{{short description|US cloud communications company}} {{Prose|date=January 2026}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox website | industry = Communications | products = {{ubl|Voice|SMS|MMS|SIP trunking|WebRTC|2FA|Call Center}} | name = Twilio Inc. | logo = Twilio-logo-red.svg | company_type = Public | traded_as = {{ubl|{{NYSE|TWLO}} (Class A)|S&P 400 component}} | headquarters = Rincon Center<br />San Francisco, California, U.S. | founded = {{start date and age|2008}} in Seattle, Washington, U.S.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2010/09/dave_mcclure_launches_micro-fund_for_twilio_apps.html |title=Super angel McClure unveils 'micro-fund' for Twilio apps |date=24 September 2010 |work=Puget Sound Business Journal |author=John Cook}}</ref> | founder = {{ubl|Jeff Lawson|Evan Cooke|John Wolthuis}} | key_people = {{ubl|{{nowrap|Khozema Shipchandler (CEO)}}|Mark Simms (CTO)}} | subsid = {{Hlist | SendGrid}} | num_employees = 5,587 (2025) | revenue = {{nowrap|{{increase}} {{US$|5.07 billion|link=yes}} (2025)}} | operating_income = {{nowrap|{{increase}} {{US$|158 million}} (2025)}} | net_income = {{nowrap|{{increase}} {{US$|33.8 million}} (2025)}} | assets = {{nowrap|{{decrease}} {{US$|9.77 billion}} (2025)}} | equity = {{nowrap|{{decrease}} {{US$|7.82 billion}} (2025)}} | website = {{URL|twilio.com}} | footnotes = <ref name=10K>{{cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001447669/000144766926000021/twlo-20251231.htm |title=US SEC: Twilio, Inc. Form 10-K |date=February 24, 2026 |publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission}}</ref> | module = {{infobox network service provider|child=yes}} }}
'''Twilio Inc.''' is an American cloud communications company based in San Francisco, California, which provides programmable communication tools for making and receiving phone calls, sending and receiving text messages, and performing other communication functions using its web service APIs.
==History== Twilio was founded in 2008 by University of Michigan graduates<ref>{{cite web |last=Wilkins |first=Pete |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterandrewwilkins/2022/10/11/what-drives-the-university-of-michigans-entrepreneurial-success/ |title=What Drives The University Of Michigan's Entrepreneurial Success |website=forbes.com |date=Oct 11, 2022 |access-date=Sep 22, 2025 }}</ref> Jeff Lawson, Evan Cooke, and John Wolthuis<ref name="Twilio Raises $3.7 Million For Powerful Telephony API">{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2009/12/30/twilio-raises-3-7-million-for-powerful-telephony-api/ |title=Twilio Raises $3.7 Million For Powerful Telephony API |website=TechCrunch |date=2009-12-30 |access-date=2015-12-03}}</ref> and was based initially in Seattle, Washington, and San Francisco, California.<ref name="Twilio scores funding to build telecom in the cloud business">{{cite web|url=http://www.techflash.com/seattle/2009/03/Twilio_scores_funding_to_build_cloud_telephony_business_40569397.html |title=Twilio scores funding to build telecom in the cloud business |website=Techflash.com |access-date=2015-12-03}}</ref>
On November 20, 2008, the company launched Twilio Voice, an API to make and receive phone calls completely hosted in the cloud.<ref>Kincaid, Jason (November 20, 2008). [https://techcrunch.com/2008/11/20/twilio-powerful-api-for-phone-services-that-can-recreate-grandcentral-in-15-lines-of-code/ "Twilio: Powerful API For Phone Services That Can Recreate GrandCentral's Core Functionality In 15 Lines Of Code"]. TechCrunch.</ref> Twilio's text messaging API was released in February 2010,<ref>Kincaid, Jason (February 9, 2010). [https://techcrunch.com/2010/02/09/twilio-sms-api/ "Twilio's Telephony API Now Lets Applications Send And Receive SMS Messages"]. TechCrunch.</ref> and SMS shortcodes were released in public beta in July 2011.<ref>Kincaid, Jason (July 13, 2011). [https://techcrunch.com/2011/07/13/twilios-streamlined-shortcode-api-now-open-to-all/ "Twilio's Streamlined Shortcode API Now Open To All"]. TechCrunch.</ref>
Twilio raised approximately $103 million in venture capital growth funding. Twilio received its first round of seed funding in March 2009 for an undisclosed amount from Mitch Kapor, The Founders Fund, Dave McClure, David G. Cohen, Chris Sacca, Manu Kumar, from K9 Ventures, and Jeff Fluhr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2009/03/02/twilio-closes-funding-round-lands-major-customers-for-its-telephony-api/ |title=Twilio Closes Funding Round, Lands Major Customers For Its Telephony API |website=TechCrunch |date=2009-03-02 |access-date=2015-12-03}}</ref>
