Small Business Showcase: Rellevate

09.12.2022
Member News
Small Business

Each month, we profile a Connecticut small business, showcasing the ingenuity and innovation driving the state’s economy. For September, we spoke with Rellevate, based in Stamford. 


When was your company founded?

Rellevate was founded in 2019.

How many employees work for your company?

Rellevate is approaching 20 employees, but that is magnified by the tremendous reach and support of our partners such as Visa, Sutton Bank, Visa DPS, CPI, Allpoint/Cardtronics, Payveris, and Qolo.

Who are your customers?

In Connecticut we work with Point Pickup, the Capitol Region Education Council, and the cities of New Britain, New London, Waterbury, and Stratford to bring financial services to their workers. 

Nationwide, we work with Crocs, Dunkin’, Subway, SpartanNash, and more.

What makes your company unique?

Rellevate’s digital financial services helps strengthen organizations and their workforces, at no charge to employers. 

The Rellevate Digital Account features “Pay Any-Day,” which offers employees secure, affordable access to their earned wages, any time before their scheduled pay day. 

Other features of the Rellevate Digital Account include a visa debit card, bill pay, money send and instant money send, and a worldwide in network ATM provider—Allpoint. 

There are no monthly subscription fees, no credit checks, and no minimum balance requirements.

The powerful combination of a low-cost digital account/app to efficiently manage your money combined with access to up to 50% of your pay before payday is a unique and valuable benefit to U.S. workers. 

We also offer Visa Gift Cards for both consumers and businesses. Businesses can use for employee rewards, incentives, etc.

What is a fun fact about your business or its history?

The Rellevate team is comprised of a number of financial services veterans with high profile corporate resumes from companies such as MasterCard, Western Union, Simon Property Group, WPP, and Citigroup. 

Many of us have worked together before and got the band back together to launch Rellevate with a focus on social responsibility deeply embedded in our mission to disintermediate the expensive, onerous channels that many U.S. workers face today in accessing, moving, and managing their money.

Why did you choose Connecticut?

Our CEO and cofounder was living in Denver and moved his family back to Connecticut to be closer to their extended family. 

Given the focus in Connecticut to nurture fintech businesses, it was the perfect launching pad for Rellevate.

What is the greatest advantage to operating in Connecticut?

Connecticut’s proximity to the financial services eco system of New York and Boston is key. 

Rellevate is located in Stamford, in Fairfield County. The county has a dedicated focus on digital technology, an educated labor market, and a supportive environment for new business.

Also, Connecticut Innovations is one of Rellevate’s lead investors. Their team has been a valuable asset to Rellevate’s growth and we appreciate their insight and experience in nurturing Connecticut companies to succeed in their respective industries.

How do you try to give back to your community? 

Respect, dignity, understanding and compassion is in our DNA; while the employer is our client their employees are the heart of their business, and ours—we endeavor to make certain that no end user or employee is left behind. 

We personally understand and appreciate what payday means to low to middle income employees, the challenges and decisions that come with living paycheck-to-paycheck.

Where do you see your company in five years? Ten years?

Rellevate will be a juggernaut in the world of the underserved, with our core business and government disbursements. 

Building products and services that meet market needs is in our DNA, and we will continue to grow our financial service offerings and client base, both in the B2B2C and B2C space.

What is the main thing policymakers could implement to make your company more competitive?

For us, support for Connecticut businesses when considering government programs that have a financial service component such as disbursements—unemployment, human services, housing subsidies, etc.

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