Who gets paid when someone introduces you to an AI data buyer
Some buyers pay up to $100,000 for an introduction. That doesn't make the intro bad. It means you should ask.
AI data buyers pay people to bring them companies, and they say so publicly. If a consultant, a vendor, a LinkedIn contact or even your accountant sent you an offer, they may get a check if you sign.
What buyers pay for an introduction
| Buyer | Finder's fee | Paid when |
|---|---|---|
| Mercor | Up to $100,000 | You go live |
| micro1 | $50,000, or 7.5% on deals over $700,000 | Your data is approved |
| Mode | $50,000 or 6%, whichever is more | The deal closes |
| Scale AI | Up to $50,000 | Scale signs with you |
| Handshake AI | $10,000 | A deal happens |
| Turing | Up to $10,000 | Not stated |
Notice the pattern. The finder gets paid only if you sign and hand over the data. Nobody gets paid for an intro that ends in "no thanks."
Three things in the fine print
- They can't share the fee with you. micro1's terms bar finders from passing any of it to the company.
- They don't have to tell you. We found no rule in micro1's terms that a finder must tell you they're being paid.
- The link may carry their code. If someone sends you a link to "get your estimate," that link may be how they get credit.
"Independent" websites that aren't
Search for how to sell your company's data and you'll find guides, comparison tables and "what's your data worth" calculators. Many earn finder's fees. Watch for these signs:
- Every button leads to a form asking for your email.
- No named author.
- Every road leads to the same one or two buyers.
- A confident price before anyone has seen your files.
How to ask
One sentence, in writing, to whoever introduced you:
"Before we go further, is anyone being paid by the buyer if we sign, and how much?"
A straight answer is a good sign, whatever the number.
How we're paid
You should ask us the same question. Here's the answer.
- Nothing up front.
- We're paid only if we get you a better deal than your current offer, out of money you've received.
- New buyers we bring in pay us on top of their bid, not out of it. You see what each one pays before any bid.
- Your original buyer never pays us.
- The exact terms are in writing before we start.
- An independent attorney reviews your contract, and we pay for it.
That's still an incentive, and we'd rather say so. If a new buyer wins, we're paid by both you and them, and a buyer paying us may bid a little lower to make room for it. That's why you see what each new buyer pays before any bid.