Meet the Honorees of Twilio’s AI Startup Searchlight 2025 Award Program
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January 13, 2026
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Meet the Honorees of Twilio’s AI Startup Searchlight 2025 Award Program
Happy New Year!
Last year, on Twilio’s largest stage at SIGNAL London 2025, we announced the honorees of Twilio’s AI Startup Searchlight 2025 Award. And today, as we kick off 2026, we’re thrilled to tell you more about the incredible companies that inspired us with their vision of the future of communications and customer engagement.
We believe our winners are going to do incredible things in 2026 - here’s who you need to watch!
Twilio AI Startup Searchlight 2025 Award Program Honorees
Last year, our third annual Twilio AI Startup Searchlight competition was met with an incredible response. We were honored to learn more about the innovation and creativity of over 750 cutting-edge startups from around the globe. Choosing only a few winners was anything but easy.
After careful review by judges from Twilio, OpenAI, Andreessen Horowitz, and IDC, we highlighted 20 remarkable startups shaping the future of communications and customer engagement through emerging technologies like AI, AI Agents, LLMs, and platforms with Twilio.
Without further ado, get to know our winners – you’ll be seeing a lot from them this year!
AI Shift
Location: Japan
Overview: CyberAgent subsidiary specializing in AI solutions for contact centers in Japan.
Twilio Products:
- Programmable Voice (core product)
- Messaging (WhatsApp, RCS, SMS)
- SendGrid for notifications
Mission & Tech: Address labor shortages in Japanese contact centers. "AI Messenger Voicebot" provides 24/7 intelligent voice agents. Latest: appointment booking with calendar integration.
Unique Approach: Unwavering pursuit of full automation without human intervention. Bi-directional streaming via TwiML for real-time conversations.
Visit AI Shift’s website.
CareForce
Location: United States
Overview: Autonomous AI workers (Angelica & David) to support health systems and health plans with care coordination, patient outreach and administrative workload.
Twilio Products:
- Voice for AI calls
- Messaging (SMS, WhatsApp)
- AI Tools
Mission & Tech: Get America 3x more care by fixing healthcare's admin bottleneck. AI coworkers find, call, and schedule thousands of patients per minute in 20+ languages.
Unique Approach: True digital workforce integrated into existing tools/workflows. Autonomous agents that find patients with care gaps and schedule directly into EMRs.
Visit Careforce’s website.
Cartesia AI
Location: United States
Overview: Fastest, ultra-realistic voice AI platform. Pioneered State Space Model architecture. Includes Sonic/Ink models and Line Voice Agent suite.
Twilio Products:
- Voice API
- Every Line agent provisioned with Twilio numbers
- Exploring Elastic SIP Trunking
Mission & Tech: Build most natural voice experiences. Line platform brings real-time AI agents into production conversations with developer flexibility.
Unique Approach: Model-first, code-first philosophy. Developers bring their own code, no rigid GUIs. Enterprise-grade with HIPAA/PCI compliance.
Visit Cartesia.ai’s website.
Cekura
Location: United States
Overview: Y Combinator-backed automated testing for voice/chat AI agents. 70+ clients across healthcare, finance, retail, logistics.
Twilio Products:
- Voice API (foundation of simulation pipeline)
Mission & Tech: Create digital replicas of the real world starting with conversations. Simulate thousands of realistic customer calls before going live.
Unique Approach: Using AI agents to test other AI agents - meta-application generating high-quality synthetic data for continuous improvement.
Visit Cekura.ai’s website.
ConsioAI
Location: United States
Overview: First AI-powered phone revenue platform for e-commerce, enabling automated customer engagement at scale.
Twilio Products:
- Voice (outbound/inbound calling)
- Answering Machine Detection
- WebRTC
- SMS
Mission & Tech: Unlock personalizable sales channels via voice. Full inbound AI agent for e-commerce and Shopify with integrated coaching.
Unique Approach: E-commerce specific (not generic), AI integrated at every stage, no agent limits with usage-based pricing.
Visit Consio.ai’s website.
Curans
Location: Jordan
Overview: Virtual patient simulator for medical students powered by AI, teaching treatment through realistic scenarios.
