Rapidly growing industry
The online review industry shows signs of explosive scale and long-term value — yet remains one of the most under-innovated and unfairly monetized digital markets.
Market size & growth
97% of internet users consult reviews for local businesses (BrightLocal, 2024)
77% use them regularly
91% of 18–34-year-olds trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations
Industry projected to hit $34.5B by 2030, growing at 17% CAGR
Usage at scale
Yelp receives 26,830 new reviews every minute
Yelp saw 244 million total reviews in 2021
178+ million people visit Yelp every month
TripAdvisor passed 1 billion reviews in 2022
Yelp generated $1.3B in revenue in 2024
The user activity is massive. The business value is undeniable. But the value distribution? Completely broken.
These numbers give weight to everything that follows: Fake reviews don’t just hurt trust — they undermine a $34B+ market.
Lack of incentives doesn’t just frustrate users — it limits revenue potential. Platforms profit, while contributors are left with nothing.
The next platform to solve this imbalance will reshape a global industry.
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