Based on each company’s public pages as of October 2026. Figures are stated by the companies, not guaranteed.
Both companies pay businesses to license operational data that ends up helping train and evaluate AI. They differ in who they want, what data they name, and how fast they move.
Head-to-head
| micro1 | Polyshares | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | AI data company with a data partnerships program | Direct buyer (“a data lab that buys operational data”) |
| Stated value | $100k+ / $500k+ / $1M+ tiers | $100K–$2M+, typically |
| Eligibility | 30+ employees, mature documentation | Any company with real operating history |
| Markets | US first, then Western; English | Not restricted on its site |
| Data named | SOPs, knowledge bases, CRM, project histories, QA, internal docs | Slack/Teams, email, Drive, CRM, tickets, design files, calls, ERP |
| Fee to you | Not stated | None (stated) |
| Speed | 4 stages incl. discovery call | Offer in 1–2 weeks |
| Payment | Not stated | Net 30–60 after approval |
| Ownership | You retain | You retain |
| Protections | Scope/redaction agreed upfront, limited access, retention limits, deletion, sample review | Specialist PII partner strips identifiers before anything moves |
| Lab disclosure | Not stated | Doesn’t disclose which labs |
There’s no rule against asking both. Compare estimates before you sign.
Choose micro1 if…
- You have 30+ employees and established documentation
- Your strongest assets are SOPs, knowledge bases, CRM or project history
- Your work involves deep domain expertise (legal, finance, technical)
- You want detailed retention, deletion and sample-review commitments up front
Choose Polyshares if…
- You’re a smaller company or a startup winding down
- Your strongest data is Slack, email, support tickets or call recordings
- You want a fast offer and stated net 30–60 payment
- You want a buyer that states no fee
Or ask both
Estimates are free and non-binding. Getting two lets you compare price and terms, but never grant overlapping exclusive rights.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply to both Polyshares and micro1?
Yes. Requesting estimates from both is free and non-binding. Just don’t sign overlapping exclusive licenses for the same data.
Which pays more?
Neither guarantees a price. micro1 publishes tiers up to $1M+ for highly unique data; Polyshares states $100K to $2M and above for large records. Your offer depends on your record.
Which is faster?
Polyshares states an offer within one to two weeks of intake. micro1 describes a four-stage process including a discovery call and doesn’t publish a timeline.