Twilio's first A round of funding was led by Union Square Ventures for $3.7 million<ref name="Twilio Raises $3.7 Million For Powerful Telephony API" /> and its second B round of funding, for $12 million, was led by Bessemer Venture Partners.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/11/09/twilio-raises-12-million-for-powerful-telephony-api/ |title=Twilio Raises $12 Million For Powerful Telephony API |website=TechCrunch |date=2010-11-09 |access-date=2015-12-03}}</ref>
Twilio received $17 million in a Series C round in December 2011 from Bessemer Venture Partners and Union Square Ventures.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/12/07/twilio-series-c/ |title=Twilio Raises $17 Million Series C From Bessemer and Union Square To Expand Abroad |website=TechCrunch |date=2011-12-07 |access-date=2015-12-03}}</ref>
In July 2013 Twilio received another $70 million from Redpoint Ventures, Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ), and Bessemer Venture Partners.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/06/07/twilio-raises-a-70m-series-d-as-they-consider-an-ipo/ |title=Twilio Raises A $70M Series D As They Consider An IPO |website=TechCrunch |date=2013-06-07 |access-date=2015-12-03}}</ref>
In July 2015, Twilio raised a $130 million Series E from Fidelity, T Rowe Price, Altimeter Capital Management, and Arrowpoint Partners, in addition to Amazon and Salesforce.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://fortune.com/2015/07/29/twilio-lands-million-communicate-software/|title=Twilio lands $130 million to make it easier to communicate via software|website=Fortune|language=en|access-date=2019-01-02}}</ref>
Twilio filed for IPO on the New York Stock Exchange and started trading on June 23, 2016, with a 92% increase on the first day.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/twilio-shares-surge-in-trading-debut-1466692473 | title=Twilio's Shares Jump 92% in Trading Debut |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=23 June 2016 |first1=Corrie |last1=Driebusch |first2=Maureen |last2=Farrell}}</ref>
In March 2020, Twilio announced the appointment of Steve Pugh as Chief Security Officer and Glenn Weinstein as Chief Customer Officer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.valdostadailytimes.com/news/business/twilio-welcomes-steve-pugh-as-chief-security-officer-and-glenn/article_7becee80-2bc5-5292-bb38-697374150c5d.html|title=Twilio Welcomes Steve Pugh as Chief Security Officer and Glenn Weinstein as Chief Customer Officer|website=Valdosta Daily Times|language=en|access-date=2020-03-05}}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
In 2021, Twilio shut down its links to Parler due to Parler refusing to agree to monitor hate speech and insurrection on its platform.
On August 4, 2022, an unknown attacker accessed Twilio's internal network through an SMS phishing campaign targeting Twilio's employees. Twilio confirmed the breach three days later, clarifying that it affected only "a limited number" of customer accounts.<ref name="TheVergeBreach">{{Cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/8/23296923/twilio-data-breach-phishing-campaign-employees-targeted |title=Twilio suffers data breach after a phishing campaign targeted its employees |date=August 8, 2022 |last=Roth |first=Emma |work=The Verge |access-date=August 8, 2022}}</ref> On August 15, Signal announced that it had been affected by the breach, indicating that the 125 customers affected included at least some enterprise accounts.<ref name="SignalBreach">{{Cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/15/signal-phone-number-exposed-twilio/ |title=Signal says 1,900 users' phone numbers exposed by Twilio breach |date=August 15, 2022 |last=Oage |first=Carly |work=TechCrunch |access-date=August 16, 2022}}</ref>
In September 2022, Twilio laid off 11% of its workforce.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/14/twilio-lays-off-11-of-its-staff-as-it-aims-for-profitability-in-2023/|title=Twilio lays off 11% of its staff as it aims for profitability in 2023|last=Wiggers|first=Kyle|date=2022-09-14|work=TechCrunch|access-date=2022-09-26|language=en}}</ref> In the company announcement, former CEO Jeff Lawson claimed that the decisions (on which employees to lay off) were made through an "anti-racist/anti-oppression lens".