Levitate
Category: AI in Marketing
An AI-powered relationship marketing platform that combines automated software with dedicated content specialists to help relationship-based businesses build authentic connections at scale. Levitate was founded in 2017. The company is led by Jesse Lipson. Based in Raleigh, United States. Team size: 201-500. Total funding raised: $71.0M. Latest round: Series D. Key investors include Harbert Growth Partners, Bull City Venture Partners, Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures, Tippet Partners, Duke Capital Partners.
- Founded
- 2017
- Headquarters
- Raleigh, United States
- Team size
- 201-500
- Total funding
- $71.0M
Value proposition
Combines AI-powered automation with dedicated human Success Specialists to achieve 60%+ email open rates and 10% reply rates (vs. industry average of 20%), while maintaining personalized, authentic outreach across multiple channels.
Products and solutions
AI-powered Email Marketing with Automations, AI Content Assistant (Lev) for content creation and translation, Social Media Management and Scheduling, Text Messaging Platform with unique phone numbers, Handwritten Card Service, Client Happiness Surveys and Review Generation, Meeting Booking System, Custom Website Design and Maintenance, Google Reviews Management, Event Registration Tool, Donation Management for Nonprofits, Reporting and Analytics Dashboard
Unique value
Achieves 60%+ open rates and 10% reply rates by sending emails directly through users' existing Outlook/Gmail servers rather than mass blast providers, combined with AI-human hybrid approach where every customer gets a dedicated Success Specialist alongside AI tools.
Target customer
Relationship-based small businesses including legal professionals, financial advisors, insurance agents, home service providers, and nonprofits
Industries served
Legal Services, Financial Advisory, Insurance, Home Services, Nonprofit Organizations, Professional Services
Technology advantage
Proprietary AI assistant 'Lev' that creates, rewrites, and translates content in 10 languages within seconds, integrated with a multi-channel platform that automates personalized outreach across email, social media, texting, and handwritten cards while maintaining authentic relationship building.
How they differentiate
AI-powered relationship marketing platform that sends emails directly through users' personal Outlook/Gmail servers (achieving 60%+ open rates vs 20% industry average) with dedicated human Success Specialists, focused specifically on relationship-based businesses rather than mass marketing automation
Main competitors
ActiveCampaign, HubSpot Marketing Hub, Mailchimp
Key partnerships
Vertafore (AMS360 and QQCatalyst integration for insurance industry), Wealthbox CRM (two-way integration for financial advisors), Redtail Technology (CRM integration for financial services), HawkSoft (insurance agency management integration), DonorPerfect (donor management for nonprofits), Xanatek (insurance industry integration), Salesforce (CRM integration), Google and Microsoft (Gmail/Outlook email server integration)
Notable customers
Susquehanna Insurance, Insurance agencies, Legal firms, Financial advisors, Nonprofit organizations
Major milestones
Series C funding of $14M closed in Apr 2023 (total $40M), Series D funding of $15M raised in Aug 2024 (total $55M), Series D funding of $16M raised in Mar 2026 (total $71M), Expanded to Canadian market with Toronto office, Named 2025 Top Workplace by USA TODAY
Growth metrics
Grew from 2,000 customers (Feb 2021) to 8,000+ customers (Mar 2026) with 201-500 employees; recognized on Inc. 5000 for three consecutive years (2023-2025); 2025 USA TODAY Top Workplace
Market positioning
Niche SaaS leader in authentic relationship marketing for small businesses (legal, financial, insurance, home services, nonprofits), competing against broader marketing automation platforms
Geographic focus
North America (headquartered in Raleigh, NC with additional office in Toronto, Canada)
Patents and IP
No patents publicly disclosed for Levitate (Raleigh-based relationship marketing company)
About Jesse Lipson
Founder of ShareFile (acquired by Citrix in 2011), former Corporate Vice President and General Manager of Citrix Cloud Services (2011-2017), co-founder of Raleigh Founded, Board member at Yext and Green Places, self-taught software developer who bootstrapped ShareFile from $100 in Google AdWords to 4 million users before successful exit
Official website: https://www.levitate.ai/