Twilio
NYSE: TWLOalso invests · investor profileSan Francisco, US · Founded 2008 · Delaware corporation · Public · 35 known investors
Twilio provides a cloud-based communications platform that enables businesses to integrate voice, messaging, and video into applications using APIs. The platform combines communication channels, contextual data, and AI orchestration for enterprises and developers building customer experiences.
Also known as Twilio Inc. · TWLO
Founders & leadership
Twilio was founded in 2008 by Jeff Lawson and Evan Cooke.
Board
Investors · 35
Also in the syndicate · 12
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$3.2B disclosed across 4 of 10 rounds · 2009–2021
▶$378.2MraisedJul 2021 · 83 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Deval PatrickDirector
- Jeff ImmeltDirector
- Richard DalzellDirector
- Donna DubinskyDirector
- Elena DonioDirector
- Khozema ShipchandlerExecutive Officer
- Jeff EpsteinDirector
- Jeffrey LawsonExecutive Officer, Director
- George HuExecutive Officer
- Erika RottenbergDirector
- Karyn SmithExecutive Officer
- Byron DeeterDirector
- Offering amount
- $378.2M
- Amount sold
- $378.2M
- First sale
- Jul 2021
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$2.6BraisedNov 2020 · 207 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Jeffrey LawsonExecutive Officer, Director
- Khozema ShipchandlerExecutive Officer
- Byron DeeterDirector
- Jeff EpsteinDirector
- Jeff ImmeltDirector
- Chee ChewExecutive Officer
- George HuExecutive Officer
- Karyn SmithExecutive Officer
- Elena DonioDirector
- Donna DubinskyDirector
- Erika RottenbergDirector
- Rick DalzellDirector
- Offering amount
- $2.6B
- Amount sold
- $2.6B
- First sale
- Nov 2020
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$130MraisedJul 2015 · 26 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Jim McGeeverDirector
- Byron DeeterDirector
- Evan CookeDirector
- Scott RaneyDirector
- Albert WengerDirector
- Jeff LawsonExecutive Officer, Director
- Karyn SmithExecutive Officer
- Rick DalzellDirector
- Lee KirkpatrickExecutive Officer
- Roy NgExecutive Officer
- Offering amount
- $130M
- Amount sold
- $130M
- First sale
- Apr 2015
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$6.3MraisedMar 2015 · 28 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Evan CookeDirector
- Scott RaneyDirector
- Lee KirkpatrickExecutive Officer
- Roy NgExecutive Officer
- Albert WengerDirector
- Karyn SmithExecutive Officer
- Rick DalzellDirector
- Jeff LawsonExecutive Officer, Director
- Byron DeeterDirector
- Jim McGeeverDirector
- Offering amount
- $6.3M
- Amount sold
- $6.3M
- First sale
- Feb 2015
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Twilio Inc. is an American cloud communications company headquartered at Rincon Center in San Francisco, California. It provides programmable communication tools that let developers make and receive phone calls, send and receive text messages, and perform other communication functions through web service APIs. Its product set spans Voice, SMS, MMS, SIP trunking, WebRTC, two-factor authentication and call center software, and it operates SendGrid as a subsidiary.
The current platform is positioned around "conversations in the AI era," combining communication channels, customer data and AI orchestration so that human agents and AI agents can coordinate across channels and retain context. Newer product families include Conversation Memory, Conversation Orchestrator, Conversation Intelligence and Conversation Relay, alongside established products such as Programmable Messaging (SMS, MMS, RCS, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger in public beta), the Twilio SendGrid Email API, Voice, Phone Numbers, Elastic SIP Trunking, Flex, Video, Marketing Campaigns, Trust Hub, Event Streams, Interconnect, TaskRouter, Sync, Verify, Lookup, Segment Connections/Protocols/Unify/Engage/Privacy Portal, and builder tools including Studio, Functions and Serverless.
One overview source describes Twilio as a customer-engagement infrastructure company that reports as a single operating and reportable segment, with communications and identity monetized largely on usage and Email and Segment monetized largely by subscription.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 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.
Founder mafia
5 people who came through Twilio went on to found or lead other companies.
Competitors · 3
by search overlap
Companies competing with Twilio for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
Acquisitions · 2
Early investors' stakes continue via these dealsAuthy provides a two-factor authentication (2FA) app that protects user accounts from unauthorized access by requiring device-based identity verification. The service enables individuals to secure their online accounts across various platforms against hackers and account takeovers.
