{"data":{"type":"company_profile","id":101284,"entity_id":"wefunder:company:101284","attributes":{"canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/tipbrightly","generated_at":"2026-06-12T04:35:00Z","updated_at":"2026-06-11T05:00:33Z","entity_ids":{"company":"wefunder:company:101284","slug":"wefunder:company_slug:tipbrightly"},"profile_visibility":{"owner_published":true,"public_search_results":true,"site_search_listed":true,"privacy_mode":"promote","invite_only":false},"provenance":{"source":"wefunder_public_company_profile","as_of":"2026-06-12T04:35:00Z","claims":{"total_amount_raised":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#amount_raised","last_verified_at":"2026-06-11T05:00:33Z","as_of":"2026-06-12T04:35:00Z","confidence":"high"},"total_investors":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#number_of_investors","last_verified_at":"2026-06-11T05:00:33Z","as_of":"2026-06-12T04:35:00Z","confidence":"high"},"active_raise_states":{"source":"Fundraise.visible(nil, nil)","last_verified_at":"2025-02-06T01:17:55Z","as_of":"2026-06-12T04:35:00Z","confidence":"high"},"latest_fundraise_state":{"source":"Fundraise.visible(nil, nil).order(funding_started_at)","last_verified_at":"2025-02-06T01:17:55Z","as_of":"2026-06-12T04:35:00Z","confidence":"medium"}}},"company":{"id":101284,"entity_id":"wefunder:company:101284","slug":"tipbrightly","name":"TipBrightly","tagline":"Revolutionizing the hospitality industry through cashless tipping!","elevator_pitch":"We're revolutionizing the service industry by helping millions and millions of service workers, 80% of whom are women, recover tips in an increasingly cashless society","location":"Mountain View, CA","website":"https://tipbrightly.com","total_amount_raised":85400,"total_investors":44,"is_funded":true,"is_active":true,"quality_score":3,"related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/tipbrightly","https://tipbrightly.com"]},"media":{"share_image_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/101284/xxl_cropped_TipBrightly_in_Hand_Main_Photo.jpg","header_media_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/101284/standard_cropped_TipBrightly_in_Hand_Main_Photo.jpg","cover_photo_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/101284/standard_cropped_TipBrightly_in_Hand_Main_Photo.jpg","profile_video_url":"https://wefunder.wistia.com/medias/13ul6p90b4"},"links":{"company_url":"https://tipbrightly.com","twitter_url":"http://twitter.com/tipbrightly"},"highlights":[],"quick_facts":[{"index":1,"claim_id":"claim-fact-1","value":"We're solving a critical issue facing 5M service workers: The loss of tips in a cashless society."},{"index":2,"claim_id":"claim-fact-2","value":"Now, anyone can leave a tip by scanning a QR code with their phone. No mobile app required!"},{"index":3,"claim_id":"claim-fact-3","value":"We're the first mobile payments platform to integrate cashless tipping, feedback, and analytics."},{"index":4,"claim_id":"claim-fact-4","value":"We're expanding throughout the US, Canada, \u0026amp; Europe helping small businesses and large corporations."},{"index":5,"claim_id":"claim-fact-5","value":"We've put over a quarter million tips in employees' pockets, doubling the average tip amount."},{"index":6,"claim_id":"claim-fact-6","value":"We're proud to have been mentioned by the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Posts."},{"index":7,"claim_id":"claim-fact-7","value":"We've partnered with award-winning chains, including Kimpton, IHG, Noble House."},{"index":8,"claim_id":"claim-fact-8","value":"We're proud to be a pioneer in cashless tipping and a minority female founded company."}],"team":[{"id":2192347,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:2192347","user_entity_id":"wefunder:user:2360095","role":"founder","name":"Elle Rustique, PhD","title":"CEO \u0026 Founder","bio":"I'm a social scientist and educator turned social entrepreneur on a mission to revolutionize the tipped service industry through cashless tipping.","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/2192347/square_cropped_5CE2656C-E9BF-46F3-8FB8-A309CA48C107.jpg?1655224207","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/ellerustique","linkedin_url":"http://linkedin.com/in/erustique/","twitter_url":"https://twitter.com/ellerustique","related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/ellerustique"]},{"id":2521689,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:2521689","role":"employee","name":"Luke Mertens","title":"CTO","bio":"Luke Mertens is TipBrightly's platform architect. A problem solver with over fifteen years of software development experience, Luke has worked with real-time embedded systems, internet security, text mining, and financial