PebblePost created Programmatic Direct Mail®, a platform that turns real-time online interest and intent data into personalized direct mail to influence at-home purchase decisions. The platform integrates targeting, algorithmic optimization, attribution, segmentation, campaign management, production, analytics and quantitative analysis to send highly personalized mail. Early adoption includes digitally native direct-to-consumer brands such as Boxed, Parachute and TUMI, as well as established brands like Dyson. PebblePost is venture-backed and based in New York City and San Francisco. The company plans to invest new funds into its customer platform with enhancements in attribution, re-engagement and prospecting, and to expand its footprint across new vertical and partner channels. Management says these enhancements will help brands measure and optimize campaigns and drive omnichannel campaign success. PebblePost operates a "programmatic direct mail" platform that uses online behavioral data to trigger personalized printed postcards and catalogs to consumers. The company combines digital targeting with physical mail to reach consumers when they may be more receptive, a strategy CEO Lewis Gersh has promoted. PebblePost raised new capital to support expansion into additional industries and geographies and to scale its platform. The financing includes both equity and debt, which company executives say will provide flexibility in working with customers and growing the business. CFO Marita Scarfi said the debt financing will serve as working capital for day-to-day operations while the equity is earmarked for expansion. The article reports that PebblePost has now raised $28 million in equity funding plus $27 million in debt and called the funding position one that puts the company in a market leadership position. PebblePost offers “programmatic direct mail” that sends customized postcards and catalogs to consumers based on their online browsing activity. The platform triggers follow-up physical mail that highlights category-relevant products rather than the exact item viewed, positioned as a “gentle, relevant reminder.” PebblePost argues printed mail improves viewability and avoids digital ad fraud because, as the company notes, “bots don’t have mailboxes.” The approach reportedly performs well: the company says an average of 7 to 10 percent of PebblePost mailings result in a purchase. Customers named in the article include Boxed, Saatchi Art, and ModCloth. CEO Lewis Gersh previously founded seed investment firm Metamorphic Ventures (now Compound) and has a history backing retargeting companies. PebblePost is a NYC-based provider of a programmatic direct mail platform. The company’s platform leverages patent-pending technology to capture clickstream data from site visitors, segment those visitors and send physical mail within 24 hours. Its offering includes analytics that assess the real-time performance of mail that is sent. According to a regulatory filing with the SEC, PebblePost raised $5.125M in venture capital. The filing indicated 26 investors participated in the offering. Named backers in the filing include a mix of venture firms and individual investors such as Tribeva Venture Partners, FF Venture Capital, Alpine Meridian Ventures and Mantella Venture Partners. PebblePost operates a programmatic direct mail platform that dynamically transforms real-time online activity into mailed communications and optimizes daily messages and creative based on real-time results. The platform includes tools for real-time segmentation, workflow, analytics and optimization to support digital and direct marketers. PebblePost completed a private beta with 20 e-commerce firms, catalogers and marketing agencies prior to this raise. The company intends to use the $3M seed proceeds to open its offering to the broader marketplace of digital and direct marketers and to release additional products and features. Leadership is headed by CEO Lewis Gersh and CTO Robert Victor.

Total raised

$101M

Funding rounds

6

Latest round

Series C

Latest activity

Nov 2018