Unveiling the Hidden Billion-Dollar AI Company You Need to Know About and Why It Matters

money in the dark — Galeanu Mihai/Getty Images

What if I revealed that the most significant victor in the current AI competition isn’t OpenAI, Meta, Google, or even DeepSeek?

There’s a company that is subtly emerging as a winner, yet few are discussing it. 🫣

When I mention ‘winning,’ I’m not talking about mere hype.

“One day, a transformative company will redefine AI and change the world…”

Nope!!!

This is not a hypothetical scenario.

They are generating revenue now—actual money in the bank and not just prospects of future success.

They are operating under the radar, much like peroxide.

You might be wondering… 🤔

And no, it’s not Nvidia. When I say zero hype, I mean absolutely none. This is a true gem hidden in plain sight.

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The most astonishing aspect is that this company has been around for over two decades and is only now reaping substantial profits.

In this article, we will uncover:

The identity of this unexpected AI winner
The way this success came about
How you can benefit from it

So, get ready for an exciting ride. This will be as thrilling as a Martin Scorsese film, I GUARANTEE YOU… you won’t foresee this twist!🤞

Introduction

To grasp how I discovered this hidden giant, let me first introduce myself and explain what I do.

My name is Lester, but you can call me Les. 👋

I am a founder who has achieved a successful exit. Currently, I serve as the executive chair for a collection of e-commerce brands, and at heart, I’m an award-winning performance marketer.

As you can imagine, data and insights are my forte. Our operation leans more towards being a data-focused entity than a conventional e-commerce brand. Our secret to success? Merging data and insights with innovative ideas that drive revenue.

If you’re interested in data-centered business strategies or marketing insights, be sure to check out my free newsletter, No Fluff Just Facts. I dissect what’s working in business without fluff, focusing on impactful marketing insights and trends.

But enough about me. 🤓

Decoding the AI Landscape

Before diving into the identity of this company, let’s provide some necessary context.

I know I need to get straight to the point, but this background info is vital for identifying the next trend on your own.

As you’ve noticed, there’s a plethora of hype surrounding AI. Recently, DeepSeek made headlines leading to a market decline worth trillions of dollars. Yes, trillions. 🤯

While AI is undeniably influential and will shape our future, the challenge lies in discerning the genuine from the fraudulent.

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Here’s how I approach this:

Who profited during the gold rush? The shovels’ sellers.

Who cashed in during the dot-com bubble? The telecom firms.

Notice the pattern? 👀

When it comes to investments—whether financial or resource allocation—I lean towards betting on entire industries rather than individual companies, particularly in the initial phases where myriad factors must align for success.

With this perspective, I began pondering: if we are investing in AI as an industry, who stands to benefit? Where lies the opportunity?

To understand why this sleeper company is flourishing, it’s crucial to grasp the inner workings of AI today.

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Currently, AI is in a rapid growth stage, reminiscent of the early dot-com era: money is abundant, yet only a handful of companies are truly profitable.

Key players in the AI ecosystem include:

The Model Builders — OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Anthropic. These companies focus on developing large-scale AI models, requiring extensive data and computing power, which results in them currently spending more than they earn.

The Infrastructure Providers — Nvidia, AWS, Microsoft Azure. They supply essential computing resources, cloud storage, and GPUs that AI models heavily rely on. They are profitable, but they are only part of the story.

The Data Owners — This is where it gets intriguing. AI models rely on training data to improve their accuracy. However, a considerable portion of online data is free and unstructured.

By applying our gold rush analogy, we pinpoint the most promising opportunities in Infrastructure and Data Ownership.

I quickly dismissed Nvidia as a potential investment. Why? It’s too transparent. 😅

Moreover, I am not searching for a stock suggestion; I’m looking for ways to leverage opportunities.

✅ They don’t need to develop AI models, even if they could.
✅ They aren’t selling GPUs.
✅ Their primary task is to license the valuable data they currently possess.

So, who is this unheralded winner?

It’s Reddit. 😱

The Surprising Victor

Yes, indeed. We’re talking about Reddit. I warned you this would be a plot twist reminiscent of a Martin Scorsese film.

In case you’re unfamiliar, Reddit is a social media platform and discussion forum where users can post content, engage in conversations, and vote on submissions. Often described as “The Front Page of the Internet,” it’s a hub for various discussions.

Established in 2005 by Alexis Ohanian and Steve Huffman, its original concept was a food-ordering application named My Mobile Menu.

Smart move pivoting to social networking! 🤣

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Why is Reddit experiencing this success? AI models require human-generated content for their training. Reddit boasts one of the most extensive datasets of human conversations globally.

Its value lies in the quality of these discussions. The web is saturated with irrelevant content, but Reddit’s threads are genuine, unfiltered, and human. Unlike platforms driven by algorithms, Reddit provides authentic interactions—an asset AI needs to comprehend human behavior.

Reddit is the shovel of this AI revolution. 🤓☝️

In May 2024, Reddit reached an agreement with OpenAI to offer access to its data, resulting in the first profitable quarter for the platform in Q3 2024, boasting an impressive 68% revenue growth to $348.4 million and a net income of $29.9 million.

Over the past six months, Reddit’s stock has surged by 236% as of this writing.

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The financial growth is attributed to advertising revenue and data licensing, with AI firms eagerly paying for Reddit’s content.

There’s no question—I’m optimistic about Reddit’s future. 🚀

The Opportunity

Reddit has become indispensable for AI training, possessing a level of rich, human-generated data that no other platform can match. It stands as the last bastion for free-flowing human conversation.

This is your chance to get involved. 🧐

While it’s clear that Reddit merits attention in the stock market (not investment advice), its recent profitability is likely to lead to increased investments in improving the platform’s user experience, adding new features, and expanding its audience.

Here’s what intrigues me:

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In 2019, Reddit had 430 million monthly active users. By the end of 2024, that figure jumped to 1.21 billion. This notable increase signals a mature platform—not a fledgling one. Such growth at this stage is significant and warrants attention.

While I’m entirely speculating, I believe this expansion primarily stems from users longing for authentic human connections.

No bots. No algorithms inundating them with unwanted content. 🤗

Only genuine human interaction.

This presents a unique opportunity for you to market your products or services.

Wherever people congregate, there’s potential to engage with the right audience. Given Reddit’s newfound profitability, it’s poised to emerge as a significant player in the digital marketing landscape alongside Meta and Google.

Also: The Most Common Tasks People Are Using Claude AI For, According to Anthropic

However, Reddit’s community is unlike any other. Authenticity is paramount; go inauthentic, and you will be called out.

Prioritize providing value; avoid overly salesy tactics. Seek ways to contribute to discussions rather than detract from them.

Check out these Reddit case studies to understand what resonates well. 📈

My Two Cents

I’ll leave you with this thought.

We should monitor Reddit not only for its stock performance but also as a vital new source of traffic to lessen reliance on Meta and Google. 👀

The true opportunity lies not solely in AI or a singular platform, but in our adaptability to shifting landscapes. Platforms will evolve, algorithms will transform, and technology will advance, yet our aim remains consistent: to authentically reach the right audience.

If you seek more data-driven business insights like these, consider subscribing to my informative newsletter, No Fluff Just Facts. I deliver the strategies that are proving effective, the latest trends, and the occasional motivational message to keep you inspired. If that sounds appealing, click here to join; it’s completely free. 🤗

😇 I hope this helps, and I’m cheering for your success.

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