It may not be too late
Even after a company closes, its data can often still be licensed, if the company or its estate still owns it and can license it. That's the first thing we check.
- Home
- Shutting down
For founders, boards, trustees and counsel
Shutting down? Check before you delete your data.
The code, tickets, support conversations and docs behind a company can be worth real money to AI buyers, if the company or its estate still owns them and can license them. We check that first, free and in confidence.
Before you wind downDo these first
- Deletion
- Ask your lawyer what you're required to delete. Keep what you're allowed to keep.
- Ownership
- Confirm which entity owns each system, and who can sign.
- Systems
- List them, with the years each one covers.
- Offers
- Write down any you've had: buyer, date, amount, expiry.
- Appraisal
- Free and confidential, in about a week.
From our readiness checklist. Not legal advice.
Why timing matters
Data can be lost at shutdown.
And it can't be licensed once it's gone. Before you wind down, check with your lawyer whether you're required to delete anything, and keep what you're allowed to keep.
Insolvency doesn't rule it out
This year, a bankrupt airline's internal records drew bids of $7.5M, $10M and $12.5M from three AI companies. See the bids.
Personal data comes out first
Personal and customer data is excluded by default or removed in your own systems before anything leaves, with a signed certificate.
Who we work with
Whoever's closing the books.
Founders and CEOs
You built the history. Before the lights go off, find out what's licensable and who can sign for it.
Boards and investors
Licensing a closing company's history may bring money back. We'll tell you plainly whether it's worth pursuing.
Trustees, receivers and assignees
If the estate owns the data and can license it, it may be an asset worth licensing. We check the rights first, then find the buyers who'll value it most. Court or creditor approval may still apply. Your counsel decides that.
Lawyers
Bring us in alongside your client. We don't give legal advice, and we're glad to work with you.
What we check first
Rights before anything moves.
So problems show up before a buyer sees anything. The full list is in the readiness checklist.
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Who owns it, and who can sign
The company, a parent, an estate or an assignee? And whether you need board, investor or lender approval.
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What your contracts allow
Customer contracts, NDAs and platform terms can limit how data is used. Anything restricted gets excluded or needs written consent.
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Excluded by default
Private messages, HR and payroll records, health and biometric data, passwords and keys, and customer names and contact details.
My company shut down. Is it too late?
Often not, if the company or its estate still owns the data and can license it. We check that first. Data can be lost at shutdown, so don't wait.
Do I give up ownership?
No. Buyers license the right to use the data. You keep ownership.
How fast will I hear back?
You get a first read by email as soon as you submit. If it looks like a fit, we'll reach out within one business day.
Is this legal advice?
No. Bring your lawyer. We're glad to work with them.
Free, confidential, about a week
Before you delete anything, find out what you can license.
Describe your systems in two minutes. You don't send any data.