Return Path

New York, United States Founded: 1999 • Age: 27 yrs Acquired By Validity
Email marketing automation and fraud protection platform

About Return Path

Return Path is a Technology company based in New York (United States) founded in 1999, and was acquired by Validity in May 2019. Email marketing automation and fraud protection platform. Return Path has raised $131.37 million across 17 funding rounds from investors including Validity, Western Technology Investment and Vista Equity Partners. Return Path has completed 6 acquisitions, including Context.IO, Email Copilot and Habeas. Return Path offers products and services including BriteVerify, DemandTools, Everest, GridBuddy Connect, and MailCharts. Its focus areas include Enterprise Applications, MarketingTech, Email Marketing and Email Deliverability. Its legal entity is return path,inc. Its competitors include MessageGears, Litmus and Email Copilot; 3 of its 3 listed competitors have raised funding.

Company details

Return Path was founded in 1999 in New York, United States, and operates in the email technology sector. Email data solutions are supplied for marketing insights, fraud prevention, and performance optimization. Threat intelligence is applied to identify, block, and address email threats in real time for customer protection. Tools are offered to help senders analyze and resolve deliverability issues while sustaining email reputation.

  • Headquarters New York, United States
  • Stage Acquired
  • Sectors
    Technology
  • Website category Computers Electronics and Technology · Email
  • Website returnpath.com
  • Social LinkedIn X Facebook YouTube
  • Acquired by Validity (May 2019)
  • Legal Name Return Path,Inc
Operational Areas
Key Metrics
  • Total Equity Funding
    $131.37M (USD)

    in 17 rounds

  • Latest Funding Round
    $261.75K (USD), Series F

    Dec 2016

  • Investors
    Validity

    & 10 more

  • Investments & Acquisitions
    Context.IO

    & 5 more

  • Acquired by
    Validity

    (May 2019)

Products & Services of Return Path

Return Path offers a comprehensive portfolio of products and services, including BriteVerify, DemandTools, Everest, GridBuddy Connect, and MailCharts.

BriteVerify
Email Verification

Tool for validating email addresses to improve campaign performance.

DemandTools
Data Management

Platform for cleaning and maintaining CRM data efficiently.

Everest
Email Deliverability

Service for monitoring inbox placement and engagement metrics.

GridBuddy Connect
Productivity Tools

Application for integrating and editing CRM data in real-time.

MailCharts
Campaign Intelligence

Tool for analyzing email and SMS campaign performance.

Apps and channels of Return Path

its YouTube channel Validity Inc. has 34.7K subscribers and 30 videos.

Validity Inc.
YouTube 34.7K subscribers 30 videos Howto & Style
Open channel

Videos from Return Path

The most watched videos on Return Path's YouTube channel, Validity Inc. (34.7K subscribers). Click a video to play it here.

Validity DemandTools: Assess and Monitor
383 views
Validity DemandTools: Assess Reports Actionable
307 views
Welcome to Validity Inc.!
259 views
Validity DemandTools: Data Modification
256 views

More on Validity Inc..

Funding Insights of Return Path

Return Path has successfully raised a total of $131.37M across 17 strategic funding rounds. The most recent funding activity was a Series F round of $261.75 thousand completed in December 2016. This substantial capital infusion reflects strong investor confidence in the company's business model, growth potential, and market opportunities. The funding enables strategic expansion, product development, market penetration, and operational scaling to drive long-term value creation and competitive advantage.

  • Total Funding $131.37M
  • Total Rounds 17
  • Last Round Series F β€” $261,750
  • First Round $6.5M

    (Jan 2002)

  • Investors Count 10

Latest 10 of 17 funding rounds of Return Path with amounts and investors; the two latest post-money valuations are shown, the rest are part of the premium plan.

DateAmountTransaction NameValuationLead InvestorsInvestors
Dec 2016$261,750Series F––
–
Dec 2014$35MSeries F–Vista Equity Partners
Jul 2014$5MDebt – Conventional––
–
Jul 2014$5MSeries F––
–
Oct 2013$6.79MSeries F––
–
Jul 2013$29MSeries F––
–
Jan 2013$4.25MSeries E––
–
Dec 2011$1.63MSeries E––
–
Aug 2011$11MSeries E––
–
Jul 2009$5.5MSeries E––
–
Valuation history

11 investors in total: 11 institutional.

