AI Data Brokering: Would I Build It?

The buyers exist. Here’s what I’d check before chasing the referral fee.

📖Today’s Playbook

What are we actually selling?

Businesses build up records of how work gets done, including project histories, internal documentation, support tickets, decisions, and revisions.

AI buyers are looking for material that can help models learn from real-world work. Scale’s data partnership programme specifically seeks operational workflows from established businesses. Similarly, Polyshares states that it licenses operating records directly and supplies them to AI labs.

This suggests there is a market worth exploring. However, it doesn’t establish how frequently independent referrers actually receive payment.

The simplest way to approach this venture is by sourcing introductions. You identify a suitable company, obtain its permission, and connect the relevant decision-maker with a buyer. The buyer then evaluates the records and negotiates the licensing agreement. You receive a referral payment if the agreed conditions are fulfilled.

Building a data advisory business involves much more work, including assessing data assets, negotiating rights, and managing delivery. I wouldn’t recommend starting at that level.

The fee is attractive. The conditions matter more.

​micro1 advertises payouts of up to $50,000 for each company referral. According to its website, Workflow referrals require onboarding and meeting a minimum revenue threshold to qualify for payment, while Corpus referrals are paid after the data has been accepted. Applications must also include the correct referral attribution.

That is enough to make the opportunity interesting. However, it is also a reason to examine the terms carefully.

The referral terms dated October 14 require consent from an authorised company representative, and existing leads are not eligible. Referrers are also prohibited from presenting themselves as agents or representatives of micro1. Payments remain subject to the company’s discretion and may be withheld or reclaimed. Additionally, termination may result in the loss of unpaid referral payouts.

These are significant commercial risks to consider. A promising introduction does not automatically translate into money you can count on.

Who has a useful advantage here?

I would prioritise people who already have trusted connections with established business owners. This could include agency founders or industry professionals who can reach the person responsible for the company’s records.

A scraped directory can provide names, but the more challenging part is having the conversation: “Would you be open to allowing another company to use part of your operational history?”

According to micro1’s published criteria, suitable companies should have mature operations, at least 30 employees, and documentation primarily in English. The programme also currently favours businesses based in the US. A small local shop with only a few spreadsheets may therefore be unsuitable for this particular opportunity.

Finding the right fit matters more than simply increasing outreach volume.

🛠️The Deploy

How I’d test it without building a whole agency

Owner: you, the founder. I’d set aside one week to test access and buyer interest. That is a discovery sprint, not a payout deadline.

First, verify the current requirements with one buyer. Get written confirmation of the accepted company profile, referral attribution rules, payment triggers, and exclusions. Ask what happens if the seller withdraws from the process. If the commercial terms don’t make sense for you, stop here.

Next, select ten companies you can realistically reach. This is my suggested pilot size, not a benchmark for expected conversions. Focus on one industry you understand. Check whether each company has meaningful digital records and an authorised representative willing to discuss them.

Begin with a conversation rather than requesting a data export. I’d say:

Qualify the opportunity before making the introduction. Use this card:

Company and authorised contact:

Buyer and current fit criteria:

Record types, approximate volume and history:

Who controls the records and can approve sharing:

Restrictions requiring review:

Consent and referral attribution confirmed:

Payout conditions and next decision date:

Hours and cash spent so far:

I’d keep the pilot focused on introductions. The company owner and buyer should work through permissions, confidentiality, and data handling using their agreed process. “Anonymised” does not mean you have permission to distribute someone else’s archive.

From Introductions to Actual Earnings

My verdict: explore it if you have the right connections

I would investigate this opportunity through existing relationships rather than building a cold outreach system around the advertised commission just yet.

For the pilot, I’d move forward if a buyer confirms that the company fits their requirements and an authorised owner agrees to take the next step. I’d put things on hold if ownership or usage rights are unclear, and walk away if the referral terms or potential earnings don’t make financial sense.

Keep track of consented introductions, accepted opportunities, and actual cash received as separate measures. Before scaling, I’d want evidence that this work can generate paid results at a cost I can reasonably sustain.

To assess the economics, deduct research, outreach, and follow-up expenses, including the value of your time, from the money actually received. Include the effort spent on introductions that get rejected, too. Until there is evidence of paid outcomes, the expected return remains uncertain.

The real advantage lies in building an owner’s trust and assessing opportunities effectively. That requires more judgement than simply finding an email address.

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🎯NEXT STEPS

• Read one buyer’s current programme and referral terms.
• List ten companies you could approach credibly.
• Seek permission for a fit conversation before submitting a referral.

Stay weird,

Vaibhav

P.S. Should I do more Venture Checks? Hit reply and tell me: did you enjoy this format, did it help you judge the business, and what would you want me to examine next? “Interesting, but I needed more on ___” is useful feedback too.