services.","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/2521689/square_cropped_55C64149-9A3A-4DF4-ADFB-7A994BC6F105.jpg?1644977959","linkedin_url":"http://www.linkedin.com/in/lukemertens","related_urls":[]}],"featured_investors":[{"id":5850,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_investor_profile:5850","investor_profile_id":176204,"investor_profile_entity_id":"wefunder:investor_profile:176204","subject_entity_id":"wefunder:user:152948","name":"Kristina ONeal","avatar_url":"http://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/user/avatar/152948/medium_blob.jpg","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/kristinaoneal","investment_total":17500,"investment_info":"Invested $15,000 this round \u0026 $2,500 previously","is_lead_investor":true,"related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/kristinaoneal"]}],"investor_memos":[],"tab_counts":{"posts":0,"ask_questions":3,"featured_investors":1,"faq_entries":3},"active_fundraises":[{"id":58703,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:58703","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","funding_type":"note","structure":"safe","security_type":"equity","currency":"USD","testing_the_waters":false,"min_purchase":100,"max_purchase":9,"funding_target":50000.0,"funding_started_at":"2022-06-22T00:27:58Z","funding_closed_at":"2023-05-01T04:05:51Z","auto_close_at":"2023-05-01T03:59:59Z"},{"id":59317,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:59317","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","funding_type":"note","structure":"ttw","security_type":"equity","currency":"USD","testing_the_waters":true,"min_purchase":100,"max_purchase":9,"funding_target":50000.0,"funding_started_at":"2022-02-12T02:56:19Z"}],"latest_fundraise":{"id":58703,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:58703","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","structure":"safe","testing_the_waters":false,"can_invest_now":false,"funding_started_at":"2022-06-22T00:27:58Z","funding_closed_at":"2023-05-01T04:05:51Z","terms":{"eb":"$9M","nb":"$10M","txt":"valuation cap"}},"recent_posts":[],"q_and_a":[{"id":209352,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:209352","question":"Interesting market opportunity. A few questions as I consider investing: (1) How did you determine your valuation cap for this offering? (2) What's your preferred exit strategy: acquisition, IPO, or something else? How likely do you think that outcome is? (3) What advantages do/will you have over competitors? (A quick Google search revealed a bunch in the same niche.)","author_name":"Kenneth Alan Jackson, Jr.","votes":2,"created_at":"2022-06-24T14:11:36Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/tipbrightly#question-209352","answers":[{"id":209518,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:209518","answer":"Thank you for your great questions and interest. In establishing our value we used (1) comparables; (2) type of company (fintech vs other types of business; (3) early stage startup metrics (e.g. product in market, paying customers, value of contract; and scalability; (4) TAM (total market opportunity). With regards to valuation methodologies, we refer you to this link: toptal.com/finance/v…e-a-fintech-startup Looking at the table about 2/3 of the way down in the article, TipBrightly is firmly in category 4 (with the valuation range between $5M-$20M), based on the fact that we have a working product used in multiple hotels, and the company is generating revenue, with visibility into cash flow and growth. A recent series A by a comparable company is consistent with the valuation. On preferred exit strategy: Acquisition. Likelihood is high. TipBrightly intersects with multiple markets - financial wellness, mobile payments, hospitality, tourism, travel, personal services, and other tipped businesses. Our guiding principle is to build out the best possible business to satisfy the unmet needs in hospitality for guests, businesses, and workers. On the competition: Our product is about appreciation. We are unique in the value we offer to hotels. We truly understand the pressing need in the industry ecosystem from all sides - how the whole travel industry must find new ways to support guests, businesses and workers alike in today's economy. We get buy-in from our customers for this approach and we train them on how to support the goal of an improved travel experience, with TipBrightly as an important component of that. The user experience, based on our product design and training, manifesting appreciation, makes us unique.","author_name":"Elle Rustique, PhD","votes":0,"created_at":"2022-06-27T03:21:56Z"}]},{"id":211683,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:211683","question":"Few months back another company named Uptip raised money on Wefunder. How do you compare to them, what is difference or edge to other competitors?","author_name":"Varun