2023-08-01
Benjamin
www.benjaminone.comIndustry
Fintech, Personal Finance
Headquarters
NYC
Employee Count
8
Year Founded
2022
Business model
Commission from cash back offers, affiliate tasks, merchant campaigns
Early traction
Launched last week after a successful beta test, 6.5k active users growing 30% monthly, $27M GTV with linked cards, 60k online merchants, and 10k in-store merchants
Investors
Every credit card company advertises its cash back rewards to convince cardholders to purchase with them. 💸
But how do rewards actually work?
Credit card companies negotiate agreements with merchants to offer cash back on certain spending activities.
As a result, both parties build customer loyalty, acquire users, and incentivize spending.
However, credit card rewards are not standardized, and cardholders are often unaware of their offerings, leaving money on the table.
This week's company provides a cash back platform that optimizes rewards for shoppers and runs rewards campaigns for merchants.
Benjamin is a financial platform that enables credit card holders to optimize their rewards and merchants to engage shoppers.
Holders: Users link any credit or debit card, spend online or in-store, and claim cash back rewards through the Benjamin app.
Merchants: Brands of all sizes run cash back campaigns on the platform to acquire and incentivize customers.
Engage: The Benjamin app gamifies earning cash back, simplifies rewards, and builds user retention.
Bulleted Version
💳 Credit card trends: As credit cards increase in usage and optionality, consumers are looking to select financial tools that optimize for rewards, personalization, and ease of use.
Benjamin’s gamified platform helps the 23% of cardholders who haven't redeemed any rewards over the past year.
🗺 The roadmap: Benjamin's vision extends beyond cash back, with plans for its own cards, personalized AI shopping, payment acceptance for merchants, premium subscriptions, and more.
This diversification builds multiple revenue streams beyond cash back fees including interchange, ad revenue, and subscriptions.
🤝 Beneficial to merchants: Benjamin enables all brands to engage with and reach new consumers through configurable campaigns, regardless of size or relationships with credit card companies.
🏁 Competitive landscape: Benjamin must convince consumers to adopt another finance app while also competing with well-funded credit card rewards giants.
👓 Maintaining focus: With an ambitious roadmap, Benjamin must ensure it can execute its numerous product offerings from the onset.
🏪 Supply and demand: Benjamin's success relies on its ability to continually acquire a diverse range of merchant partners to offer compelling rewards to its users and onboard enough users to interest merchant customers.
Bridge: Backed by TMV, Ulu Ventures, Bread and Butter Ventures, and others.
Ibotta: Backed by Koch Disruptive Technologies, GGV Capital, Teamworthy Ventures, and others.
Dosh: Backed by Goodwater Capital, Western Technology Investment, PayPal Ventures, and others.
WhyBenjamin
With a gamified platform that simplifies rewards and builds shopper loyalty, Benjamin is poised to cash in on its product that benefits consumers and merchants alike. 💰
*Nothing in this content constitutes investment or legal advice. Conduct independent diligence and consult professional advisers before making investment decisions.*
Explore
other features
Brooklyn, NY
2026-06-30
Yank Tech
Yank Tech is building long-range and high-powered wireless charging systems that let robots, vehicles, defense equipment, and space hardware charge without cables or exposed connectors.
Business model
Sells wireless power hardware, licenses application-specific IP, and earns royalties from deployed systems
Los Angeles, CA
2026-06-16
Companion Intelligence
Companion Intelligence is building a local AI platform that combines private infrastructure, personal AI agents, and a persistent digital memory into a single system users own and control.
Business model
Bundled hardware & software subscription
Austin, TX
2026-06-02
PLANET.TECH
PLANET.TECH is building the operating system for cattle by turning methane emissions into renewable fuel revenue and using real-time health intelligence to help farmers protect their herds.
Business model
Revenue share model on methane sales and environmental credit revenue