors, adjacent players, potential acquirers, and white space opportunities. Founders use market maps in pitch decks to show competitive positioning. Media companies (CB Insights, a16z, Bessemer) publish market maps as content marketing — the famous Bessemer 'Roadmap' and a16z sector maps have become well-known reference documents. Good market maps reveal structural insight about a sector, not just a flat list of companies.