Attentive

Based in New York City, Attentive provides a personalized SMS and email marketing platform that uses real-time behavioral data to automate targeted campaigns for e-commerce and retail brands. The SaaS provider operates on a subscription and usage-based pricing model, currently serving a client base of over 8,000 businesses. Its customer roster features prominent consumer brands such as Urban Outfitters, CB2, and Pura Vida. Attentive reached a $7 billion valuation following a $470 million Series E funding round in 2021, bringing its total venture capital raised to more than $800 million from major backers including Sequoia Capital and Coatue. In 2023, the firm expanded its product suite with artificial intelligence tools for automated copy generation while reducing its workforce by fifteen percent. The company was founded in 2016 by Brian Long, Andrew Jones, and Ethan Lo.

High-Level Overview

Attentive is a leading AI-powered mobile marketing platform that enables brands! to deliver personalized, real-time text messaging experiences across SMS, RCS, and email. Built for innovative e-commerce and retail brands, Attentive leverages behavioral data and advanced AI to automate and optimize customer engagement, driving higher open rates, click-through rates, and ROI. The platform empowers marketers to craft tailored journeys for every subscriber, maximizing campaign performance and recurring revenue. Attentive has experienced explosive growth, serving over 5,000 customers and achieving a valuation exceeding $10 billion, with year-over-year growth consistently above 100%.

Attentive solves a critical problem in digital marketing: the need for deeper, more meaningful customer connections in an era of information overload. By automating personalized messaging at scale, it helps brands cut through the noise, boost engagement, and foster loyalty. Its growth momentum is fueled by rising demand for omnichannel marketing solutions and the proven effectiveness of SMS as a high-impact channel.

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Origin Story

Attentive was founded in 2016 by Amit Jhawar, Andrew Jones, and Brian Long, all of whom previously co-founded TapCommerce, a mobile ad startup acquired by Twitter in 2013. After their stint at Twitter, the founders identified a gap in the market: while email marketing was mature, SMS remained underutilized and lacked the sophistication brands needed. They pivoted from an initial idea focused on frontline worker management to a personalized SMS platform for e-commerce and retail brands, a move that resonated immediately with marketers seeking more engaging ways to reach customers.

Early traction came quickly, with Attentive’s technology impressing marketers for its ability to drive deep engagement through personalized text messages. The company’s rapid ascent was further accelerated by strategic partnerships with top-tier investors like Bain Capital and Sequoia Capital, who recognized its disruptive potential in the digital marketing landscape.

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Core Differentiators

• AI-Powered Personalization: Attentive uses advanced AI to personalize content, tone, and timing for every subscriber, enabling 1:1 messaging at scale.
• Omnichannel Reach: The platform supports SMS, RCS, and email, allowing brands to engage customers across multiple touchpoints seamlessly.
• Real-Time Behavioral Data: Attentive activates real-time data from multiple channels to deliver timely, relevant messages that drive action.
• Enterprise-Grade Compliance & Deliverability: Trusted by leading global brands, Attentive ensures high deliverability and compliance for trillions of interactions.
• Top-Rated Customer Success: Attentive’s G2-recognized customer success team provides strategic guidance and campaign optimization, helping brands maximize performance.
• Scalability & Ease of Use: The platform is designed for businesses of all sizes, offering intuitive tools and robust automation capabilities.

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Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Attentive is riding the wave of the omnichannel marketing revolution, where brands are increasingly prioritizing personalized, real-time customer engagement. The timing is critical: as consumers demand more relevant and immediate interactions, SMS has emerged as a high-impact channel, with open rates exceeding 90% and click-through rates above 30%. Attentive’s platform is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend, offering a solution that combines the immediacy of SMS with the sophistication of AI-driven personalization.

Market forces are working in Attentive’s favor, including the decline of third-party cookies, the rise of privacy-centric marketing, and the growing importance of first-party data. By enabling brands to leverage real-time behavioral data and deliver personalized experiences, Attentive is shaping the future of digital marketing and influencing how companies interact with their customers.

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Quick Take & Future Outlook

Attentive’s journey is far from over. As the digital marketing landscape continues to evolve, the company is poised to expand its platform into new channels and verticals, further solidifying its position as a leader in personalized customer engagement. The integration of AI and machine learning will likely deepen, enabling even more sophisticated personalization and automation. Attentive’s influence will extend beyond e-commerce and retail, impacting how all brands connect with their audiences in an increasingly fragmented and privacy-conscious world.

Looking ahead, Attentive’s ability to adapt to changing market dynamics and deliver meaningful, real-time interactions will be key to its continued success. As the demand for personalized marketing grows, Attentive is set to remain at the forefront of the industry, helping brands build stronger, more lasting relationships with their customers.