FileFunding FAQ

Records of real work: multi-year email, team chat, support tickets, docs and SOPs, CRM activity, code history and, where consent can be confirmed, call and screen recordings. HR files, medical records, payment card data and consumer databases are left out by default.

We usually look for multiple years of records, 20+ employees at some point (smaller teams can still fit, especially for code), real work in email, chat, tickets, docs, CRM or code, records that still exist, and someone with authority to sign. Agencies, managed service providers, e-commerce and other workflow- or CRM-heavy businesses tend to fit. Mostly medical, financial or consumer data needs special review, and restaurants and retail usually aren't a fit.

You enter your company's website. We read public information only (DNS records, the website and the web archive) and show an indicative range in about 10 seconds. You can then confirm a few answers, such as which systems you used, headcount at peak and years of records, to tighten it. It's a rough indication, not an offer or a valuation.

Nothing. FileFunding is free for the company with the data: no fees, nothing up front and no cut taken from what you're paid. We're paid by the AI labs and data companies we work with directly. We also do the work (inventory, redaction and packaging), ourselves or together with the buyer using their methodology or accepted best-practice redaction.

No. We don't buy or resell data. We're the transparent middleman: we work with the AI labs and data programs that pay for business data, price and configure yours, and give you a clear comparison of the offers available. You sign with the lab you choose.

You can go direct, and we'll tell you exactly which labs and programs we work with. But on your own you likely won't get the same offer: we know how these programs price data, and we put your profile in front of several at once so they compete. Setting up with each lab takes time, and for you it's a one-time deal. We handle the hassle, and it costs you nothing: the labs and data companies we work with pay us.

Usually not. Most deals are a license: the buyer gets the right to use a de-identified copy for training under contract terms, and you keep your records. Terms vary by deal, and you see them before you agree.

No, and it's often the best time, as long as the records still exist. Accounts get deleted when subscriptions lapse, so export first. Our shutdown data checklist covers what to save.

The estimate takes about 10 seconds and we reply within 1–2 business days. We aim for first offers in about two weeks after scoping. Some companies won't receive offers, and we'll tell you if that's the case.

It's fair to ask. AI labs are publicly paying for real business records: Google's $10 million winning bid for Spirit Airlines' de-identified email and Teams archive is one example, reported by MIT Technology Review. FileFunding never asks for passwords, uploads or payment to give you an estimate, and nothing is shared or licensed without a written agreement you approve.

Not to make an offer. Labs first see a short, anonymized profile of what you have. Data moves only after you sign a written agreement, and it is de-identified before any training use under the method set in that contract.

Names, emails, phone numbers, addresses and IDs are removed or replaced with role labels such as [Customer] before any training use. HR, medical and payment data and consumer databases are excluded by default. The exact method is set in each contract.

Vetted, ready-to-sell business data owners: companies with multi-year email, chat, tickets, docs, CRM and code, sourced to your brief, with a provenance pack for each lot. See For AI labs.

Send a two-minute brief on the request form with the categories, industries and era you need, plus your de-identification and documentation requirements.

Start the free estimate and choose "I'm referring a company", or email us an intro. See Partners.