Investors in Return Path

Return Path has secured backing from 11 investors, including venture fund and institutional investors. Prominent investors backing the company include Validity, Western Technology Investment and Vista Equity Partners.

All
Venture Fund
Institutional
InvestorDescriptionFounded YearDomainLocation
Investments are directed toward high-growth enterprise software and technology companies.
vistaequitypartners.comAustin, United States
Venture capital firm focused on blockchain, wellbeing, and multiple sectors
usv.comNew York, United States
Venture capital is invested in early-stage tech startups.
foundry.vcBoulder, United States
Investments in private tech ecosystem are made by Industry Ventures.
industryventures.comSan Francisco, United States
Venture capital firm partnering with enterprise software companies and early-stage funds.
sapphireventures.com
Tech focused expansion stage VC firm in the US
fourriversgroup.comSan Francisco, United States
mobiusvc.com
VC firm investing in the US
shv.comPalo Alto, United States
Venture debt is provided globally across multiple sectors.
1980westerntech.comPortola Valley, United States
Tech focused Early stage VC Firm investing in the US
costanoavc.comPalo Alto, United States
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Investor details for Return Path

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People of Return Path

82 people are tracked at Return Path (17 in leadership, 6 in board & advisors, 59 in team).

NameRoleGroup
Brian Prusak
VP, Corporate ControllerLeadership
Daniel Smoot
Director - Fp&aLeadership
Chris Newhall
Chief Accounting OfficerLeadership
Mike Piispanen
COOLeadership
Andrew Lazarus
CFOLeadership
Jessica Delahunt
Director, Content And BrandLeadership
Mark Briggs
Chairman And CEOLeadership
Andy Dittrich
VP, Financial Planning & AnalysisLeadership
Olivia Hinkle
Director Of Product MarketingLeadership
Tim Baird
VP EMEA & APACLeadership
Savitha Rajagopalan
Director Of EngineeringLeadership
Christopher Kanyo
Director, Partner ServicesLeadership
Danielle Contin
Director, Revenue Marketing - GlobalLeadership
Michael Young
Director Of EngineeringLeadership
Chris Taggart
Director - Account ManagementLeadership
Benjamin Rubin
Director, Tax And TreasuryLeadership
Cecilia Belele
VP, Sales, LATAMLeadership
Tom Reardon
DirectorBoard & advisors
Mark E. Hastings
DirectorBoard & advisors
Jim Quagliaroli
DirectorBoard & advisors

62 more people are available in the full profile.

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Complete people profiles for Return Path

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Investments & Acquisitions by Return Path

Return Path has strategically engaged in corporate development activities, having acquired 6 companies. Notable acquisitions include Context.IO, Email Copilot and Habeas.

Acquisitions
Company NameDescriptionDomainLocationFoundedAcquiredAmount
Subscription based data stream for email security
threatwave.comLouisville, United States2013Jan 2017β€’β€’β€’β€’
Email delivery analytics are provided for marketers and ESPs.
emailcopilot.comSan Diego, United States2011Nov 2016β€’β€’β€’β€’
Provider of customer intelligence software solutions for e-commerce businesses
motleybunch.comPleasanton, United States2001Nov 2014β€’β€’β€’β€’
Email integration API for applications is provided.
context.ioMontreal, Canada2008Oct 2012β€’β€’β€’β€’
Email encryption and organization tools are provided for inboxes.
otherinbox.comAustin, United States2008Jan 2012β€’β€’β€’β€’
Email marketing reputation management solutions are provided by Habeas.
habeas.comNew York, United States2000Aug 2008β€’β€’β€’β€’
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Complete acquisition details for Return Path

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Timeline of Return Path

10 dated milestones of Return Path across 20 years, from founding to its latest funding, stage changes and deals.