Gupta","votes":1,"created_at":"2022-07-14T23:19:52Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/tipbrightly#question-211683","answers":[{"id":211911,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:211911","answer":"Thanks for your question, Varun! While we both enable cashless tipping, what sets TipBrightly apart from UpTip is that we're a more sophisticated platform for managing and disbursing tips. We're a B2B solution that provides employers with a white-labeled solution that can be customized for a better guest experience. With TipBrightly, employees can improve their service quality through the direct feedback that customers send. TipBrightly isn’t just a way of making tipping fast and easy; we're an employee appreciation tool that helps employees increase earnings, and helps businesses attract and retain employees. With the power of enterprise software, we're beating our competitors through our partnerships with over a dozen hospitality groups representing hundreds of properties with well-known major brands, including Marriott, Hilton, IHG. This month we secured a partnership with a global hotel chain, securing our place as a leading provider of cashless tipping for the luxury boutique sector. With over 20,000 users on our platform, we're increasing the average tip to $10, and increasing wages by 10-20%. This is why we have the edge now and will continue to do so!","author_name":"Elle Rustique, PhD","votes":0,"created_at":"2022-07-17T01:18:49Z"}]},{"id":209427,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:209427","question":"I think this is a fantastic opportunity and idea. What % of the tip does TipBrightly receive and what are the plans for expansion? Any specific industries that will be targeted such as hotels like is mentioned? And any specific cities that you want to target?","author_name":"Eric Daniel Townsend","votes":1,"created_at":"2022-06-25T03:57:36Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/tipbrightly#question-209427","answers":[{"id":209558,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:209558","answer":"Thank you for your interest in TipBrightly and your very good questions. The per transaction fee comprises of 2.9% + 30 cents (to Stripe, our payments processor) and currently 3% goes to TipBrightly. We will expand to other tipped verticals. We have already made inroads into valet services, tourist attractions, beauty services, and food and beverage delivery. We are targeting San Francisco, Chicago, and Asheville where we already have customers. We will also be implementing in hotels nationwide through a global contract we have with a major boutique chain.","author_name":"Elle Rustique, PhD","votes":0,"created_at":"2022-06-27T16:34:20Z"}]}],"faq":[{"question":"Interesting market opportunity. A few questions as I consider investing: (1) How did you determine your valuation cap for this offering? (2) What's your preferred exit strategy: acquisition, IPO, or something else? How likely do you think that outcome is? (3) What advantages d...","answer":"Thank you for your great questions and interest. In establishing our value we used (1) comparables; (2) type of company (fintech vs other types of business; (3) early stage startup metrics (e.g. product in market, paying customers, value of contract; and scalability; (4) TAM (total market opportunity). With regards to valuation methodologies, we refer you to this link: toptal.com/finance/v…e-a-fintech-startup Looking at the table about 2/3 of the way down in the article, TipBrightly is firmly..."},{"question":"I think this is a fantastic opportunity and idea. What % of the tip does TipBrightly receive and what are the plans for expansion? Any specific industries that will be targeted such as hotels like is mentioned? And any specific cities that you want to target?","answer":"Thank you for your interest in TipBrightly and your very good questions. The per transaction fee comprises of 2.9% + 30 cents (to Stripe, our payments processor) and currently 3% goes to TipBrightly. We will expand to other tipped verticals. We have already made inroads into valet services, tourist attractions, beauty services, and food and beverage delivery. We are targeting San Francisco, Chicago, and Asheville where we already have customers. We will also be implementing in hotels nationwi..."},{"question":"Few months back another company named Uptip raised money on Wefunder. How do you compare to them, what is difference or edge to other competitors?","answer":"Thanks for your question, Varun! While we both enable cashless tipping, what sets TipBrightly apart from UpTip is that we're a more sophisticated platform for managing and disbursing tips. We're a B2B solution that provides employers with a white-labeled solution that can be customized for a better guest experience. With TipBrightly, employees can improve their service quality through the direct feedback that customers send. TipBrightly isn’t just a way of making tipping fast and easy; we're ..."}]}}}