# Is Mode Legit? Mode.Inc and BizBuyData Review

> Is Mode legit? Mode.Inc runs BizBuyData, advertising $100K to $5M for company records. Its size rules differ by page. Terms, timing and what to check.

Canonical: https://origindatapartners.com/guides/mode-bizbuydata-review
By: Origin Data Partners
Status: Published
Published: 2026-11-10
Updated: 2026-11-10
Sources checked: 2026-11-10

## Quick answer

Mode.Inc is a legitimate Chicago consumer-tech company, the maker of EarnPhone, which says it has raised $120M+ from 68,000+ shareholders. In October 2026 it launched BizBuyData to buy copies of company records for AI training, advertising $100K to $5M per company. Its own pages disagree on minimum company size, and no closed deal has been reported.

## Key points

- Mode buys a de-identified copy of your records and resells it for AI research and training. You keep the originals.
- The $100K to $5M range is a headline; the calculator is illustrative and a fixed offer comes after review.
- On 10 November 2026 Mode published two sets of minimums: data.mode.inc listed 30+ staff for most businesses, 10+ for accounting, finance and medical firms and 6+ for law firms; ai.mode.inc and its referral pages listed 50+, 15+ and 10+.
- Mode says payment takes about three months from the first call. Its website leaves exclusivity to each agreement, but its owner information package describes a 24-month commitment not to license the same data elsewhere.

## Is Mode legit? The short answer

Yes, Mode.Inc is a real company with a long consumer track record, a public CEO and written terms, and BizBuyData is its program for buying company records. It says it signs with sellers and pays them itself, then resells a de-identified copy for AI research and training.

The caution is about consistency and proof. Mode's own pages show different size minimums and geography rules on the same day, its launch was a paid press release built around a "$5 billion" headline, and no outlet has reported a closed BizBuyData deal or amount. A real company can still make an offer that does not suit you, so read the terms.


## Who Mode.Inc is

Business Insider reported in June 2026 that "Novaes said he founded Mode.Inc in 2019", that it was "bringing its total buyouts in the past year to seven" consumer apps, and that "Novaes has raised about over $80 million through crowdfunding and said he intends to take the company public in the next two years" ([Business Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com/mode-inc-paying-photos-emails-train-ai-data-dan-novaes-2026-6)).

Mode's own site now states "Capital raised by Mode $120M + Shareholders 68,000 +" and cites "32,481% 3-year revenue growth" from the 2023 Deloitte Technology Fast 500 ([Mode](https://data.mode.inc/)). Its about page says "Mode created EarnPhone, powered by our EarnOS rewards technology" and "Mode has acquired over 10 consumer apps", including NGL and JibJab ([Mode](https://data.mode.inc/about)). The large shareholder count reflects retail crowdfunding, not venture funds.

Source: [Business Insider: this startup wants to pay for your email and photos (June 2026)](https://www.businessinsider.com/mode-inc-paying-photos-emails-train-ai-data-dan-novaes-2026-6)

## What BizBuyData buys

"Mode buys an agreed copy of company-owned operating records for AI research and training." Mode "removes sensitive material and transforms personal identifiers in the agreed copy before reselling it for AI research and training" ([Mode](https://data.mode.inc/)). The six categories are email and calendar, documents and files, chat and collaboration, calls and transcripts, CRM and sales, and billing and operations, from systems including "Microsoft Gmail Outlook Google Drive Slack Jira Confluence Salesforce HubSpot Zendesk" and more.

BizBuyData is a Mode brand: its pages read "BizBuyData.com by mode.inc" ([BizBuyData](https://bizbuydata.com/50k)), and bizbuydata.com redirects to data.mode.inc. The launch release says Mode "first recognized the opportunity when it explored licensing its own operating records and those of the companies it has acquired" ([Business Wire via Yahoo Finance](https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/mode-inc-launches-5-billion-151600765.html)).

Source: [Mode: company data partnerships (data.mode.inc)](https://data.mode.inc/)

## What Mode pays and when

Mode's headline is "Your company's data could be worth $100K-$5M." Its calculator, which asks for industry, desk and non-desk headcount, years of data and location, is described as illustrative, and Mode reviews systems, history, volume and rights "before making a fixed offer". The calculator also mentions "Potential for data refresh over the next 24 months", which suggests repeat purchases are possible but not promised ([Mode](https://data.mode.inc/)).

On terms: "Your written agreement sets the amount and payment schedule before export", and "Mode generally expects about three months from the first conversation through payment." The launch release gave more detail: "A 14-day, nonbinding letter of intent holds that estimate while Mode assesses the data, with one seven-day extension available at Mode's request"; Mode then "collects and de-identifies the data over 15 to 30 days"; and payment "is expected within approximately 60 days" ([Business Wire via Yahoo Finance](https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/mode-inc-launches-5-billion-151600765.html)).

