Raise
Raise is a Chicago-based gift card marketplace serving over 7 million members in the US, Canada, and the UK with digital gift cards from 1,200+ brands, earning transaction-based cash rewards (Raise Cash) and pivoting into blockchain-powered SmartCard technology on Solana with a planned $RAISE token.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Raise does
Raise, operated by Raise Marketplace, LLC, is a consumer-facing gift card marketplace that allows individual consumers to purchase digital gift cards from over 1,200 retail brands across dining, groceries, travel, entertainment, and retail categories. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Chicago, the platform has grown to serve more than 7 million members in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain, and has distributed over $450 million in cash rewards since inception. The core products are the Raise App (mobile and web), the Raise Cash rewards program (a stored-value balance credited instantly on each purchase and stackable across transactions), the RaiseOne prepaid digital card, and API Solutions for business partners. A Guest Checkout feature enables crypto-only purchases without account creation.
The underlying technology combines a traditional e-commerce gift card platform with a blockchain layer: Raise has developed on-chain programmable "SmartCard" technology on the Solana blockchain, enabling cryptocurrency deposits and seamless merchant spending. A planned $RAISE token launch is scheduled for early 2026. Raise monetizes primarily through transaction fees and payment processing spreads on gift card purchases, supported by a freemium pricing model with no membership fees. Customer acquisition is product-led via self-serve mobile/web distribution, a $10-per-referral program, organic app store discovery, and influencer partnerships. The company is venture-backed, having raised over $200 million cumulatively, including a $63 million round led by Haun Ventures in February 2025, with prior participation from Accel, Bessemer Venture Partners, New Enterprise Associates, and PayPal Ventures. The strategic posture is one of a mature consumer marketplace pivoting toward blockchain-based payments and loyalty infrastructure.
Raise firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Raise
- Legal name
- Raise Marketplace, LLC
- Website
- https://raise.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Raise is a Chicago-based gift card marketplace serving over 7 million members in the US, Canada, and the UK with digital gift cards from 1,200+ brands, earning transaction-based cash rewards (Raise Cash) and pivoting into blockchain-powered SmartCard technology on Solana with a planned $RAISE token.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Raise industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Gift Card and Consumer Rewards Marketplace
- NAICS
- Credit Card Issuing (522210), Credit Card Issuing (52221)
- SIC
- Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Gift Card Processing, Issuance Platforms & Aggregators (FSAMANAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Digital Gift Cards, Vouchers & Stored-Value (Crypto) (FSADAIAN), Crypto Payments & Stablecoin Settlement Platforms (BPAMAFAL), Corporate & Incentive / Reward Prepaid Programs (FSAMANAD)
Keywords
Where Raise is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Raise business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Gift Card Transaction Revenue: Raise generates revenue through the purchase and sale of gift cards from partner brands. Users buy gift cards at face value and Raise earns revenue through transaction processing and potential margins between purchase and redemption. The platform also supports Raise Cash redemptions toward gift card purchases, creating a closed-loop rewards ecosystem.
- Payment Processing: The platform accepts multiple payment methods including credit cards, debit cards, cryptocurrencies, Apple Pay, PayPal, and Raise Cash balances. Revenue is generated through payment processing fees embedded in transactions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free membership with no fees to join or use basic features |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Referral Program |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Raise product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Raise operates a unified gift card and rewards marketplace through its mobile app and website, where consumers can purchase digital gift cards from over 1,200 partner brands and earn stackable cash rewards (Raise Cash) on every transaction. The platform supports purchases via credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, PayPal, cryptocurrency, and accumulated Raise Cash balances. It is also introducing blockchain-powered SmartCard technology on the Solana network that enables on-chain programmable gift cards, crypto deposits, and store spending, with a planned $RAISE token launch in early 2026.
Product overview
Raise operates as a unified consumer rewards and gift card marketplace platform consisting of the Raise App (core mobile/web application), the Raise Cash rewards program, RaiseOne prepaid digital card, and API Solutions for business partners. The platform allows users to purchase digital gift cards from over 1,200 retail brands across categories like dining, groceries, travel, and entertainment, while earning cash rewards on every purchase. Raise Cash serves as the primary loyalty mechanism where rewards stack over time and can be applied to future gift card purchases. RaiseOne functions as a supplementary prepaid digital card for platform funding, while the Guest Checkout feature enables limited cryptocurrency-based purchases for non-members.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- RaiseOne: A prepaid digital card product offered through the Raise App, allowing members to add funds for use within the Raise platform for purchasing partner brand gift cards and other eligible transactions. Issued by Raise Marketplace LLC.
- Raise Cash
Products and services
- Raise App The main consumer-facing mobile application (iOS/Android) and web platform where individuals browse and purchase digital gift cards from over 1,200 partner brands and earn instant, stackable Raise Cash rewards on every transaction. Available to consumers in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain.