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://fortune.com/2022/09/14/twilio-declares-anti-racist-layoffs/ |title=Twilio promises 'anti-racist' layoffs as CEO says 11% job cuts won't hit workers from 'marginalized communities' more than others |date=2022-09-14 |last=Robison |first=Kylie |work=Fortune |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220916042427/https://fortune.com/2022/09/14/twilio-declares-anti-racist-layoffs/ |archive-date=2022-09-16 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Lawson|first=Jeff|title=A Message from Twilio CEO Jeff Lawson|url=https://www.twilio.com/blog/a-message-from-twilio-ceo-jeff-lawson|access-date=2022-09-26|website=Twilio|language=en}}</ref> The company announced an additional 17% cut in its workforce, nearly 1,500 employees, in February 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ford |first=Brody |date=2023-02-13 |title=Twilio Announces Second Wave of Layoffs, Cutting 17% of Workforce |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-13/twilio-to-cut-17-of-staff-months-after-last-major-layoff |work=Bloomberg News}}</ref> As a part of restructuring, the company also announced creation of two business units{{snd}}Twilio Data & Applications and Twilio Communications.<ref>{{cite web |last=Capoot |first=Ashley |date=2023-02-13 |title=Twilio to lay off about 1,500 employees, or 17% of its workforce |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/13/twilio-layoffs-1500-employees-17percent-of-workforce.html |website=CNBC}}</ref> In December 2023, Twilio announced a decision to reduce its workforce by 5%, affecting around 300 employees, primarily within its Data and Applications division.<ref name="Goswami CNBC">{{cite news |last1=Goswami |first1=Rohan |title=Twilio lays off 5% of employees in unit activists want to divest |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/04/twilio-layoffs-company-to-cut-5percent-of-employees.html |access-date=17 February 2024 |agency=CNBC}}</ref>
Twilio is known for using platform evangelism to acquire customers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mixergy.com/jeff-lawson-twilio-interview/ |title=Twilio's Founder On How To Partner With 20,000 Developers - with Jeff Lawson |publisher=Mixergy |date=2011-01-10 |access-date=2015-12-03}}</ref> An early example is GroupMe, which was founded in May 2010 at the hackathon of TechCrunch Disrupt and uses Twilio's text messaging product to facilitate group chat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/08/26/inception-a-hackday-dream-the-story-of-groupme/ |title=Inception: A Hackday Dream (The Story Of GroupMe) |website=TechCrunch |date=2010-08-26 |access-date=2015-12-03}}</ref> GroupMe raised $10.6 million in venture funding in January 2011.<ref>{{cite web|author=Matthew Lynley |date=January 4, 2011 |url=https://venturebeat.com/2011/01/04/groupme-funding-seriesb/ |title=Group texting startup GroupMe raises $10.6M despite being a long way from revenue |publisher=VentureBeat |access-date=2015-12-03}}</ref>
Following the success of TechCrunch Disrupt, seed accelerator 500 Startups (now 500 Global) announced the Twilio Fund, a $250,000 "micro-fund" to provide seed money to startups using Twilio in September 2010.<ref name="Got a Twilio-based App? Get Some Investment Dollars">{{cite web |author=Om Malik |url=http://gigaom.com/2010/09/23/got-a-twilio-based-app-get-some-investment-dollars/ |title=Got a Twilio-based App? Get Some Investment Dollars |publisher=Gigaom |date=2010-09-23 |access-date=2015-12-03 |archive-date=2015-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208041939/http://gigaom.com/2010/09/23/got-a-twilio-based-app-get-some-investment-dollars/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.500startups.com/2010/09/23/twilio-fund-for-500-startups/ |access-date=July 21, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110130060315/http://blog.500startups.com/2010/09/23/twilio-fund-for-500-startups/ |title=Announcing Twilio Fund for 500 Startups |archive-date=January 30, 2011 }}</ref>
In January 2024, Twilio founder Jeff Lawson stepped down as CEO and board member, succeeded by Khozema Shipchandler.<ref name=leadership>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/08/twilio-ceo-lawson-steps-down-after-bruising-activist-battles.html |title=Twilio CEO Lawson steps down after bruising activist battles |date=8 January 2024 |publisher= CNBC |access-date=9 January 2024}}</ref> Later that year in July, alleged threat actors acquired the phone numbers of over 33 million users of the company's multi-factor authentication service "Authy".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/7/3/24191791/twilio-authy-2fa-app-phone-numbers-hack-data-breach|title=Twilio alerts Authy two-factor app users that 'threat actors' have their phone numbers|first=Emma|last=Roth|date=July 3, 2024|work=The Verge|access-date=July 6, 2024}}</ref>
For full-year 2025, Twilio reported total revenue of $5.07 billion, a 14% year-over-year increase, driven by growth in voice AI, software add-ons, and solution bundles. Q4 2025 revenue was $1.37 billion, up 14% year-over-year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Twilio Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Results |url=https://investors.twilio.com/news-releases/news-release-details/twilio-announces-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2025-results |website=Twilio Investor Relations |access-date=2026-03-21}}</ref>