Source: [Business Wire via Yahoo Finance: Mode.Inc launches BizBuyData (Oct 2026, paid release)](https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/mode-inc-launches-5-billion-151600765.html)

## Size requirements: Mode's pages disagree

Mode has published three sets of minimums since launch, and two of them were live on its own domains on 10 November 2026. Plan for the stricter one until Mode confirms yours in writing.

- data.mode.inc: "Minimum employees: 6+ for legal; 10+ for accounting, finance, and medical; 30+ for all other businesses or nonprofits" ([Mode](https://data.mode.inc/)).
- ai.mode.inc: "Minimum target employees: 10+ for legal; 15+ for accounting, medical, and finance; 50+ for all other businesses", and "Companies in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia only" ([Mode](https://ai.mode.inc/)). The referral pages repeat the stricter figures ([Mode referrals](https://data.mode.inc/referrals)).
- The launch release: "Businesses with at least 20 full-time U.S. office employees using digital workplace tools are eligible", with "10 employees for accounting firms and six for law firms" ([Business Wire via Yahoo Finance](https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/mode-inc-launches-5-billion-151600765.html)).

| Where Mode published it | Most businesses | Accounting, finance, medical | Legal | Geography |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Launch release, 13 Oct 2026 | 20+ US office staff | 10 (accounting) | 6 | US office employees |
| data.mode.inc homepage, 10 Nov 2026 | 30+ | 10+ | 6+ | Teams primarily based in the US are the strongest fit |
| ai.mode.inc, data.mode.inc/referrals and bizbuydata.com/50k, 10 Nov 2026 | 50+ | 15+ | 10+ | US, Canada, UK and Australia only |

Source: [Mode: company data partnerships (ai.mode.inc)](https://ai.mode.inc/)

## How a BizBuyData deal runs

Mode describes the owner's part as a few hours of work spread over about three months. Put together from its site and the launch release, the steps are:

- Tell Mode about the company: size, years of history and the systems you use. The calculator gives an illustrative range.
- Receive an estimate and, per the launch release, a 14-day nonbinding letter of intent while Mode assesses the data.
- Review the offer and approve the scope: the value, terms, systems and date ranges are agreed before any export.
- Sign in to the approved systems. Mode exports the agreed copy and de-identifies it, which the release put at 15 to 30 days.
- Get paid under the written schedule. Your original records and systems stay with you.


## Ownership, exclusivity and privacy

Mode says "Mode buys the agreed, filtered copy directly from you; the agreement defines its scope and any exclusivity", and that "Your team reviews it and signs in to the approved systems; no passwords are handed over" ([Mode](https://data.mode.inc/)). Its about page repeats that "The written agreement defines the scope, payment schedule, and any exclusivity" ([Mode](https://data.mode.inc/about)).

Mode's public pages do not state an exclusivity period, but its documents for owners do. The [Seller Information Package](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G2Qx_Bsk6z6JhfBszY79Xt8HKIR_QiezPF36W9Z2494/edit), linked from Mode's [affiliate resources page](https://bizbuydata.com/data-room), lists among what Mode receives "Your commitment not to license the same data elsewhere for 24 months". Mode's call guide for affiliates, linked from the same page, puts it this way: "The owner agrees not to license the same data for AI training for 24 months, and can use it any other way".

So plan for a 24-month exclusivity for AI training unless your agreement says otherwise, and ask how it fits with the "data refresh over the next 24 months" that Mode's calculator mentions. Our guide to [exclusive and non-exclusive data licenses](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/exclusive-vs-non-exclusive-data-license) shows what exclusivity should be worth.

Source: [Mode: Seller Information Package for business owners (linked from the data room)](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G2Qx_Bsk6z6JhfBszY79Xt8HKIR_QiezPF36W9Z2494/edit)

## The law-firm controversy

BizBuyData's low threshold for law firms drew criticism. Above the Law asked whether Mode is "asking firms to sell attorney-client privileged communications and attorney work product", noting that "privilege doesn't belong to the firm, it belongs to the client" ([Above the Law](https://abovethelaw.com/2026/10/tech-company-launches-program-to-pay-law-firms-for-their-emails-privilege-be-damned/)). Mode's CEO responded in the same piece: "We put our own data through this process first, and we built it so firms can check the results before anything is shared."

Any professional firm whose records hold client confidences, including accountants and medical practices, should get its own counsel to review scope and consent before signing, whoever the buyer is.

Source: [Above the Law: tech company launches program to pay law firms for their emails (Oct 2026)](https://abovethelaw.com/2026/10/tech-company-launches-program-to-pay-law-firms-for-their-emails-privilege-be-damned/)

## Limits and concerns

- The launch announcement is labelled "This is a paid press release." and its "$5 Billion" headline is Mode's own framing ([Business Wire via Yahoo Finance](https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/mode-inc-launches-5-billion-151600765.html)).
- No outlet has reported a closed BizBuyData deal or a payment amount.
- The size minimums and geography rules differ between Mode's own pages on the same day.
- Mode resells to AI customers it does not name, so ask who the end buyer is and what use is allowed.


