What qualifies: the records AI companies license.
AI companies license the records of how your company does its work. Records with years of history and an outcome at the end count for more than snapshots. Several connected systems count for more than one.
Costs you nothing, four quick questions, about a minute, no files
Which systems buyers license records from
A record that shows the work and how it ended is worth more than a snapshot. The tool names below are examples of where those records live, not partners of ours.
| System | What a buyer looks for | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Source codeGitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket | The repository with its commit history and code reviews. The latest version alone is worth far less. | Highest |
| Support ticketsZendesk, Freshdesk, Intercom, ServiceNow | The full exchange with the customer and how the ticket was resolved. | High |
| Projects and jobsJira, Asana, ServiceTitan, Procore | Tasks, estimates, work orders and change orders, through to the finished job. | High |
| Finance and billingQuickBooks, NetSuite, Xero | Invoices, approvals and the month-end close. | High |
| Industry systemsApplied Epic, Clio, Encompass, Bullhorn | Claims, matters, loan files and placements, from intake to the final decision. | High |
| CRMSalesforce, HubSpot | Deals from first contact to won or lost, with the notes in between. | Medium |
| Email and chatGmail, Outlook, Slack, Microsoft Teams | Threads where work gets assigned and finished. Worth most when they tie to the systems above. | Medium |
| Documents and SOPsGoogle Drive, SharePoint, Notion, Confluence | Standard operating procedures (SOPs), playbooks, contracts and project files, with their edit history. | Medium |
| Call recordingsGong, Zoom | Recorded calls and transcripts, where everyone on the call consented to recording. | Medium |
Our read as of October 26, 2026. A Topology Partners estimate, not a buyer quote. A buyer sets the final price.
What raises the value, and what lowers it
Raises it
- More years of history in the same systems
- More people whose work is on record
- Several systems licensed together, such as email, chat and CRM
- Real day-to-day work, not demos or test data
- Clear ownership, with contracts that allow a license
- A US-based company that works mainly in English
Lowers it, or rules it out
- One system offered on its own
- A short history, or snapshots with no history
- Records your clients own under their contracts
- Fewer than 20 full-time employees
- Work that never made it into a system
Questions about what qualifies
Does a customer list count?
Not on its own. Buyers license records of how work got done. The deal history in your CRM can count, but a bare list of names doesn't.
How many years of records do we need?
Three years or more is the common ask. Some buyers publish a three-year minimum, and others publish no years rule at all.
How big does the company need to be?
Usually 20 to 40 full-time employees or more. Buyers' published floors sit in that range, and each buyer reviews companies one at a time.
Our records are spread across many tools. Is that a problem?
No, it helps. Buyers list the number of data sources as a price driver, and records that link across systems are worth more than one system alone.
Do paper files count?
Rarely. Every buyer page we have read asks for records from software systems. Scanned paper with no system behind it seldom fits.
What if some records fall under a client contract?
Those limits still apply. Some client agreements restrict how you can use or share their information, and at least one buyer excludes records your clients own. You may still license the rest, and your lawyer decides. Send them our page for counsel.
Do we send you files to find out?
No. Topology Partners never receives, holds or moves your records. The estimate and our review use your answers and a conversation. If you sign, the buyer handles the data under its own contract with you.