Backstroke: Revolutionizing Marketing with AI Messaging Platform

June 28, 2024, 9:34 am
Backstroke
Backstroke
FuturePersonal
Total raised: $2M
Backstroke, a groundbreaking AI messaging platform based in Indianapolis, IN, recently announced a significant milestone with the successful completion of a $2 million seed funding round. This funding, led by prominent venture firms High Alpha and Ground Game Ventures, with additional support from Allos Ventures, will fuel Backstroke's expansion efforts and further enhance its cutting-edge generative AI technology.

At the helm of Backstroke are industry veterans R. J. Talyor and Allyson Talyor, a dynamic duo with a wealth of experience in the marketing tech space. Backstroke's innovative platform is designed to revolutionize email, SMS, and mobile push marketing for B2C brands, offering a unique approach to content generation that leverages a comprehensive dataset from over 10,000 brands.

The heart of Backstroke's technology lies in its AI-driven system, which analyzes and tags millions of messages and their performance in over 200 different ways. This deep data analysis, accumulated over nearly three years, empowers Backstroke's AI to create marketing content that consistently outperforms human copywriters, driving up to 64% more revenue per send.

Early adopters of Backstroke's platform include well-known ecommerce brands such as Pearl iZUMi, Nathan Sports, Lyssé, and The Porch Swing Company. These brands have already experienced the transformative power of Backstroke's AI technology, which has enabled them to deliver highly personalized and engaging marketing campaigns to their customers.

The leadership team at Backstroke is a force to be reckoned with. CEO and Founder R. J. Talyor brings a wealth of experience to the table, having been one of the first 50 employees at email marketing pioneer ExactTarget. His leadership was instrumental in guiding messaging product teams through ExactTarget's acquisition by Salesforce in 2012. Additionally, R. J. founded Pattern89, a creative AI platform that was later acquired by Shutterstock in 2021.

Backing R. J. Talyor is Lead Data Scientist and Founder Allyson Talyor, Ph.D., whose expertise in data analysis and AI technology has been instrumental in shaping Backstroke's innovative platform. Together, this power couple is driving Backstroke towards success in the competitive marketing tech landscape.

In a recent statement, R. J. Talyor emphasized the importance of generative AI in reshaping the marketing industry, stating, "Legacy marketing tech is behind — it's too complex and not built for mass personalization. The industry incumbents are 'Frankensteining' gen AI features into their platforms. Backstroke is native to these new AI technologies, giving our customers a significant advantage."

High Alpha Founding Partner Eric Tobias echoed this sentiment, highlighting the immense potential of generative AI in the email marketing and messaging space. He expressed confidence in Backstroke's ability to lead the charge towards automation and personalized CRM marketing, citing the company's speed to market and strong customer traction as key indicators of success.

Doug Bertram, Director of E-Commerce at Pearl iZUMi and one of Backstroke's early customers, praised the platform for its ability to streamline content production and deliver personalized experiences to customers. Bertram's endorsement underscores the value that Backstroke brings to brands seeking to enhance their marketing efforts through automation and AI technology.

With its innovative approach to AI-driven marketing, seasoned leadership team, and growing list of satisfied customers, Backstroke is poised to make a significant impact in the marketing tech industry. As the company continues to expand its operations and refine its technology, it is well-positioned to lead the way towards a new era of personalized and engaging marketing campaigns.