Data Buyers: The Four Types That Pay for Company Data
Data buyers for company records fall into four groups. Direct buyers, brokers, wind-down platforms and labs all buy business records, but they work very differently. Here's how to tell them apart.
New to this? Start with the main guide on how to selling data to AI buyers, then use this page for the detail.
Four kinds of buyers purchase company data for AI: direct buyers that license it and pay you themselves, brokers and marketplaces that match you with labs for a cut, wind-down platforms that bundle data sales into a shutdown, and a few labs buying directly from large companies. For most businesses, a direct buyer is the simplest path: one counterparty and no fee.
The four types of data buyers
| Type | How it works | Fee to you | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct buyer | Licenses the data, pays you, then supplies AI labs | None | Operating companies wanting one clear offer |
| Broker or marketplace | Lists your data or matches you with labs | Usually a percentage | Unusual data that needs a wide search |
| Wind-down platform | Bundles a data sale into the shutdown process | Usually a share of proceeds | Startups already closing |
| Lab buying directly | Buys from large companies or at auction | Varies | Large companies and bankruptcies |
Direct buyers
A direct buyer is the counterparty. They review your sample, price it, sign the license and pay you after delivery. Polyshares works this way, publishes typical deals of $100K to $2M+, and charges sellers nothing. You can request an offer from Polyshares.
Brokers and marketplaces
They put your data in front of more buyers. That can help with unusual data, but price and timing depend on finding a match, and they take a cut when a deal closes. Ask for the fee in writing.
Wind-down platforms
Shutdown firms now offer data sales alongside dissolution and asset sales. SimpleClosure launched Asset Hub in April 2026 for this. Reported payouts from these deals have run $10,000 to $100,000 (Forbes, Apr 16, 2026). See Polyshares vs SimpleClosure.
Labs and big tech
Large labs mostly buy at scale. Google's $10 million winning bid for Spirit Airlines' internal emails and Teams chats in August 2026, still awaiting court approval at a Nov 6, 2026 hearing, is the clearest public example. For a typical business, this route isn't realistic.
How to compare offers
- Net payout after fees, not the headline number.
- When you get paid: on signing, on delivery, or after the buyer resells.
- Who does the anonymization, and to what standard.
- Whether it's a license or an outright sale. See licensing vs selling.
- What's excluded, especially client-owned data.
Our side-by-side comparisons score buyers on these points.
Next in this series: data licensing.
Common questions
Who buys business data for AI training?
Direct buyers like Polyshares, data companies like micro1 and Nyne, wind-down platforms like SimpleClosure, and occasionally labs or big tech at auction.
Is a broker or a direct buyer better?
A direct buyer is simpler: one counterparty and no fee. A broker can reach more buyers but takes a cut and adds time.
Do data buyers charge sellers a fee?
Direct buyers don't. Brokers, marketplaces and wind-down platforms usually take a percentage.
Can I get offers from more than one buyer?
Yes. Compare net payout, payment timing and data handling before you sign anything exclusive.
- Polyshares published terms. https://polyshares.com/
- Business Wire: SimpleClosure launches Asset Hub. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260416986787/en/SimpleClosure-Launches-Asset-Hub-to-Unlock-Value-Startups-Leave-Behind
- micro1: Business data. https://www.micro1.ai/data-engine/business-data
- Nyne: Company data partnerships. https://nyne.ai/sell-company-data/
- Stretto: Spirit Airlines data sale hearing moved to Nov 6, 2026 (Oct 14, 2026). https://chapter11cases.com/blogs/news/spirit-airlines-case-update-the-data-sale-slips-to-november-as-spirit-moves-to-unwind-the-hfs-aircraft-deal
- Fast Company: Shuttered startups are selling old Slack chats and emails to AI companies. https://fastcompany.com/91528808/shuttered-startups-are-selling-old-slack-chats-and-emails-to-ai-companies
- Forbes: AI’s new training data: your old work Slacks and emails (Apr 16, 2026). https://www.forbes.com/sites/annatong/2026/04/16/ais-new-training-data-your-old-work-slacks-and-emails/