Date: 2026-10-12 (2:00 PM EDT) Attendees: Michael Houck (michael@ryevalley.co), Emil Barr (emil@flashpass.school), Awais Junaid (Mode Mobile, awais.junaid@modemobile.com) Granola: https://notes.granola.ai/d/970ff7ac-2d30-49a6-9de7-d4677d657415
Context: GovGrid pilot buyer conversation, part of the Michael + Emil data licensing push (see DataCow <> GovGrid - Oct 11, 2026). This is Emil’s engagement, not a Rye Valley-owned business decision. Not a Megaphone client call (no content or Studio subject matter).
Summary
- Mode Mobile: fintech (Deloitte-ranked startup, large crowdfunding raise, ~10 acquisitions). Built a data monetization and security platform after selling its own large dataset to frontier AI labs. Differentiator: secure end-to-end transfer, de-identification, and buyer sample validation before full transfer.
- Their process: intake form + LOI after the call; non-binding quote in 24-48 hours; data imported, de-identified, validated by the buyer; sold to frontier labs on net 30. About 60 days LOI to payment. Asks for a 14-day exclusivity window during evaluation (no shopping to other brokers).
- GovGrid pitch (Emil): ~100 TB accessible across 25 states via existing agency relationships and broad data agreements: emails, Teams messages, SOPs, back-office accounting, HR data. Not sitting in cold storage; pulled on demand agency by agency. Typical retention 2-3 years. Scope flexible (specific agencies/departments or broad volume).
- Pilot scope: Mode suggested starting small (e.g. a 1 TB pilot). Michael pushed back on a random pull: wants Mode to name a targeted, high-value dataset so GovGrid can scope a pilot proposal, prove the relationship, then negotiate a larger commercial partnership.
Decisions
- No new decision. Consistent with the existing GovGrid posture: scoped pilot before any exclusivity.
Action items
- Awais (Mode Mobile): brief his team, come back with the priority data type for a step-one pilot
- Michael / Emil: align on priority data type for the pilot; reconnect with Mode via email and a follow-up call
- Michael / Emil: decide on the intake form, LOI, and 14-day exclusivity ask
Notable transcript excerpts
Emil on the asset:
“We have access to is like, uh, probably a little bit under 100 terabytes, maybe more of data. So we’ve got access to actually like a fairly proprietary dataset that we don’t know anyone else has access to.”
Emil on the moat:
“Even if you had a close relationship with like the governor of California… he couldn’t give you all the agency data. You have to actually work agency to agency. And that’s where we think we have a pretty unique edge.”
Michael on pilot scope:
“I just don’t want to go get a terabyte of random data… you guys give us a little direction on what would be valuable to you and we can put together a proposal and we can move on this quickly for you.”
Awais on next step:
“I’ll have a chat with my team, fill them in with the details that you shared with me, and I think I’ll get back to you with like what’s the priority for step number 1 before we evaluate a bigger partnership.”
Full transcript in Granola: https://notes.granola.ai/d/970ff7ac-2d30-49a6-9de7-d4677d657415