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HighRewards is a Miami, Florida-based mobile application that enables users to earn points by engaging in various activities, including visiting stores, making purchases, uploading receipts, completing surveys, watching videos, and playing games. These accumulated points are redeemable for gift cards from partner retailers such as Amazon and Walmart, primarily targeting consumers aged 21 and over, especially those seeking rewards tied to retail and dispensary visits. The company operates within the competitive D2C and B2C marketplace for consumer rewards, generating revenue through user engagement and presumed partner commissions on redemptions. HighRewards currently employs between 10 and 50 individuals. The leadership team includes Co-Founder and CEO Josh Lamb, Co-Founder and COO Rob Holiber, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer Shawn Barcal, and Founding Designer and VP of Design Ezequiel Jaime. HighRewards was founded in 2023 by Josh Lamb, Rob Holiber, and Shawn Barcal.
HighRewards has raised $730K across 1 funding round.
HighRewards has raised $730K in total across 1 funding round.
HighRewards has raised $730K across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $730K Seed in February 2025.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2025 | $730K Seed | — | Innovation Works, LvlUp Ventures, Osney Capital, Quake Capital | Announced |
HighRewards has raised $730K in total across 1 funding round.
HighRewards's investors include Innovation Works, LvlUp Ventures, Osney Capital, Quake Capital.
HighRewards is a mobile app that builds a gamified rewards marketplace for the cannabis industry, paying 21+ users for visiting dispensaries ("dispos"), scanning receipts, checking in at stores, playing games, and engaging daily to earn points redeemable for gift cards from retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Nike[1][2][3][5][6]. It serves cannabis consumers and dispensary partners by solving customer acquisition challenges through zero-upfront-cost, performance-based marketing that drives foot traffic, boosts engagement, and enhances loyalty without relying on discounts[3][5]. Founded by veterans from gaming, retail, and regulated industries, the app has shown rapid growth, with over 50K downloads, 2.23K reviews averaging 4.6 stars on Google Play as of April 2025, and selection for the January 2025 VC Fast Pitch[4][5].
HighRewards was founded by cannabis enthusiasts and tech innovators, including CEO Josh Lamb and a Co-Founder & COO (names not fully specified in sources), drawing from expertise in retail media, gaming, and regulated industries like cannabis[1][2][3]. The idea emerged to address gaps in cannabis marketing, creating a new ecosystem that captures customers and drives them to dispensaries via fun, rewarding experiences rather than traditional discounts[3]. Early traction includes a performance-marketing blueprint integrating mobile gaming, leading to a launched app with features like receipt scanning and daily engagement, positioning it as a rapidly growing player featured in VC Fast Pitch events[1][3][4].
HighRewards rides the wave of cannabis legalization and digital transformation in retail, where regulated markets demand innovative, compliant marketing amid advertising restrictions[3]. Timing aligns with post-legalization growth in the U.S. cannabis sector, where dispensaries face high customer acquisition costs; the app's performance-based model capitalizes on mobile gaming trends (e.g., daily engagement mechanics) and retail media networks to create a new digital marketplace[1][3][4]. Market forces like rising consumer demand for personalized, rewarding experiences favor it, as seen in its VC spotlight and app metrics, influencing the ecosystem by enabling dispensaries to compete via data-driven engagement rather than price wars[3][4][5].
HighRewards is poised for expansion as cannabis markets mature, potentially scaling to more states, integrating AI for personalized rewards, and partnering with major brands beyond gift cards. Trends like gamification in loyalty apps and zero-risk marketing will propel growth, especially with VC interest signaling funding for user acquisition[4]. Its influence could evolve from niche disruptor to standard in cannabis retail tech, redefining consumer-dispensary connections—turning everyday swipes into sustained ecosystem value, much like its core promise of fun, cash rewards from the start[2][3][6].
