Ebates

Ebates.com

Industry	Cashback website, Online coupons
Founded	May 3, 1998 in Menlo Park, CA, USA
Founders	Alessandro “Sandro” Isolani and Paul Wasserman
Headquarters	San Francisco, CA
Owner	Rakuten
Website	www.ebates.com

Ebates is a cashback website headquartered in San Francisco, CA. The site acts as a shopping portal offering coupons and cash back from over 1,800 online retailers.^[1]

Ebates earns a commission when a shopping session is initiated through affiliate network links. Ebates shares a percentage of the commission with its members in the form of cash back. Members are paid quarterly via check or through PayPal.^[2]

History

Ebates was founded in 1998 in Menlo Park, CA by two former deputy district attorneys, Alessandro Isolani and Paul Wasserman. Funded by venture capital firm Foundation Capital,^[3] Ebates.com launched on May 3, 1999 offering up to 25% cash back from about 40 online retailers.^[4] Through publicity and word of mouth, Ebates.com had 100,000 hits per day after its first week.^[5]

In 2000, Ebates reported having two million members and had 300 participating online retailers. The initial growth led to $25 million in funding from venture capital firms August Capital, Canaan Partners, Foundation Capital and Rembrandt Venture Partners.^[6] Ebates moved its headquarters from Menlo Park to San Francisco, CA.

In 2001, Isolani replaced Wasserman as the CEO. Ebates reported having paid out over $1 million in cash rebates.^[7]

In 2008, Kevin H. Johnson replaced Isolani as CEO. Johnson was formerly the president and general manager at Acxiom Digital, a division of Acxiom Corporation.^[8]

In 2013, members spent $2.2 billion shopping through Ebates. In September of 2014, Ebates was acquired by Rakuten, inc. for $1 Billion. ^[9]

Products

Cash Back Button

The Ebates Cash Back Button is a browser extension that alerts shoppers when cash back is available or when cash back has been activated at participating store web sites.^[10]

Mobile apps

The Ebates App for iPhone and iPod Touch was introduced in October 2013. In addition to deals and cash back that are found on the website, the app features one-click price comparison, a deal board, push notifications and social sharing options.^[11] Ebates introduced an Android app in March 2014^[12] and an iPad app in May 2014^[13]

References

1. "10 best cash-back websites". Las Vegas Review Journal. 23 December 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
2. "Rakuten to Acquire Ebates for $1 Billion". Business Wire (Press release). 9 September 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
3. Kemp, Ted (17 May 1999). "ebates.com Pays Cash to Net Shoppers, Hopes to Lure Advertisers". Direct Marketing News. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
4. "Ebates.com launches discount rebate site". Advertising Age. Crain Communications Inc. 3 May 1999. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
5. Huhn, Mary (9 May 1999). "THIS SHOPPING PORTAL OFFERS REBATES FOR .MOM". NYPost. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
6. "ebates.com Secures $25 Million in Second Round Venture Capital Funding". A Best Web (Press release). BusinessWire. 8 May 2000. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
7. "ebates.com appoints Alessandro Isolani as CEO". Internet Retailer. 6 February 2001. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
8. "Ebates Names Kevin Johnson CEO". August Capital (Press release). 15 July 2008. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
9. Perez, Sarah (9 September 2014). "Rakuten Buys Ebates For $1 Billion". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
10. "Ebates cash back Button FAQs". Ebates.
11. "Ebates Goes Mobile! Leading cash back Shopping Site Announces Free App for iOS". Business Wire (Press release). 24 October 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
12. Diaz, Justin (20 March 2014). "Ebates App For Android Lets You Save Money With cash back For Online Shopping". Android Headlines. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
13. "Ebates.com Announces Free New iPad App for cash back Shopping". BusinessWire (Press release). 8 May 2014.