The Partnership Economy

CHAPTER 6Coupon, Cashback, and Loyalty Partners: Reach New Audiences, Drive More Sales

Ibotta is a mobile app and browser extension that promises to give its users one big thing: cash back on their purchases. It's free and easy to use. Before users shop, they set up a personal Ibotta account through which cashback offers will flow. Next, they open the Ibotta app and select “find offers.” This action activates relevant offers from participating merchants that can be used for online or in-store purchases. Sometimes users are asked to watch a video or complete a survey before the offer is extended. Then the shopping begins! Whenever users make a future purchase they're rewarded for their purchase with cash back into their account. The cash can add up quickly. The average active Ibotta user earns between $10 and $20 a month, but some earn as much as $100 to $300 a month.¹

Ibotta began with the vision of helping consumers earn cash back on groceries and everyday purchases. Today, the company's mission has evolved to “make every purchase rewarding.” Ibotta works with more than 1,500 enterprises and brands, giving its users the opportunity to earn cash back on purchases ranging from groceries to clothing to electronics. The company says it has paid more than $860 million in cash rewards to more than 35 million users since it was founded in 2012.²

FIGURE 6.1 The Ibotta app generates ...