HumanIPO

HumanIPO is a marketplace for buying, selling, and redeeming shares in people. Each share is redeemable for time with a specific person. HumanIPO is used by entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, YouTube creators, authors, scientists, musicians, and athletes.

The company was founded in 2020 and is based in New York City.

Concept
The idea of investing in people directly has been discussed for many years, including some notable attempts like Bowie Bonds and Fantex, among others.

Reception
After the release of an article by Wired magazine, active debates emerged in the tech community about whether it represents a revolutionary way to invest in individuals or a new form of indentured servitude. The website received mixed reviews on its Product Hunt page. Some of the reactions were about assigning values to people and potential disparities related to the algorithm suggesting a starting share price.

In August 2021, soccer icon Pelé announced his launch on the website, which led to another wave of debates about the concept and this model.