Ai labs pay big for data from dead startups
ai labs are buying data from failed startups to train models, with one company expecting to return over $10 million to startups by 2026.
a new industry has emerged where companies are buying data from failed startups to train their ai models. simpleclosure, a company that helps dying startups handle their end-of-life process, has added data sales to its services and has handled over 150 deals, expecting to return over $10 million to startups by 2026. the demand for defunct companies' data emerged as ai training labs hit the limits of public and synthetic datasets. buyers include foundation ai labs, vendors that construct simulated workspaces for ai training, and mature tech companies building their own models. for example, google bought spirit airlines' decades of data, including 100 million emails and 500 million teams messages, for $10 million.