SimpleClosure is a legitimate, venture-backed startup wind-down service: it has raised $20.5 million, says it has helped thousands of founders, and handles dissolution filings, taxes and payroll closures. Its AssetHub sells code and workspace data to AI buyers. It suits solvent startups that want one team for the whole shutdown.
- SimpleClosure handles dissolution filings, tax compliance and payroll account closures for startups.
- Pricing is quoted through a calculator, not a public price list; see the pricing section below and SimpleClosure alternatives for how routes compare.
- AssetHub sells source code and workspace data to AI labs; MIT Technology Review reported 150+ deals by October 2026.
- The data sale is optional. Founders get little visibility into who buys the data, so ask for buyer approval rights.
SimpleClosure review: the short version
SimpleClosure is a real company that does what it says: it runs startup shutdowns and, since April 2026, helps founders sell what the company built. It suits a venture-backed startup that can pay its debts and wants one team to handle filings, taxes and any asset sale. It is a service company, not a law firm, so complex creditor or employment disputes still need your own lawyer.
What SimpleClosure does
"We manage legal filings, tax compliance, and execution from start to finish," SimpleClosure says, including dissolution filings, state withdrawals, payroll account closures and final tax compliance (SimpleClosure). It says "we've helped thousands of founders" and that you can use its asset sale or payroll closure service "without going through a full dissolution". Its site also states that it "is a service company and does not offer legal or financial advice."
It has raised $20.5 million in total, including a $15 million Series A led by TTV Capital in May 2025, when Carta retired its own shutdown product, invested and began "offering its customers a free consultation and a 10% discount" (TechCrunch).
Source: SimpleClosure: homepage
SimpleClosure pricing: what a shutdown costs
SimpleClosure does not publish a price list. Its cost calculator asks about money raised, investors, employees, state of incorporation and debts, then asks for your email to "see your full personalized breakdown".
Its own comparison guide gives market ranges: a managed wind-down "ranging from $25,000 to $75,000 (lower when using a service like SimpleClosure)", an assignment for the benefit of creditors (ABC) at $75,000 to $150,000 "due to trustee fees", and bankruptcy from $100,000 to more than $500,000. These are SimpleClosure's stated market ranges for each route, not its own fee, so get a written quote for your company.
Its share of any data or code sale is not published either. Ask for the fee basis in writing before AssetHub markets your assets.
| Route | Typical market cost, as SimpleClosure states it | Who controls it |
|---|---|---|
| Managed wind-down | $25,000 to $75,000; lower with a service | The company |
| ABC | $75,000 to $150,000 | An assignee |
| Bankruptcy | $100,000 to $500,000+ | The court |
Source: SimpleClosure: managed wind-down vs ABC vs bankruptcy
What happens to company data and code in a SimpleClosure wind-down
Nothing is sold unless you choose to. AssetHub "helps startups monetize their assets, like SourceCode or WorkspaceData to vetted AI buyers", covering repositories and documentation as well as workspace data from "Slack, Google Drive, Email, Notion, Figma, and more". Buyers include "leading AI foundation labs, reinforcement learning environment builders, and other technology companies", and SimpleClosure says "Every dataset is processed for PII before it is licensed to a buyer."
Scale and payouts. MIT Technology Review reported that AssetHub "has handled over 150 deals and expects to return over $10 million to startups by the end of 2026", that 47% of SimpleClosure deals now include a code or data sale, and gave one founder's result: roughly $25,000 for a code base (MIT Technology Review).
If you do not sell, the data still needs a decision: what to keep for tax and legal retention, what to delete and when subscriptions lapse. Export anything you might sell before you cancel the tools that hold it.
Source: SimpleClosure: AssetHub
Limits and concerns
We found no named news report or court filing alleging misconduct by SimpleClosure. The concerns on record are about the market it operates in. MIT Technology Review notes that "Founders have little to no visibility into who is buying the data and what they plan to do with it", and that proceeds "typically flow to senior creditors and investors-not employees" (MIT Technology Review). Suppliers scrub personal information and exclude HR records, but emails and calendars can hold private details.
SimpleClosure itself warns founders about inflated data offers and advises that any buyer agreement "should state the actual price, what must happen before payment" is made (SimpleClosure).
Source: MIT Technology Review: AI labs buying data from dead startups (Oct 2026)
Who SimpleClosure suits
- Suits: a solvent, venture-backed startup that wants filings, tax and payroll closure handled by one team.
- Suits: founders who also want help selling code or workspace data during the wind-down.
- Less suited: an insolvent company where creditors control the outcome, which may need an ABC. See selling company data in an ABC.
- Less suited: a company that only wants to sell its data and wants several buyers to compete. Compare routes in SimpleClosure alternatives.
- Planning the whole shutdown? Start with how to shut down a startup.
Next step
Whether or not you use SimpleClosure, find out what your records and code could fetch before you agree to any sale.
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). See what your data is worth.
Common questions
Is SimpleClosure legit?
Yes. SimpleClosure is a venture-backed startup wind-down service that has raised $20.5 million, including a $15 million Series A in 2025 with Carta among its investors, and says it has helped thousands of founders. It is a service company, not a law firm.
How much does SimpleClosure cost?
SimpleClosure does not publish a fixed price; its calculator gives a personalized estimate after you answer questions about your company. Its own guide states a typical market range of $25,000 to $75,000 for a managed wind-down, lower with a service like SimpleClosure; that is a market range, not SimpleClosure's fee.
Does SimpleClosure take a cut of data sales?
SimpleClosure does not publish its share of AssetHub sales. Ask for the fee basis in writing, and whether you can take the assets elsewhere if no sale closes.
What happens to a startup's data and code when it shuts down?
The company decides. It can keep records it must retain, delete the rest, or sell or license code and workspace data to AI buyers through a service such as SimpleClosure's AssetHub, which removes personal information before licensing.
Can I sell assets through SimpleClosure without dissolving the company?
Yes. SimpleClosure says you can use its asset sale and payroll tax closure services without going through a full dissolution.
Who buys data through SimpleClosure's AssetHub?
AI foundation labs, reinforcement learning environment builders and other technology companies, according to SimpleClosure. Founders are not always told who the end buyer is, so ask before you sign.
Sources and further reading
Origin Data Partners is independent and not affiliated with any buyer named on this page.
- SimpleClosure: homepage
- SimpleClosure: AssetHub
- SimpleClosure: shutdown cost calculator
- SimpleClosure: managed wind-down vs ABC vs bankruptcy
- SimpleClosure: how real are those million-dollar data offers? (Oct 2026)
- TechCrunch: Carta backs SimpleClosure's $15M Series A (May 2025)
- MIT Technology Review: AI labs buying data from dead startups (Oct 2026)