This is more common than you think, especially during the dot-com 1.0 heydays. It is usually administered as something called a Directed Share Program to reward

This is more common than you think, especially during the dot-com 1.0 heydays. It is usually administered as something called a Directed Share Program to rewards friends, family, vendors, etc. As others have mentioned, Lending Club has done this in the form of opening DSP to their Lenders.