Empyr

Mid-tier CLO platform known for its open API and publisher network, competing with larger players like Cardlytics and Dosh in the card-linked offer space.

Empyr is a card-linked offer (CLO) platform that enables brands, retailers, and publishers to deliver targeted promotions directly tied to consumers' credit and debit cards. When a cardholder makes a qualifying purchase at a participating merchant, the offer is automatically applied and the transaction is tracked — creating a seamless, friction-free experience that requires no coupons or promo codes. This closed-loop model allows advertisers to measure true offline purchase attribution, connecting digital ad spend to in-store revenue. Founded in San Diego, Empyr built a network connecting payment processors, financial institutions, publishers, and advertisers to power card-linked marketing at scale. The platform serves as middleware between card networks (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) and marketing ecosystems, enabling performance-based advertising where brands pay only when a verified purchase occurs. This pay-on-purchase model differentiated Empyr in the performance marketing landscape. Empyr was acquired by Figg (formerly known as Cartera Commerce) and later the combined entity became part of the broader card-linked offer ecosystem. The company was notable for its developer-friendly API that allowed publishers and fintech apps to embed CLO functionality into their own products, making it a platform-of-platforms in the loyalty and rewards space. Its technology underpinned card-linked programs for numerous financial institutions, loyalty apps, and media publishers.