Data licensing referrals
Your company's records have value. Keep your business and get paid for them.
AI companies now license anonymized operating records from established businesses to train their models. We help you find out whether your company qualifies and introduce you to a buyer that fits.
Free for your company. We're paid by the buyer only if a deal completes.
What this is
A license, not a sale of your company.
Businesses that have run for years build up records of how work gets done: procedures, project files, tickets, internal messages. AI companies need this kind of real-world material to train models that can do practical work.
Some of them pay to license it. The buyer removes personal and sensitive details, and you keep ownership of your records and your business.
- Leasing workflows and checklists2015–2026
- Maintenance request tickets2017–2026
- Internal Slack channels2018–2026
- Inspection report templates2016–2026
- Staff training documents2019–2026
- Tenant payment detailsexcluded
- Tenant personal dataexcluded
What buyers look for
Records your company created and owns.
Every buyer has its own priorities. These are common examples.
Real estate
Leasing processes, transaction checklists, property management tickets.
Architecture and design
Drawing sets, specifications, internal project notes.
Construction and trades
Estimates, job notes, change orders.
Professional services
Internal procedures, templates, project files.
Software and IT services
Internal tickets, project history, documentation.
Logistics
Dispatch logs, routing decisions, operating procedures.
What stays out
Sensitive and client-owned records are excluded.
Buyers generally exclude the following. You and your legal counsel decide what is included before anything is shared.
- ×Records owned by your clients or restricted by client contracts
- ×Attorney-client privileged material
- ×Patient health information
- ×Payment card and financial account details
- ×Social Security numbers and other government IDs
- ×Children's data and biometric data
- ×Classified or export-controlled material
How it works
Four steps, and you can stop at any of them.
Answer five questions
Headcount, location, how long you've kept records, the tools that hold them, and who owns them. It takes about two minutes.
We check fit
We compare your answers with what current buyers are looking for and tell you plainly whether it's worth pursuing.
We introduce you
With your permission, we connect you with the buyer that fits best. The buyer reviews your company and handles anonymization.
You decide
If the buyer makes an offer, you and your counsel review the terms. The license and payment are between you and the buyer.
How we're paid
You pay us nothing.
If a deal completes, the buyer pays us a referral fee under our agreement with them. There's no cost to your company at any stage, and nothing is owed if no deal happens.
Fees differ between buyers. We recommend buyers based on fit, and we'll tell you how we're compensated for your introduction if you ask.
You're also free to approach buyers directly. Our role is to save you the research, match you with the right buyer, and help keep the process moving.
What to expect
Not every company qualifies, and no outcome is guaranteed.
Published deals in this market have ranged from roughly $100,000 to several hundred thousand dollars. Each buyer prices each company on its own, based mainly on headcount, years of records and the tools that hold them. Many companies won't meet a buyer's criteria, and buyers make all final decisions.
Check if you qualify
Five questions. No files, no logins.
We only need general answers to check fit. Please don't send us records, documents or passwords. We never need them.
Your answers are covered by our Privacy Notice.
Your preliminary result
We've received your answers
Thanks. We'll follow up by email to talk through next steps.
Send us your answers
Copy your answers and email them to us. We'll follow up to talk through next steps.
info@metropoledata.com
This is an automated first check, not an offer. Buyers make all decisions on eligibility and price.
Questions
Common questions
Do I give up ownership of my records?
No. Buyers license the right to use an anonymized copy. Your company keeps ownership of its records and keeps running as normal. Some licenses are exclusive for a set period, so read the terms with your counsel.
Who sees my raw data?
We don't. We never ask for files or logins. Samples, extraction and anonymization happen between your company and the buyer under the buyer's process and agreement.
Does this cost anything?
No. We're paid a referral fee by the buyer if a deal completes. Buyers we work with don't charge your company a fee.
Why use you instead of going to a buyer directly?
You can go direct. We know which buyers are looking for which industries and record types, so you avoid applying to the wrong one. We also explain the process in plain terms and help keep it moving.
Can I stop at any point?
Yes. Nothing is shared with a buyer without your permission, and nothing is binding until you sign an agreement with the buyer.
How long does it take?
It varies by buyer. Once an agreement is signed, some buyers report paying within a few weeks. The review and legal steps before that can take longer.
Is this legal advice?
No. We're not a law firm. You should have your own counsel review which records you can license and the terms of any agreement.
About
Metropole Data
An independent referral firm connecting established businesses with buyers of AI training data.
Metropole Data was founded in 2026. That year, AI companies began paying established businesses to license their operating records, and the amounts were meaningful. Most owners had never heard of it.
We started Metropole to close that gap. We explain the opportunity in plain terms, check whether a company is a fit, and introduce it to a buyer looking for its kind of records.
We aren't a data buyer, and we never take possession of a company's files. The license is always between the company and the buyer.
- Plain answers. We tell you if your company is unlikely to qualify.
- No pressure. You can stop at any point, for any reason.
- Clear fees. We're paid by buyers, never by you, and we'll tell you how.
- Your records stay yours. We don't ask for files or logins.
Legal
Referral Disclosure
Last updated October 19, 2026
Our role
Metropole Data ("Metropole," "we," "us") is an independent referral firm. We introduce businesses to third-party companies that license data for AI development ("buyers"). We are not a buyer, and we do not purchase, receive, store, process or resell any company's records.
Independence
We are not an employee, agent, broker or representative of any buyer, and we cannot make commitments on a buyer's behalf. Unless we state otherwise in writing, we are not affiliated with or endorsed by any buyer. Any buyer names or logos used on this site are the property of their owners.
How we are compensated
We may receive a referral fee from a buyer when a business we introduce completes a deal or reaches milestones set by that buyer. Fees vary by buyer and may be a fixed amount or a percentage of deal value. You do not pay us anything.
Because fees differ between buyers, we have a financial interest in which buyer you work with. We recommend buyers based on fit, and we will disclose how we are compensated for your introduction on request. We do not share our referral fees with the companies we refer.
No guarantees
We cannot guarantee that a buyer will accept your company, make an offer, or offer any particular amount. Example figures on this site describe past deals reported in the market and are not a prediction for your company.
Legal
Terms of Use
Last updated October 19, 2026
1. Acceptance
By using this website, you agree to these Terms of Use. If you do not agree, please do not use the site.
2. Information only
Content on this site is general information about data licensing. It is not legal, tax, financial or investment advice, and it does not create an attorney-client or advisory relationship. Consult your own qualified advisers before entering into any agreement.
3. Our services
We offer an initial fit review and, with your permission, an introduction to a buyer. Any license, payment or other agreement is solely between you and the buyer, on the buyer's terms. We are not a party to those agreements and are not responsible for a buyer's actions, decisions, payments or handling of data.
4. Your responsibilities
- You confirm that information you submit is accurate and that you are authorized to submit it on behalf of your company.
- You are responsible for determining which records your company has the right to license, including any limits from client contracts, privacy laws or professional obligations.
- Do not send us documents, records, credentials or personal data about your clients or employees.
5. Preliminary results
Any result shown by our qualification form is automated, preliminary and non-binding. It is not an offer, valuation or guarantee of eligibility.
6. No warranties
The site is provided "as is" and "as available." To the fullest extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including warranties of accuracy, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Market information may change without notice.
7. Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Metropole and its owners and representatives will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential or lost-profit damages arising from your use of the site or our services, or from any dealings with a buyer. Our total liability for any claim will not exceed one hundred US dollars ($100).
8. Indemnity
You agree to indemnify and hold Metropole harmless from claims arising from your breach of these terms or from records or information you or your company provide to any buyer.
9. Intellectual property
Site content and the Metropole Data name and logo belong to Metropole Data. Third-party names belong to their owners.
10. Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of the State of [State], without regard to conflict-of-law rules. Disputes will be resolved in the courts located in [County, State].
11. Changes
We may update these terms. The date at the top shows when they last changed. Continued use of the site means you accept the updated terms.
12. Contact
Questions about these terms: info@metropoledata.com
Legal
Privacy Notice
Last updated October 19, 2026
What we collect
When you contact us or use our qualification form, we collect your name, role, company name, work email, and your answers about your company's industry, size, location, record history and software tools. We don't ask for, and you should not send, company records, passwords or personal data about your clients or employees.
How we use it
- To assess whether your company may fit a buyer's criteria
- To contact you about your inquiry
- To introduce your company to a buyer, only with your permission
- To keep records needed for our referral agreements and legal obligations
Who we share it with
We share your information with a buyer only after you agree to an introduction. We may also share it with service providers who help us run our business (such as email hosting), under confidentiality obligations, and where required by law. We do not sell your personal information or share it for cross-context behavioral advertising.
How long we keep it
We keep inquiry information for as long as needed to handle your inquiry and any resulting referral, and to meet legal and tax requirements. You can ask us to delete it sooner.
Your rights
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct, delete or receive a copy of your personal information, and to opt out of certain uses. This includes rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act and, for people in the UK or EU, the GDPR. To make a request, email us. We won't treat you differently for exercising these rights.
Cookies
This site does not use advertising or tracking cookies.
Security
We use reasonable measures to protect the information you send us. No method of transmission or storage is fully secure.
Children
This site is intended for business owners and is not directed at anyone under 18.
Contact
Privacy questions or requests: info@metropoledata.com