WhatsApp is a communication platform that allows users to message each other – either via text, audio, or video. WhatsApp makes money via its Business API product. It charges companies anywhere between $0.05 to $0.90 for every message that is answered after 24 hours. Founded in 2009, WhatsApp has grown to become the world’s largest … Read more

Executive Summary: Zelle is a peer-to-peer (P2P) payment network that enables users to send money to their friends, family, and anyone else that is part of the platform. Zelle does not make any money right now. Instead, its participating banks generate revenue whenever a user pays a business in exchange for goods and services. The … Read more

Executive Summary: Patreon is a membership platform that allows creators to be paid by their fans on a subscription basis. Supporters are referred to as patrons. Patreon makes money via variable as well as a payment processing fees. The fees are paid by creators and dependent upon the plan chosen. Founded in 2013 and headquartered … Read more

Executive Summary: Mint is a FinTech company that aggregates data from different financial accounts. Its solution enables users to better track and manage their personal finances. Mint makes money through referral fees that it collects whenever a user purchases any of the financial products the company promotes. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in San Francisco, … Read more

Executive Summary: Airbnb is a platform that allows travelers to book apartments, hotels, and experiences entirely online. Accommodation and experiences (both online and offline) are provided by so-called hosts. Airbnb makes money by charging a service fee to both the guests as well as the hosts. These fees range anywhere from 3 to 20 percent. … Read more

Executive Summary: GitHub is a platform that allows software engineers (and other collaborators) to manage projects online. GitHub makes money by offering premium subscription plans to teams and organizations as well as a fee it generates when users purchase third-party apps on their platform. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, GitHub has … Read more

Executive Summary: Robinhood is an online trading app that enables users to buy and sell financial assets, such as stocks, exchange-traded funds, options, and even cryptocurrencies. Users do not have to pay a brokerage commission when placing a trade. Robinhood makes money via order flow payments, subscription fees, interest paid on stock loans, cash income … Read more

In recent years, companies like Opendoor and Offerpad have flocked the streets of many American cities with their inviting signs, allowing interested buyers almost instant access. These companies are what people in the real estate industry refer to as an iBuyer. Their promise is maximum convenience, a fair offer, and as much flexibility as their … Read more

Executive Summary: Knock is an online real estate platform that allows property owners to trade in their old home for a new one (via the company’s Home Swap™ service). Knock makes money via a convenience fee (equal to 1.25 percent) as well as the profit it generates when selling a home for more than it … Read more

Executive Summary: SoFi, short for Social Finance, is a personal finance company that offers products in the field of banking, loans, investing, and insurance. SoFi makes money via transaction fees, loan securitization, referral fees, investing in the capital markets, sweep programs, and a lot more. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in San Francisco, SoFi is … Read more