Create Engaging Emails with Dyspatch

The Challenge of Increasing Email Engagement

A common belief among some marketers is that sending a higher volume of emails directly correlates with increased revenue – a concept Matt Harris, founder and CEO of Dyspatch, terms the “law of email.”

However, Harris explained to TechCrunch that this practice is actually contributing to a reduction in email open and engagement rates. Furthermore, a new generation is entering the workforce without a natural inclination towards email communication, requiring them to acquire these skills.

The Evolution of Email Marketing Practices

Harris noted that formal education in email marketing is uncommon; instead, it’s typically a skill developed through practical experience. Over time, individuals often develop their own email designs and rely on copy-pasting code into their chosen email platform.

The proliferation of email tools and resources has created a new challenge. Professionals must learn to navigate various platforms, and previously reliable code may not always function as expected.

From Sendwithus to Dyspatch: A Shift in Focus

Harris initially launched Sendwithus in 2018, a developer-focused solution within the email space. Recognizing a significant problem in email production, he and his team pivoted to establish Dyspatch.

Dyspatch aims to democratize effective email design by offering a more user-friendly, drag-and-drop interface. The company’s tool essentially encapsulates best practices from skilled email designers, making them accessible to a wider audience.

Leveraging AMP for Email Interactivity

Dyspatch is utilizing Google’s AMP for Email technology to power its interactive email product, “Apps in Email,” launched last year. This simplifies the implementation of AMP email elements for users without extensive technical expertise.

Currently, over 300 customers are utilizing the tool, including Canva, which leverages AMP emails to enhance engagement with comment reply notifications.

Canva's Success with Dyspatch

Megan Walsh, global head of lifecycle marketing at Canva, stated, “Dyspatch has massively reduced the hours our team spends on creating emails, allowing us to significantly scale our content production.”

She continued, “The platform ensures every email is on-brand, localized, and responsive, without requiring engineering support. It has also enabled us to implement interactivity with AMP comment reply emails, and the Dyspatch team provided exceptional support throughout the project, resulting in a substantial success with our users.”

Demonstrated Results and Funding

Harris reports that Dyspatch has demonstrated a 500% increase in email engagement and a 300% increase in email conversions for brands implementing fully functional, interactive AMP email campaigns.

To support its growth and scale its teams, the company recently secured $6 million in seed funding. Gradient Ventures led the round, with participation from Initialized Capital, Baseline Ventures, Blue Run Ventures, Scott Banister, and VanEdge Partners.

This represents Dyspatch’s first funding round, bringing the total raised, including its previous company, to $11 million.

Future Integrations and Expansion

Dyspatch intends to utilize the funding to deepen integrations with email service providers, such as Oracle Eloqua and Salesforce Marketing Cloud. This will ensure a seamless email workflow for users regardless of their chosen sending platform.

The company’s customer base has more than doubled in the past year, and a recurring pattern is observed: customers consistently return to add more users to their subscriptions.

One prominent customer, for instance, initially purchased 10 user seats but expanded that number tenfold within just six months.

Building a Marketplace for Email Innovation

Looking ahead, Dyspatch is preparing to open its technology to third-party developers and incorporate features frequently requested by customers, such as calendar booking directly within emails.

Harris concluded, “We are currently developing the foundational components for apps, surveys, and approval applications. However, our core identity is that of an engineering company, and we aspire to create a marketplace where third parties can build applications on our platform.”