==Acquisitions==
In February 2015, Twilio acquired Authy, a Y Combinator–backed startup that offers two-factor authentication services to end users, developers and enterprises.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/02/24/twilio-acquires-two-factor-authentication-service-authy/|title=Twilio Acquires Two-Factor Authentication Service Authy|last=Lardinois|first=Frederic|date=2015-02-24|work=TechCrunch|access-date=2017-12-28|language=en}}</ref>
In September 2016, Twilio acquired Tikal Technologies, the development team behind the Kurento WebRTC open-source media server software, for $8.5 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/02/22/twilio-paid-8-5-million-in-cash-for-assets-of-kurento-open-source-project// |title= Twilio paid $8.5 million in cash for assets of Kurento Open Source Project |publisher=VentureBeat |date=2017-02-22 |access-date=2017-02-25}}</ref>
In February 2017, Twilio acquired Beepsend, a Swedish-based SMS messaging provider, for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/02/07/twilio-acquires-beepsend-to-make-message-delivery-more-efficient-on-its-super-network/|title=Twilio acquires Beepsend to make message delivery more efficient on its Super Network|last=Matney|first=Lucas|date=2017-02-07|work=TechCrunch|access-date=2017-12-28|language=en}}</ref>
Twilio announced in September 2018 that it was acquiring Ytica, a Prague, Czech Republic–based speech analytics firm, for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/11/twilios-contact-center-products-just-got-more-analytical-with-ytica-acquisition/|title=Twilio's contact center products just got more analytical with Ytica acquisition|last=Miller|first=Ron|date=2018-09-11|work=TechCrunch|language=en}}</ref>
In October 2018 Twilio announced it was acquiring SendGrid, a Denver, Colorado-based customer communication platform for transactional and marketing email, for $2 billion.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181015005920/en/Twilio-Acquire-Sendgrid-Leading-Email-API-Platform|title=Twilio to Acquire SendGrid, the Leading Email API Platform|date=2018-10-15|publisher=BusinessWire|access-date=2018-10-16|language=en}}</ref> In February 2019, the two companies were formally merged in a deal valued at $3 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-02-05 |title=Value of Denver-based SendGrid goes up to $3B as San Francisco's Twilio completes acquisition |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2019/02/04/denver-sendgrid-san-franciscos-twilio-acquisition/ |access-date=2022-09-27 |website=The Denver Post |language=en-US}}</ref>
In November 2018, the company acquired Core Network Dynamics GmbH, a Berlin, Germany-based virtual evolved packet core company.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://the-mobile-network.com/2018/11/twilio-buys-core-network-dynamics/|title=Twilio buys Core Network Dynamics|date=2018-11-14|publisher=the-mobile-network.com|language=en}}</ref>
Twilio announced in July 2020 that it had acquired Electric Imp, an internet of things platform company, for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Electric Imp is now part of Twilio|url=https://connect.electricimp.com/blog/electric-imp-is-now-part-of-twilio|access-date=2020-08-03|website=connect.electricimp.com|language=en|archive-date=2020-08-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811090253/https://connect.electricimp.com/blog/electric-imp-is-now-part-of-twilio|url-status=dead}}</ref> In October of that year, the company acquired Segment, a platform to collect, clean, and activate customer data, for $3.2 billion.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Twilio confirms it is buying Segment for $3.2B in an all-stock deal|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/10/12/twilio-confirms-it-is-buying-segment-for-3-2b-in-an-all-stock-deal/|access-date=2020-10-12|website=TechCrunch|date=12 October 2020|language=en-US}}</ref>
