How big is the market for business data?

Public figures put it in the hundreds of millions of dollars, counting disclosed contracts and what programs say they have paid out.

Can a small business sell its data?

Some programs state no size minimum, and others look for about 20 or more full-time employees and three or more years of history.

Who's buying Published October 7, 2026 · 4 minute read · By Briggs Analytics

The market for business data, in four numbers

Short answer: it's real money, in the hundreds of millions. Reddit disclosed $203.0 million in data licensing contracts in its 2024 IPO filing (SEC filing). Handshake says it has paid out $250 million to data partners (Handshake). Troveo says it has paid more than $20 million to licensors (Troveo), and SimpleClosure expects more than $10 million in data deals (Upstarts Media).

Four numbers worth knowing

The market for business data, in four public numbers

HandshakePaid out to data partners

$250M

RedditData licensing contracts, 2024 IPO filing

$203.0M

TroveoPaid to licensors

$20M+

SimpleClosureData deals it expects

$10M+

Different measures: contract value, payouts and a forecast. None is a quote for any one company. Log scale: each step to the right is ten times larger. Sources: Handshake · Reddit S-1 (SEC) · Troveo · Upstarts Media

These come from different kinds of sources, so they measure different things. Reddit's figure is the value of contracts it disclosed to investors before going public. Handshake's and Troveo's are what each says it has paid out to the people and companies supplying data. SimpleClosure's is a forecast it gave a reporter. None of them is a quote for your company. Together they show a market that pays in the hundreds of millions.

Who is on the other side of these deals?

AI companies, mostly through programs that collect, review and package data for them. Handshake says it works with more than 1,000 partner companies. Troveo says it has more than 40 active buyers. Those programs are who a business owner deals with, not the AI labs directly.

Engraving of workers loading bundles of records into a train boxcar — Business records get bought and shipped like any other goods now.

Is any of this for a small or mid-size company?

Yes, and that's the part most owners miss. The headline numbers come from big data sets, but the programs behind them publish rules that fit ordinary companies. Handshake looks for 20 or more full-time employees and three or more years of history. Mercor and Ooak state no size minimum. Your company may be sitting on an asset you've never valued.

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What to do now

Keep your history intact, and find out what it could be worth. The estimate takes about two minutes and needs no files. Once we review your company, we'll tell you exactly which program we'd recommend before making an introduction. Public programs we monitor.

In short

Reddit disclosed $203.0 million in data licensing contracts in its 2024 IPO filing.
Handshake says it has paid out $250 million to data partners; Troveo says more than $20 million to licensors.
SimpleClosure expects more than $10 million in data deals.
Several programs publish rules that fit companies with 20 or more employees, and some state no minimum.

Briggs AnalyticsWe match business owners to the strongest available program for their company. Philadelphia, PA.