qiibee

Based in Zug, Switzerland, qiibee AG operates a blockchain-based B2B rewards marketplace, aiming to redefine the fragmented loyalty program landscape. The company was established in 2015 by brothers Gabriele and Gianluca Gilbert Giancola, who transitioned the business to an on-chain model in 2017. Gabriele Giancola, a serial entrepreneur and graduate of the University of St. Gallen, serves as the CEO, leveraging his background in business management and blockchain to guide the company's strategy.

qiibee provides brands with the infrastructure and API to create their own loyalty programs on the blockchain. This plug-and-play solution allows businesses to tokenize their loyalty offerings without needing deep expertise in smart contracts. The core of the ecosystem is the qiibee Rewards Chain (QRC), a private, permissioned blockchain designed for high transaction throughput and security. The platform's native utility token, QBX, is used by companies to create their branded reward tokens and facilitate transactions like earning and exchanging rewards. This model addresses common issues in traditional loyalty systems, such as the limited flexibility and interoperability of reward points. By tokenizing rewards, qiibee creates a more liquid and versatile system where consumers can exchange points from different brands, or even convert them into cryptocurrencies or fiat money.

The company's business model targets enterprises looking to enhance customer retention and engagement. It generates revenue through its solutions that enable businesses to launch and manage their loyalty programs. A key feature is the B2B loyalty marketplace, which connects companies with world-renowned partners like Miles & More, allowing even small and medium-sized enterprises to participate in larger loyalty networks. This creates an ecosystem where brands can expand their reach to new customer bases and consumers have a wider array of options for earning and redeeming rewards. Since its inception, qiibee has secured a total of $4.8 million in funding over a seed round in July 2022, with investors including Z5 Capital and R/GA Ventures.

Keywords: loyalty program, blockchain rewards, customer retention, B2B marketplace, tokenization, loyalty tokens, QBX token, rewards ecosystem, customer engagement, API integration, Miles & More partnership, decentralized loyalty, frequent flyer programs, reward exchange, smart contracts, customer loyalty solutions, loyalty-as-a-service, fintech, web3 loyalty, digital rewards