Dying startups are selling their data to AI labs

Key points

• SimpleClosure added data sales in April; its Asset Hub has handled over 150 deals, expecting over $10 million returned to startups by end of 2026.
• Google reportedly outbid Mercor for Spirit Airlines' data in August for $10 million, including 100 million emails and 500 million Teams messages.
• Founders have little visibility into buyers and their plans, and proceeds typically go to senior creditors and investors rather than employees.
• No federal law bans such sales, and an attorney calls the data 'legally radioactive' because of private details in emails and calendars.

Why it matters for marketers: Content and data teams should expect wind-down archives to be sold as AI training material, raising consent and licensing questions for any company's workspace data.