In May 2021, Twilio acquired Ionic Security, a data security platform for $30.2 million,<ref>{{Cite web |last=MarketScreener |title=Twilio Inc. acquired Ionic Security Inc. for $30.2 million. {{!}} MarketScreener |url=https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/TWILIO-INC-28734706/news/Twilio-Inc-acquired-Ionic-Security-Inc-for-30-2-million-35478663/ |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=www.marketscreener.com |date=17 May 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cybersecurity M&A Roundup: 36 Deals Announced in May 2021 {{!}} SecurityWeek.Com |url=https://www.securityweek.com/cybersecurity-ma-roundup-36-deals-announced-may-2021 |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=www.securityweek.com|date=June 2021 }}</ref> and Zipwhip, a toll-free messaging services provider, for $850 million.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gagliordi|first=Natalie|title=Twilio to acquire toll-free messaging provider Zipwhip for $850 million|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/twilio-to-acquire-toll-free-messaging-provider-zipwhip-for-850-million/|access-date=2021-05-18|website=ZDNet|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schlosser |first=Kurt |date=2021-05-17 |title=Twilio to acquire Seattle business texting startup Zipwhip for $850M |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2021/twilio-acquire-seattle-business-texting-startup-zipwhip-850m/ |access-date=2022-12-10 |website=GeekWire |language=en-US}}</ref>
In January 2022, Twilio announced that it agreed to acquire Boku Identity, Inc. from Boku, Inc. for $32.3 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MarketScreener |title=Twilio Inc. agreed to acquire Boku Identity, Inc. from Boku, Inc. for $32.3 million. {{!}} MarketScreener |url=https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/BOKU-INC-38777756/news/Twilio-Inc-entered-into-an-agreement-to-acquire-Boku-Identity-Inc-from-Boku-Inc-for-32-3-milli-37598996/ |access-date=2023-01-28 |website=www.marketscreener.com |date=19 January 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Twilio and Boku Mobile Identity Come Together to Offer Secure Onboarding |url=https://www.twilio.com/blog/twilio-boku-mobile-identity-secure-onboarding |access-date=2023-01-28 |website=Twilio Blog |language=en}}</ref>
In October 2025, Twilio announced its agreement to acquire Stytch, an identity platform for AI agents.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Twilio to Acquire Identity Platform for AI Agents, Stytch |url=https://www.twilio.com/en-us/blog/company/news/twilio-to-acquire-stytch |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=Twilio |language=en}}</ref>
==Technology== Twilio uses Amazon Web Services to host its communication infrastructure via APIs.<ref>Harris, Derrick (March 3, 2009). [http://gigaom.com/2009/03/03/why-amazon-will-make-or-break-twilio/ "Why Amazon Will Make or Break Twilio"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203130809/https://gigaom.com/2009/03/03/why-amazon-will-make-or-break-twilio/ |date=2021-12-03 }}. Gigaom.</ref>
Rather than using industry-standard protocols such as SIP for call control, Twilio uses a customized markup language known as TwiML to allow for direct integration with its services.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Levent-Levi |first=Tsahi |date=2020-01-06 |title=The top 6 CPaaS trends to track in 2022 |url=https://www.techtarget.com/searchunifiedcommunications/tip/The-top-5-CPaaS-market-trends-to-track-in-2020 |access-date=2022-12-10 |website=TechTarget |language=en}}</ref> Twilio and the customer typically exchange TwiML documents via HTTP Webhook.
In June 2010, Twilio launched OpenVBX, an open-source product that lets business users configure phone numbers to receive and route phone calls.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/06/15/twilio-openvbx-google-voice/ |title=Twilio Releases OpenVBX, An Open Source Google Voice For Businesses |website=TechCrunch |date=2010-06-15 |access-date=2015-12-03}}</ref> One month later, Twilio engineer Kyle Conroy released Stashboard, an open-source status dashboard written in the Python programming language that any API or software service can use to display whether their service is functioning properly.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Catacchio |first=Chad |date=2010-07-21 |title=Twilio open sources Stashboard, an API monitoring dashboard |url=https://thenextweb.com/news/twilio-open-sources-stashboard-an-api-monitoring-dashboard |access-date=2022-12-10 |website=TNW {{!}} Apps |language=en}}</ref>
== See also ==
==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.twilio.com}} {{Finance links | name = Twilio Inc. | symbol = TWLO | sec_cik = 1447669 | google = TWLO:NYSE | yahoo = TWLO }}
{{S&P 400 companies}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Cloud computing providers Category:American companies established in 2008 Category:Computer companies established in 2008 Category:Telecommunications companies established in 2008 Category:Companies based in San Francisco Category:Cloud communication platforms Category:Companies in the S&P 400 Category:Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange Category:500 Startups companies Category:2016 initial public offerings Category:Information technology companies of the United States Category:2008 establishments in Washington (state) Category:Software as a Service (SaaS) companies