Return Path Acquires API Provider Context.IO, Invests in Email Ecosystem to Help Developers Innovate and Maintain Platform’s Vibrancy

Email Intelligence Company Return Path Invests $1 Million Dollars to Create Innovation Program for Developers Designing New Applications

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Return Path, the global leader in email intelligence, today announced the acquisition of Context.IO, an API provider that makes it fast and easy for developers to integrate email data into applications. Context.IO supports the expansion of, access to, and synching of email data so developers don’t have to build, scale or maintain the infrastructure themselves. To further foster email API innovation, Return Path is also investing $1 million dollars in an innovation program designed to foster email API advancement among new and existing developers as they create groundbreaking applications to improve email productivity.

“Context.IO has allowed us to quickly develop applications without needing to focus on building something that was not our core competency”

“Return Path and Context.IO share the same vision – the email channel not only has longevity, but can serve as a dynamic platform that helps brand marketers better connect with consumers,” said Matt Blumberg, CEO of Return Path. “The innovative API Context.IO provides, combined with access to Return Path’s expansive panel data, and offers developers the tools to create applications that will push the boundaries of the medium.”

The integration with Return Path enables Context.IO to scale and better support existing developers’ applications more affordably. Leveraging Return Path’s relationships across the email ecosystem and email intelligence solutions, developers using Context.IO will also have access to the world’s most comprehensive set of data to maximize the performance and ROI of email for their customers. Return Path will incorporate Context.IO’s subscriber data, adding to its growing panel of approximately 2 million users. Email accounts connected through Context.IO are included in Return Path’s panel data, an anonymous, aggregated report about commercial email campaigns these accounts receive.

“Email is a platform that goes beyond communication – it powers project collaboration, document sharing, task delegation and workflow management,” said Bruno Morency, director of product management, Context.IO. “We are excited to become part of Return Path, an organization that shares our vision that email is not only here to stay, but is ripe for innovation.”

“Context.IO has allowed us to quickly develop applications without needing to focus on building something that was not our core competency,” said Peter Lalonde, CEO, Openera. “We have always been impressed with their technical ability and product. Now, as part of Return Path, we are confident they'll be around a long time. And, the acquisition has resulted in our costs being significantly reduced, which is always a good thing.”

Developers interested in participating in the innovation program must meet the program criteria and complete an application; those selected will receive $25,000 in credits against Context.IO fees once their organizations have exceeded their free quota.

“We are serious about encouraging developers to invest their time and energy in email innovation,” said Joshua Baer, CEO of OtherInbox, a wholly owned Return Path subsidiary. “I look forward to seeing the next generation of email applications and integrations made possible with Context.IO and ultimately the impact it has on productivity for email users on the job and in the home and on mobile devices.”

The Context.IO team with remain in Montreal, Canada, becoming a Return Path office and will work closely with Return Path’s global network of offices.

About Return Path

Return Path is the worldwide leader in email intelligence. We analyze more data about email than anyone else in the world and use that data to power products that ensure that only emails people want and expect reach the inbox. Our industry-leading email intelligence solutions utilize the world’s most comprehensive set of data to maximize the performance and accountability of email, build trust across the entire email ecosystem and protect users from spam and other abuse. We help businesses build better relationships with their customers and improve their email ROI; and we help ISPs and other mailbox providers enhance network performance and drive customer retention. Information about Return Path can be found at www.returnpath.com.

About Context.IO

Context.IO is leading a new wave of innovation on email. Conversations, collaboration and document exchange happens in email on a daily basis. We provide a unique email API that makes it easy for application developers to retrieve that information and leverage it in applications such as CRM, document management, collaboration and project management.