Short answer — for most startups I recommend evaluating (1) ComplyAdvantage, (2) Trulioo (GlobalGateway Watchlist), (3) LSEG / Refinitiv World‑Check One, (4) SanctionScanner, plus (for crypto businesses) Chainalysis or Elliptic. These cover sanctions/PEP/watchlist screening, ongoing monitoring, and easy API integrations that startups need. (ComplyAdvantage.com)

Why these (quick rationale)

• Coverage + data quality: LSEG/Refinitiv World‑Check and Trulioo maintain very large, curated watchlists (sanctions, PEPs, adverse media) used by banks and global platforms. Good for low false positives and regulatory defensibility. (lseg.com)
• Startup‑friendly pricing / onboarding: ComplyAdvantage offers a “Starter” tier and a ComplyLaunch program that provides free access for eligible early-stage startups — useful to reduce cost while building compliance. (ComplyAdvantage.com)
• Lightweight / easy integration options: SanctionScanner and similar niche vendors advertise simple APIs, lower cost, and fast time‑to‑integration — attractive for small teams that want quick production checks. (SanctionScanner.com)
• Crypto / blockchain risk: If you handle crypto flows, add an on‑chain analytics provider (Chainalysis, Elliptic) to detect tainted funds and sanctions on wallet addresses — traditional watchlists won’t cover chain tracing. (arXiv.org)

Recommended shortlist (pros/cons at a glance)

• ComplyAdvantage — Pros: modern API, full AML suite, ongoing monitoring, startup programs (ComplyLaunch). Cons: deeper modules (transaction monitoring, enterprise features) can get expensive at scale. (ComplyAdvantage.com)
• Trulioo (GlobalGateway Watchlist) — Pros: large global watchlist coverage, integrates with Trulioo KYC/KYB flows, single API for KYC + watchlists. Cons: enterprise orientation — pricing can be higher for heavy-volume startups. (developer.Trulioo.com)
• LSEG / Refinitiv World‑Check One — Pros: industry gold standard for sanctions/PEP/adverse media, real‑time updates, strong provenance. Cons: typically more expensive; often sold via partners/aggregators. (lseg.com)
• SanctionScanner (and similar niche vendors) — Pros: lower-cost, fast integration, simple UI/API, good for SME/fintech/crypto startups. Cons: may have smaller data enrichment than major providers. (SanctionScanner.com)
• Chainalysis / Elliptic (crypto) — Pros: blockchain tracing, sanctions screening on addresses, typicallly essential if handling crypto. Cons: specialist cost; integration required to map on‑chain to your onboarding records. (arXiv.org)

How to choose (practical checklist for startups)

1. Regulatory need: Which lists/regulators matter for your business (OFAC, EU, HMT, local regulators)? Ensure vendor covers those lists. (Check vendor documentation.) (Trulioo.com)
2. API + dev effort: Look for REST APIs, SDKs, webhooks and sandbox accounts — reduces dev time. ComplyAdvantage and Trulioo emphasize API-first offerings. (ComplyAdvantage.com)
3. Ongoing monitoring & alerts: Make sure the plan includes continuous monitoring (not just one‑off checks) for regulatory risk. (ComplyAdvantage.com)
4. False positive handling / case management: Does the vendor provide match‑scoring, fuzzy matching tuning, and a case workflow to triage alerts? This affects headcount costs. (lseg.com)
5. Price & free programs: Use startup programs (ComplyLaunch) or low‑volume plans to start; factor in per‑check or per‑monitored‑entity pricing as you scale. (ComplyAdvantage.com)
6. Crypto needs: If you touch crypto, add on‑chain analytics (Chainalysis/Elliptic) alongside sanctions/watchlist screening. (arXiv.org)

Starter stack suggestion (fast path)

• Day 0: Sign up for a starter plan with ComplyAdvantage or a lightweight vendor (SanctionScanner) to get immediate sanctions / PEP / adverse media checks. Use their sandbox and API to integrate. (ComplyAdvantage.com)
• Month 1–3: If you need global scale or are targeting regulated partners, add Trulioo or LSEG World‑Check One (or both) for broader watchlist coverage and regulatory defensibility. (Trulioo.com)
• Crypto flow: Add Chainalysis/Elliptic for address tracing and sanctions hits on-chain. (arXiv.org)

If you want, I can:

• build a short vendor comparison table with estimated starting prices, API features, and trial availability; or
• tailor recommendations to your vertical (fiat payments, crypto, marketplace, lending) and expected monthly volumes so you get the most cost‑effective stack.

Which of those would you like next?