Timeline · 25
launches, deals, and filingsTwilio announced an agreement to acquire Stytch, an identity platform for AI agents.
Twilio recorded its first full year of GAAP operating profitability after years of restructuring.
Alleged threat actors acquired the phone numbers of over 33 million users of Twilio's multi-factor authentication service Authy.
Co-founder Jeff Lawson stepped down as CEO and board member after a 16-year tenure, amid pressure from an activist investor, and was succeeded by Khozema Shipchandler.
Twilio announced a 5% workforce reduction affecting around 300 employees, primarily in its Data and Applications division.
Twilio cut approximately 17% of its workforce, nearly 1,500 employees, and created two business units: Twilio Data & Applications and Twilio Communications.
An unknown attacker accessed Twilio's internal network through an SMS phishing campaign targeting employees; Twilio confirmed the breach on August 7 and said a limited number of customer accounts were affected. Signal said on August 15 that 125 affected customers included enterprise accounts.
Twilio announced an agreement to acquire Boku Identity, Inc. from Boku, Inc. for $32.3 million.
$32.3M source ↗
Twilio acquired Ionic Security, a data security platform, for $30.2 million.
$30.2M source ↗
Twilio acquired Zipwhip, a toll-free messaging services provider, for $850 million.
$850M source ↗
Twilio shut down its links to Parler after Parler refused to agree to monitor hate speech and insurrection on its platform.
Twilio acquired Segment, a customer data platform, for $3.2 billion; the deal extended Twilio from communications delivery into profiles, audiences and orchestration (closing referenced as November 2020).
$3.2B source ↗
Twilio announced it had acquired Electric Imp, an internet of things platform company, for an undisclosed amount.
Twilio announced the appointment of Steve Pugh as Chief Security Officer and Glenn Weinstein as Chief Customer Officer.
Twilio acquired Core Network Dynamics GmbH, a Berlin-based virtual evolved packet core company.
Twilio announced it was acquiring SendGrid, a Denver-based email platform, for $2 billion; the companies formally merged in February 2019 in a deal valued at $3 billion.
$2B source ↗
Twilio announced the acquisition of Ytica, a Prague-based speech analytics firm, for an undisclosed amount.
Twilio acquired Beepsend, a Sweden-based SMS messaging provider, for an undisclosed amount.
Twilio acquired Tikal Technologies, the development team behind the Kurento WebRTC open-source media server, for $8.5 million.
$8.5M source ↗
Twilio filed for IPO on the NYSE and began trading on June 23, 2016, closing its first day up 92%.
Twilio acquired Authy, a Y Combinator-backed two-factor authentication provider.
Seed accelerator 500 Startups announced the Twilio Fund, a $250,000 micro-fund providing seed money to startups using Twilio.
$250K source ↗
Twilio released its SMS/text messaging API; SMS shortcodes followed in public beta in July 2011.
Twilio launched Twilio Voice, an API to make and receive phone calls fully hosted in the cloud.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
Legal entities · 1
corporate structureIn the news
Bunkerhill Health raises $55 million to put AI agents to work inside hospitals | Fortunefortune.com · Jul 2026
Venture capital & startup funding roundup, July 15, 2026: Accel, CRV, Greylock, Goldman Sachs, Khosla Ventures, M13, and Nava Ventures - Tech Startupstechstartups.com · Jul 2026
Original Bessemer Investment Memos for Shopify, Twilio, LinkedIn, Pinterestbvp.com · Sep 2020▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- Twiliotwilio.com · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Twilio do?
- Twilio is a publicly traded cloud communications company selling APIs for messaging, voice, email, identity and customer data.
- Who founded Twilio?
- Twilio was founded by Jeff Lawson, Evan Cooke in 2008.
- Who are Twilio's investors?
- Twilio's investors include 500 Global, Bessemer Venture Partners, Draper Associates, Founders Circle Capital, Founders Fund, Icon Ventures, K2 Global, K9 Ventures and 15 more.
- How much funding has Twilio raised?
- Twilio has disclosed $3.2B raised across 4 of its 10 known rounds.
- Is Twilio publicly traded?
- Yes — Twilio trades on NYSE under the ticker TWLO.
- Where is Twilio headquartered?
- Twilio is headquartered in San Francisco, US.