## What to check before you sign with Mode

- Written confirmation that your company meets the size and location rules.
- The fixed offer amount, the payment date and any milestones, in the license agreement.
- Exclusivity: Mode's owner documents describe 24 months for AI training, so confirm the term and what it covers in the agreement.
- Whether Mode may resell to more than one AI customer, and which uses are allowed.
- For law, accounting and medical firms: client consent and privilege review by your own counsel.
- How Mode compares with other buyers: see [company data buyers compared](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/company-data-buyers-compared), our [AI data companies directory](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/ai-data-companies) and [how to vet an AI data buyer](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/how-to-vet-an-ai-data-buyer).


## Next step

If Mode's calculator or a BizBuyData offer has given you a number, check it against published deals before you sign a letter of intent.

Not sure whether a buyer or an offer is sound? Origin checks who the buyer is, what the license allows and how the price compares with published deals before anything is signed. [Get a free estimate and a second opinion](https://origindatapartners.com/check-fit).

Origin Data Partners works with companies that own data and helps get it bought. We are independent of the services on this page, and a buyer may pay us when a deal closes ([how Origin is paid](https://origindatapartners.com/referral-disclosure)). [See what your data is worth](https://origindatapartners.com/check-fit).


## Questions and answers

### Is Mode legit?

Yes. Mode.Inc is a real Chicago consumer-tech company founded in 2019, the maker of EarnPhone, which says it has raised $120M+ from 68,000+ shareholders. Its BizBuyData program buys copies of company records for AI training; no closed deal has been reported yet.

### Is BizBuyData legit?

BizBuyData is Mode.Inc's company data program, launched on 13 October 2026, and bizbuydata.com redirects to Mode's own site. Mode signs with and pays the seller itself, then resells a de-identified copy for AI research and training.

### How much does Mode pay for company data?

Mode advertises $100K to $5M per company. Its calculator is illustrative, and Mode makes a fixed offer only after reviewing your systems, history, volume and rights.

### What size company does Mode buy from?

It depends which Mode page you read. On 10 November 2026 data.mode.inc listed 30+ employees for most businesses, while ai.mode.inc and its referral pages listed 50+, with lower floors for legal, accounting, finance and medical firms.

### How long does Mode take to pay?

Mode says about three months from the first conversation through payment, with the schedule set in the written agreement. Its launch release described a 14-day nonbinding letter of intent and 15 to 30 days of data collection.

### Is a Mode data deal exclusive?

For AI training, Mode's owner documents say yes: its Seller Information Package lists the owner's commitment not to license the same data elsewhere for 24 months. Its website says the written agreement defines any exclusivity, so confirm the term in your agreement.

### Can a law firm sell its data to Mode?

Mode accepts law firms with as few as 6 to 10 employees, depending on the page. Above the Law questioned whether privileged client communications can be sold at all, so get your own ethics advice first.

## Sources

- [Mode: company data partnerships (data.mode.inc)](https://data.mode.inc/)
- [Mode: company data partnerships (ai.mode.inc)](https://ai.mode.inc/)
- [Mode: referral program](https://data.mode.inc/referrals)
- [BizBuyData by Mode: refer a company](https://bizbuydata.com/50k)
- [Mode: about us](https://data.mode.inc/about)
- [BizBuyData by Mode: affiliate resources (data room)](https://bizbuydata.com/data-room)
- [Mode: Seller Information Package for business owners (linked from the data room)](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G2Qx_Bsk6z6JhfBszY79Xt8HKIR_QiezPF36W9Z2494/edit)
- [Business Wire via Yahoo Finance: Mode.Inc launches BizBuyData (Oct 2026, paid release)](https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/mode-inc-launches-5-billion-151600765.html)
- [Business Insider: this startup wants to pay for your email and photos (June 2026)](https://www.businessinsider.com/mode-inc-paying-photos-emails-train-ai-data-dan-novaes-2026-6)
- [Above the Law: tech company launches program to pay law firms for their emails (Oct 2026)](https://abovethelaw.com/2026/10/tech-company-launches-program-to-pay-law-firms-for-their-emails-privilege-be-damned/)

## Related reading

- [micro1 vs Mercor vs Handshake vs Turing: company data buyers compared (2026)](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/company-data-buyers-compared)
- [Exclusive vs non-exclusive data licenses: what sellers should know](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/exclusive-vs-non-exclusive-data-license)
- [Is it legal to sell company data for AI training?](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/sell-company-data-ai-training-legal)
- [How much do AI companies pay for company data?](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/company-data-value)