EyeMail
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Communications technology, Digital marketing |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | Lisa S. Jones |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada, Mexico, Pakistan, India, United Kingdom |
Key people | Lisa S. Jones (Founder and CEO) |
| Products | Video email solutions, EyeCon, EyeViewer Assistant (EVA), Video in Text |
| Owner | Lisa S. Jones (implied) |
| Website | eyemailinc |
EyeMail Inc. is a U.S.-based firm specializing in communications technology and digital marketing, with its main office located in Atlanta, Georgia. Established by entrepreneur Lisa S. Jones, EyeMail holds certification as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and is recognized as both a black-owned and woman-owned enterprise.
The company’s core expertise lies in video email solutions, allowing high-definition videos up to 60 seconds to be compressed and embedded directly into emails. This technology eliminates the need for recipients to click on links or open web browsers to view the content. EyeMail’s clientele includes prominent organizations such as PepsiCo, Microsoft, Delta Air Lines, The Coca-Cola Company, Porsche North America, and Harvard Business School, as well as various mid-sized brands and nonprofit entities.
In 2023, EyeMail earned the 181st position on Inc. magazine’s ranking of the fastest-growing companies in the Southeastern United States, underscoring its rapid expansion and significant market presence.
Founding and Development (2004–2014)
EyeMail Inc. was launched in 2004 by Lisa S. Jones, with its headquarters situated in Atlanta, Georgia. Jones, a native of Montgomery, Alabama, possesses both a BBA and MBA from Alabama A&M University and furthered her education in marketing management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. Prior to founding EyeMail, she gained experience in logistics and supply chain roles at NASA and later worked in supplier diversity programs for firms such as AT&T. Inspired by the loss of her mother, Jones committed to creating a global enterprise as a tribute.
In 2004, Jones submitted her initial patent application related to video embedded within emails. Over the following five years, she developed EyeMail part-time while maintaining full-time employment in telecommunications. After facing initial setbacks from U.S. agencies, she collaborated with overseas technical teams to complete product development within six months. Her involvement with Microsoft’s Mentor/Protégé Innovation Lab and Innovation Center was instrumental, marking her as the first African-American woman participant.
Jones won the inaugural season of CBS’s reality competition The Next Tycoon in 2008. Subsequently, she provided a complimentary campaign to Georgia’s Greater Women’s Business Council, which helped secure Time Warner as EyeMail’s first client. This breakthrough allowed her to dedicate herself entirely to EyeMail Inc., which soon landed contracts with major corporations including The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, Major League Baseball, Porsche North America, Aetna, the Atlanta Braves, and The Home Depot. That same year, EyeMail was ranked third on the Atlanta Tribune list of "Top 8 Atlanta Businesses to Watch."
The formal collaboration between EyeMail and The Coca-Cola Company began in 2008 through the Georgia Minority Supplier Diversity Council’s mentorship program. By 2011, this alliance played a crucial role in establishing EyeMail as a leading MWBE digital marketing supplier recognized by Microsoft. This partnership significantly boosted EyeMail’s revenue—reportedly increasing it fourfold—and facilitated expansion into international markets including Canada, Mexico, Pakistan, India, and the United Kingdom.
As a certified black- and woman-owned enterprise, EyeMail maintains strategic partnerships within minority business communities as an MWBE member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable (BDR). CEO Lisa S. Jones served as a panelist at the 2014 BDR Summit hosted by Minority Business News USA, further cementing her influence within minority business leadership circles.
Recent years (2015–present)
In 2021, Forbes recognized EyeMail Inc. for its innovative email technology, reporting open rates reaching 60% and click-through rates of 38%, significantly surpassing typical industry benchmarks. Back in 2018, founder Lisa S. Jones revealed a strategic pivot from tailored campaign services to a software as a service (SaaS) model. By 2020, EyeMail had formed collaborations with prominent private sector clients such as The Coca-Cola Company and Delta Air Lines, along with nonprofit organizations including the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The company rolled out EyeCon, a product designed to animate logos and email signatures to boost brand interaction.
The COVID-19 pandemic served as a catalyst for EyeMail’s expansion by driving increased demand for impactful digital communication tools. In 2020, the company enhanced its accessibility offerings by adding closed captioning tailored for users with hearing and visual impairments, developed in partnership with Microsoft's Innovation Lab. Plans were also underway to introduce a "video in text" feature in 2022 to broaden their product suite.
In 2020, PepsiCo selected EyeMail to participate in the Stacy's Rise Project, a mentorship initiative supporting Black women entrepreneurs. Additionally, EyeMail was featured in a Female Founder Finder directory to elevate its market presence.
By 2023, CEO Lisa S. Jones earned accolades as one of the leading email marketing professionals by Uplers and received the Enterprising Women of the Year Award. She was also honored among the Top 100 Women of the Future in Emerging Tech by Women of the Future. Microsoft showcased EyeMail in a case study highlighting a 71% growth over two years and a 40% acceleration in project delivery after implementing Microsoft 365 Business Premium. This achievement secured EyeMail’s inclusion on Inc.’s list of fastest-growing small businesses in the US Southeast.
Microsoft further highlighted EyeMail as an exemplar of Black-owned enterprises leveraging corporate partnerships for expansion. Jones described winning a Microsoft contract as a transformative milestone that helped overcome challenges related to gender, race, and personal background. This alliance played a significant role in growing EyeMail’s clientele within the Fortune 500.
Looking ahead, Jones announced plans to launch the EyeMail SaaS Storytelling Platform featuring new products such as EyeCon, EyeViewer Assistant (EVA), and Video in Text. In November 2023, EyeMail triumphed in Invest Connect’s pitch competition hosted by the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), which aims to connect Black-owned companies with potential investors.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Presented by | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Atlanta Tribune | Top 8 Atlanta Businesses to Watch | Template:Won |
| Technology Association of Georgia | Top 40 Innovative Companies | Template:Won | |
| 2009 | Georgia Technology | Industry Award | Template:Won |
| 2010 | Black Enterprise | Innovator of the Year | Template:CFinalist |
| Georgia Minority Technology Industry Award | Template:Won | ||
| Stevie Awards | Most Innovative Company of the Year | Template:Won | |
| 2011 | Women in Technology Honoree | Innovator of the Year | Template:Won |
| 2014 | Women in Technology Honoree | Innovator of the Year | Template:Won |
| 2018 | Delta Air Lines | Catalyst of the Year | Template:Won |
| 2019 | Minority Business Entrepreneur | WBEs Who Rock Award | Template:Won |
| 2021 | Global Business Leaders Mag | 20 Innovative Companies Which Everyone Should Know in 2021 | Template:Won |
| Upliers Email | Top 29 Experts Email Marketing Trends | Template:Won | |
| 2022 | Microsoft Supplier Prestige Awards | Diverse-Owned Supplier of the Year | Template:CFinalist |
| Women in Technology | Women of the Year Award | Template:CFinalist | |
| Corporate Vision | Corporate Excellence Awards | Template:Won | |
| 2023 | Enterprising Women | Enterprising Women of the Year Awards | Template:Won |
| Women of the Future | Top 100 Women of the Future in Emerging Tech | Template:Won | |
| Inc. | The Fastest-Growing Companies in the US Southeast | Template:Won | |
| Women in Technology | Fearless Woman in Technology | Template:Won | |
| Technology Association of Georgia | Invest Connect | Template:Won |
See also
External links
- American companies founded in 2004
- Black-owned businesses in the United States
- Email marketing platforms
- Internet technology firms in the United States
- Software companies headquartered in Georgia (U.S. state)
- Technology enterprises in the United States
- American companies established in 2004
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment