Mode (mode.inc) company data licensing: what it pays and how it works

This page is about Mode.inc, which buys company data for AI training. If you're looking for Mode Analytics, the data-visualisation tool at mode.com, that's a different company.

01What is Mode?

Mode (mode.inc) buys an agreed copy of company-owned operating records for AI research and training. Those records show how a business actually runs: the emails, documents, chats, calls and CRM history behind everyday work. Mode buys directly and charges no broker fee.

02Who can apply?

• Law firms: 6+ employees. Mode's lowest published minimum.
• Accounting, finance and medical: 10+ employees.
• Every other business or nonprofit: 30+ employees.
• Several years of records you own. Mode says companies with that history, and teams based mainly in the US, are the strongest fit.

Companies outside the US are reviewed case by case.

03What does Mode pay?

Mode publishes $100K–$5M per company, the highest published ceiling of the three programmes we track. Its calculator asks for your industry, desk and non-desk staff, years of operational data and location, and returns an estimated range. It also mentions a possible extra amount for a data refresh over the next 24 months.

Mode says the calculator is illustrative, not a guaranteed offer. The final figure depends on the systems and dates in scope, how many years of history you have, the volume and quality of the records, and the ownership and access terms. Nothing is guaranteed.

04What data does Mode buy?

Mode says it works with more than a thousand other systems too, including design tools such as AutoCAD and Figma.

05How it works

1. Tell Mode about your business: its size, operating history and systems.
2. Review the offer and approve the scope: the value, terms, systems and date ranges. Mode reviews your systems, history, ownership and available data before making an offer.
3. Mode exports and de-identifies the agreed copy, and pays under the agreed terms.

You and Mode agree the systems and date ranges before anything is exported. Your team signs in to the approved systems, and Mode says no passwords are handed over. Mode manages the workspace, export, filtering and delivery, so no operational change is needed.

06How long until you're paid?

Mode says it generally expects about three months from the first conversation through payment. The amount and payment schedule are set in a written agreement before export.

07What happens to your data?

• You keep your originals. Mode buys an agreed, filtered copy; your records and systems stay with you.
• Sensitive material comes out. Mode says it removes sensitive material and removes or transforms personal identifiers, such as names and contact details, before onward delivery.
• It's used for AI research and training, under the rights and restrictions in your agreement. Mode says it doesn't publish source records or sell them as reports about your company, and AI developers don't receive unfiltered records.
• The agreement sets scope and exclusivity. Read those terms closely, and have your lawyer review them. This isn't legal advice.

08Mode's referral scheme

Mode pays people who introduce companies. In the US it pays the greater of $50,000 or 6% for your first five qualified deals; outside the US, 6%. See the referral terms on Mode's site.

09Mode vs micro1 and Mercor

Mode publishes the highest ceiling ($5M) and the lowest minimums for law, accounting, finance and medical firms. micro1 wants 30+ full-time staff for everyone, and Mercor publishes a separate range for each of 24 business types. See micro1 vs Mode and the full programmes comparison.

10Check which programmes you're likely to match

Our free fit check asks about your size, location, records and tools, then shows which programmes you're likely to match, with links to apply directly. The programme decides.