  1. Founded Return Path is founded.
  2. Funding First funding round of $6.5M.
  3. Acquisition Acquires Habeas.
  4. Acquisition Acquires OtherInbox.
  5. Acquisition Acquires Context.IO.
  6. Acquisition Acquires Motley Bunch.
  7. Acquisition Acquires Email Copilot.
  8. Funding Latest funding round, Series F, of $262K.
  9. Acquisition Acquires ThreatWave.
  10. Exit Acquired by Validity.

Competitors of Return Path

Return Path has 3 listed competitors in our database, 3 of them funded. They include MessageGears, Litmus and Email Copilot.

Company NameDomainFoundedHQ LocationTotal fundingEmployeesDescription
messagegears.com2010Atlanta, United States$79.65M95
Email marketing platform for enterprises
litmus.com2005Cambridge, United States$49M158
Email marketing testing and analytics tools are provided to professionals.
emailcopilot.com2011San Diego, United States$1.25M
Email delivery analytics are provided for marketers and ESPs.
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Detailed competitors of Return Path

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Web traffic of Return Path

The website of Return Path (returnpath.com) receives about 1.3K visits a month and ranks #13,599,494 among all websites worldwide, #2,871 in Email.

  • Monthly visits
    1.3K

    ▲ 12.6% vs previous month

  • Global rank
    #13,599,494

    among all websites

  • Category rank
    #2,871

    Computers Electronics and Technology · Email

Similar websites

Websites whose visitors overlap most with Return Path. Affinity shows how closely the audiences match.

WebsiteDomainAudience affinityMonthly visitsGlobal rankProfile
senderscore.org
senderscore.org
100%
#412,422–
isipp.com
isipp.com
91%
#2,852,327–
forwardamerica.com
forwardamerica.com
83%
–
messagesystems.com
messagesystems.com
82%
–
email-marketing-reports.com
email-marketing-reports.com
75%
–
β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’.comβ€’β€’%β€’.β€’M#‒‒‒‒‒–
β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’.comβ€’β€’%β€’.β€’M#‒‒‒‒‒–
β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’β€’.comβ€’β€’%β€’.β€’M#‒‒‒‒‒–
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All 16 similar websites and full traffic analytics for Return Path

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  • 16 similar websites
  • Audience overlap
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Verified entity values are shown only after access is granted.

Top companies in MarketingTech

3 companies that operate in the same segment as Return Path (MarketingTech) in United States, ranked by their profile score on The Company Check.

CompanyDescriptionFoundedLocationTotal fundingRevenueEmployees
Provider of AI-powered customer relationship management software
2005Cambridge, Massachusetts, United StatesUSD 100.7 MUSD 3.13 B8,250
Zeta Global is recognized as an AI-powered marketing cloud.
2007New York, New York, United StatesUSD 357.58 MUSD 1.3 B3,142
Multi-channel online marketing tools are provided for small businesses.
1998Waltham, Massachusetts, United StatesUSD 37 M
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Related news about Return Path

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Frequently Asked Questions about Return Path

Return Path was founded in 1999 and raised its 1st funding round 3 years after it was founded.

Return Path is headquartered in New York, United States. It is registered at New York, New York, United States.

Return Path is a funded company, having raised a total of $131.37M across 17 funding rounds to date. The company's 1st funding round was a Series E of $5.5M, raised on Jan 2002.

Return Path was founded in 1999 in New York, United States, and operates in the email technology sector. Email data solutions are supplied for marketing insights, fraud prevention, and performance optimization. Threat intelligence is applied to identify, block, and address email threats in real time for customer protection. Tools are offered to help senders analyze and resolve deliverability issues while sustaining email reputation.

Return Path's top competitors include MessageGears, Litmus and Email Copilot.

Return Path offers BriteVerify, DemandTools, Everest, GridBuddy Connect, and MailCharts.

Return Path has made 6 acquisitions, including Context.IO, Email Copilot, and Habeas.

Return Path has 11 investors. Key investors include Validity, Western Technology Investment, Vista Equity Partners, Union Square Ventures, and Costanoa Venture.

Return Path operates through Return Path,Inc.

Yes. Return Path was acquired by Validity in May 2019.

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