- RaiseOne Prepaid Digital Card A prepaid digital card issued by Raise Marketplace LLC that lets members add funds for use within the Raise platform, including the purchase of partner brand gift cards and other eligible transactions. Functions as a stored-balance wallet product layered on top of the Raise App.
- Raise API Solutions B2B API offering that allows business partners to integrate Raise's gift card catalog and rewards platform capabilities into their own products and services, targeted at merchants and partners seeking white-label gift card distribution.
- SmartCard On-Chain Programmable Gift Card Blockchain-based programmable gift card product running on the Solana blockchain that enables consumers to deposit cryptocurrency and spend the gift card seamlessly at partner merchants, with the goal of supporting a broader $RAISE token ecosystem in early 2026.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $450 million paid in cash rewards to users
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Raise
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Raise technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature3 records
Raise partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- SolanacoreSolana serves as Raise's blockchain infrastructure partner to power the on-chain gift card and loyalty ecosystem. Raise launched its first on-chain programmable gift card on Solana, with the goal of scaling SmartCard technology and supporting the $RAISE token launch in early 2026.
- StripecoreStripe provides payment processing services for Raise under their standard commercial agreements. By using Raise, users agree to be bound by Stripe's Payment Services Agreement as modified by Stripe.
- Raise Brand Partners (1,200+ brands)coreOver 1,200 brand partners across dining, groceries, travel, entertainment, and retail categories including Amazon, Starbucks, Uber Eats, Adidas, Lowe's, and Carnival. These brands participate in Raise's gift card and rewards ecosystem.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Raise competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bitrefill: Bitrefill allows users to purchase gift cards and mobile top-ups using cryptocurrency, directly mirroring Raise's crypto Guest Checkout feature and on-chain gift card roadmap.
- GiftCards.com: GiftCards.com is a leading online retailer of physical and digital gift cards across hundreds of brands, directly overlapping Raise's gift card marketplace offering.
- GCX (Global Card Exchange): GCX operates as a related marketplace platform with a direct link from Raise's FAQ, suggesting it is either a sister brand or closely affiliated secondary gift card marketplace with overlapping inventory.
- Gyft: Gyft (originally a direct Raise competitor) was acquired by First Data/Fiserv and continues to operate as a digital gift card marketplace with comparable brand breadth and consumer focus.
- CardCash: CardCash is a direct competitor in the gift card resale and discount marketplace, allowing users to buy and sell unwanted gift cards at a discount. It competes head-on with Raise's core marketplace model.
- eGifter: eGifter is a digital gift card platform enabling consumers to buy, send, and redeem gift cards across many of the same brand partners as Raise, competing for the same SMB and consumer use cases.
Broad incumbents
- Blackhawk Network: Blackhawk Network is a major gift card and payments network that distributes branded gift cards at retail, serving the same brand partners Raise works with but as a B2B distributor rather than consumer marketplace.
- Rakuten (formerly Ebates): Rakuten is a large, established cashback and rewards platform serving the same consumer use case of earning rewards on everyday purchases, but via a different (online shopping) mechanism.
- Honey (by PayPal): Honey, owned by PayPal, is a broader rewards and cashback platform that competes for the same consumer mindshare on everyday purchase savings, though it focuses on online couponing rather than gift cards.
Emerging players
- CoinGate: CoinGate is a crypto payment gateway that enables merchants to accept crypto, with overlap in the crypto-to-gift-card settlement space that Raise's blockchain pivot targets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Raise social profiles
Digital presenceRaise compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Raise financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Raise leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Raise funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors25 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Raise M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Raise
What does Raise do?
Raise operates a unified gift card and rewards marketplace through its mobile app and website, where consumers can purchase digital gift cards from over 1,200 partner brands and earn stackable cash rewards (Raise Cash) on every transaction. The platform supports purchases via credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, PayPal, cryptocurrency, and accumulated Raise Cash balances. It is also introducing blockchain-powered SmartCard technology on the Solana network that enables on-chain programmable gift cards, crypto deposits, and store spending, with a planned $RAISE token launch in early 2026.
Is Raise a public or private company?
Raise is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Raise founded?
Raise was founded in 2013. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Raise based?
Raise is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Raise make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Gift Card Transaction Revenue is the primary driver. The others are payment Processing.
Who are Raise's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bitrefill, GiftCards.com, GCX (Global Card Exchange), Gyft, CardCash and eGifter. Broad incumbents are Blackhawk Network, Rakuten (formerly Ebates) and Honey (by PayPal). CoinGate is listed as an emerging player.
Does Raise have an API?
No public API is recorded for Raise.
What industry is Raise in?
Raise's product category is Gift Card and Consumer Rewards Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAMANAL, Gift Card Processing, Issuance Platforms & Aggregators, with a secondary code of FSADAIAN, Digital Gift Cards, Vouchers & Stored-Value (Crypto). Its NAICS code is 522210 and its SIC code is 5945.