How to Start Making AI Data Referrals with Your Existing Network

Many professionals already have valuable relationships with business owners and executives. If you're looking to leverage your existing network to earn referral rewards, this guide outlines a straightforward approach to identify potential companies for AI data licensing through SourceX.

1. Understand the Ideal Company Profile

Before reaching out, familiarize yourself with the specific criteria for companies SourceX seeks. This ensures you focus your efforts on introductions that are most likely to succeed. SourceX works with US companies that are well-established and have valuable data assets suitable for AI labs and data buyers.

• US-based companies: Your referral must be a US company.
• Employee count: The company should have 50 or more full-time employees at its peak. Contractors are not included in this count.
• Operating history: Look for companies with years of operating records, indicating a stable and mature business.
• Data licensing rights: The company must have the legal rights to license its data. This is crucial for any potential transaction.
• Authorized sponsor: There needs to be an authorized sponsor within the company who can champion the data licensing process. This is often an executive or senior leader.

2. Screen Your Existing Network

Start by reviewing your professional contacts, CRM, or even your mental Rolodex. Think about companies you know that might fit the profile above. Consider organizations you've worked with, clients, former employers, or business partners.

Ask yourself:

• Which of my US contacts are associated with companies that have been operating for a significant period?
• Do these companies likely have a substantial employee base (50+ full-time)?
• Given their business, is it probable they generate and own valuable proprietary data that could be licensed?

3. Identify the Authorized Sponsor

Once you've identified a promising company, your next step is to pinpoint the right person within that organization. This is typically not someone in an IT or technical role, but rather a decision-maker who understands the strategic value of data and has the authority to act.

Common roles for an authorized sponsor include:

• CEO / Founder
• Chief Revenue Officer (CRO)
• Chief Operating Officer (COO)
• Chief Data Officer (CDO)
• General Counsel (GC) – especially if data rights are a primary concern

If you don't know the exact person, you can use your existing relationship with someone at the company to ask for an introduction to the individual responsible for strategic data initiatives or new revenue streams related to data assets. Frame your inquiry about exploring potential partnerships or new opportunities for their data.

4. Make the Introduction Without Handling Data

With a suitable company and an identified sponsor, you're ready to make the introduction. It's crucial to remember that as a partner, your role is to connect the right parties; you should never handle or review any of the company's data yourself.

Here's a suggested approach for an introduction:

1. Initial Contact (if not direct): Reach out to your existing contact at the company and request an introduction to the authorized sponsor, briefly explaining why you believe there's a valuable conversation to be had about their data assets and new revenue opportunities.
2. Direct Introduction: Once connected with the authorized sponsor, make a direct, concise introduction to SourceX. You can frame it as connecting them with a platform that specializes in managing data licensing for AI.

• Example Introduction Language:

"I'm connecting you with SourceX, which helps US companies like yours manage the licensing of their data to AI labs and data buyers. They handle everything from sourcing and rights review to delivery and payment, creating a new revenue stream from your existing data assets. I thought this might be of strategic interest given your company's valuable data. I've already shared your contact information with SourceX, and someone from their team will reach out to you shortly to discuss further."

1. SourceX Follow-up: SourceX will take it from there. Your role is complete once a valid introduction has been made that leads to a verified company application within the attribution window. Rewards become payable only after the buyer pays and SourceX receives its fee, and are never deducted from what the company receives.

By following these steps, you can effectively leverage your professional network to identify and introduce suitable companies to SourceX, unlocking the potential for referral rewards up to $100,000 per referred company, calculated as 25% of the eligible platform fees SourceX collects.

Refer a company · How rewards work