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Linq
Founded 2019 · 87 employees on LinkedIn · 5 known investors
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Linq provides an API platform for building messaging capabilities into applications using iMessage, RCS, SMS, and Voice protocols. The platform serves developers and businesses building conversational AI agents and customer interactions at scale.
Also known as Linq
Founders & leadership
Investors · 5
How we know: Tq Ventures Llc's portfolio page · a partner's Signal profile · funding news · the VCSheet dataset · Not right? Tell us
How we know: funding news · research · techcrunch.com · Not right? Tell us
Also in the syndicate · 2
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Linq is a Birmingham, Alabama-based company that operates a communication layer for business and AI-agent messaging. Its API gives customers — including AI assistant and chatbot developers — a real phone number capable of sending and receiving messages over iMessage, alongside RCS and SMS, so that conversations appear as native blue-bubble threads rather than as visibly branded business messages. The platform exposes iMessage-native capabilities such as group chats, typing indicators, threaded replies, images, emoji reactions and voice notes, and the company also offers programmatic voice.
The company launched originally as a digital business card that doubled as a lead-capture tool for sales teams, then went through several pivots. In February 2025 it launched the messaging API for businesses upgrading customer communication from SMS to iMessage and RCS. Demand from AI companies — sparked in part by the Interaction Company of California's poke.com assistant, which operates inside iMessage — led Linq to reposition itself as infrastructure for programmatic and AI-driven conversational messaging while retaining its sales-focused customers. Management has stated an intent to extend the platform to additional channels including Slack, email, Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord and Signal.
Founding story
The company was started by Elliott Potter (CEO), Patrick Sullivan (CTO) and Jared Mattsson (president), all previously executives at Shipt, in Birmingham, Alabama.
Business model
Linq sells API-based messaging infrastructure to businesses and to companies building AI assistants and agents, charging for programmatic message and voice delivery across iMessage, RCS and SMS; revenue is recurring, with expansion driven by increased usage within existing accounts.
Traction
The company reported over 100 customers sending more than 30 million messages per month, AI agents on its platform reaching about 134,000 monthly active users, quarter-over-quarter customer base growth of 132%, average account expansion of 34%, net revenue retention of 295% with no churn, and a doubling within eight months of the annual recurring revenue built over its first four years.
Latest developments
In February 2026 Linq announced a $20 million Series A led by TQ Ventures with Mucker Capital and angel investors, to be used to expand the team, develop go-to-market and continue product development; the company projects sending billions of messages by the end of the year.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
Linq positions itself as an infrastructure or "hub" layer for programmatic messaging serving AI agent applications, competing against Apple's own Messages for Business service and business-texting providers such as Twilio.
Technology
An API layer that assigns customers a phone number able to transmit over Apple's iMessage as well as RCS and SMS, supporting group chats, typing indicators, threaded replies, images, emoji reactions and voice notes, plus programmatic voice.
Go-to-market
Sold directly to business and AI-developer customers via its API; proceeds of the Series A are earmarked in part for a new go-to-market motion aimed at AI developers and companies building conversational tools.
Businesses that communicate with customers by text — including sales teams — and, increasingly, companies building AI assistants, chatbots and agents that want to reach end users inside messaging apps rather than through a standalone app.
Geography
Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, United States; its core iMessage-based channel is most widely used in the U.S. market.
History
Linq was founded by three former Shipt executives and initially launched as a digital business card and lead-capture product for sales teams. After several pivots, it launched an API in February 2025 enabling companies to message customers natively in iMessage and RCS. Following inbound demand from AI assistant developers in 2025, the company repositioned as a messaging infrastructure layer for AI agents, and announced a $20 million Series A in February 2026.
Risks & controversies
The business currently depends on building atop Apple's iMessage platform, and Apple could restrict third parties from offering AI chatbots there. iMessage adoption is concentrated in the United States, while other markets rely on WhatsApp, WeChat, Telegram and Signal.
Compiled by commissioned research from 6 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Related companies · 2
Companies working in the same space as Linq.
Timeline · 3
launches, deals, and filingsLinq announced a $20 million Series A round led by TQ Ventures, with Mucker Capital and angel investors (including an ex-Apple and Google executive) participating. Funds are earmarked for team expansion, a new go-to-market motion and further product development. Valuation was not disclosed.
$20M source ↗
Linq launched an API allowing companies to message customers natively within iMessage, using features such as group chats, emojis, threaded replies, images and voice notes.
After inbound demand from AI companies wanting to deliver assistants through iMessage, RCS and SMS, Linq repositioned as an infrastructure layer for programmatic messaging serving AI agents.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
In the news
▸Research sources · 6
primary sources listed
- Linq raises $20M to enable AI assistants to live within messaging apps | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com · web
6 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Linq do?
- Linq provides an API that lets businesses and AI agents message customers natively over iMessage, RCS and SMS.
- Who are Linq's investors?
- Linq's investors include Banneker Partners, Tq Ventures Llc, Mucker Capital.