Twilio Products:
- Voice for real-time and phone-based scenarios
- WhatsApp for case delivery
- SendGrid for reports
- Verify for secure logins
- Segment for behavioral data
Mission & Tech: Cut diagnostic errors by providing a safe practice environment. The first to digitize Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Our vision to replace multiple-choice testing with case-based assessment. We score encounters across data gathering, reasoning, safety, and communication.
Unique Approach: Omnichannel, low-friction simulator working on basic devices/networks crucial for MENA markets.
Visit Curan’s website.
Genspark
Location: Singapore
Overview: Super Agent platform with 80+ integrated AI tools. 2M+ users globally. Mixture-of-Agents architecture for optimal results.
Twilio Products:
- Voice API for phone calls
- SMS for authentication
- SendGrid for result delivery
Mission & Tech: Break barriers between digital/physical worlds. "Call For Me" agent makes real phone calls for appointments, personal calls and workplace communication.
Unique Approach: Autonomous agents executing real-world tasks through human communication. Democratized enterprise-level capabilities via consumer-friendly interfaces.
Visit Genspark’s website.
HoloMD
Location: United States
Overview: Transforming mental health with award-winning psychiatry plus AI-driven support between visits.
Twilio Products:
- SMS for patient engagement
- SendGrid for emails
Mission & Tech: Continuous mental health support via SMS. Long-Term Memory feature captures daily reflections and extracts insights for clinicians.
Unique Approach: No apps required - leverages existing SMS. AI with human-in-the-loop designed specifically for psychiatric patients with clinical oversight.
Visit holoMD’s website
Insight Health AI
Location: United States
Overview: Autonomous AI platform for clinical care, conducted 200,000+ clinical conversations, frees hundreds of clinician hours monthly.
Twilio Products:
- Voice and SMS for patient care
- SendGrid for provider communications
- Segment for PLG motion and growth
- AI Tools
Mission & Tech: Automate 50% of routine clinical work. Cooperative Agent Framework enables specialized agents to collaborate on patient journeys.
Unique Approach: Founded by practicing physicians. Building a "system of intelligent action" not just documentation. Uses Twilio for both clinical delivery and business scaling.
Visit InsightHealth’s website
Loman AI
Location: United States
Overview: Best-in-class voice AI for restaurants, handling every phone call 24/7 - placing orders, booking reservations, and fielding questions.
Twilio Products:
- Voice API, SIP Trunking, Phone Numbers
- Twilio Pay for payment processing
- SMS for order confirmations, payment reminders, delivery updates
- SendGrid for onboarding, reports, operational emails
Mission & Tech: Leveling the playing field for small restaurants with AI agents that handle complex conversations. The latest release includes AI memory capabilities - customers can call back within 30 minutes to modify orders.
Unique Approach: Focus on independent/SMB restaurants rather than enterprise chains. Designed around hospitality - AI remembers customer preferences like a great server.
Visit Loman.ai’s website.
Mecanizou
Location: Brazil
Overview: B2B marketplace connecting auto repair shops with suppliers via AI-powered WhatsApp quoting. $15M funding, leading player in Brazil's $10B+ aftermarket.
Twilio Products:
- WhatsApp Business API (core channel)
- Flex (customized for hybrid support)
- SMS for various notifications
- Segment for customer data
Mission & Tech: Digitize auto parts procurement. AI quoting assistant interprets mechanic messages (text/image) and searches 600k+ parts database.
Unique Approach: Meet mechanics where they are (WhatsApp). First established digital-native player in South America's auto parts B2B space.
Visit Mecanizou’s website.
Neru Health
Location: United States
Overview: Human-centered AI patient engagement for device-based therapy (sleep apnea, diabetes, COPD). 10k+ patients, driving 10-20% higher adherence and lower call burden.
Twilio Products:
- Messaging (SMS, WhatsApp)
- Programmable Voice for 24/7 AI hotlines
Mission & Tech: Help every patient succeed with life-saving therapies. "Nora," our embodied AI companion, plus Chronos AI phenotyping engine, adapts outreach based on patient behavior, language, and payor cadence to drive continuous care.
Unique Approach: Purpose-built for HME/DME industry. A unified, omnichannel operating layer that fits into existing workflows (Brightree/Niko/etc.), supercharges staff, and unifies fragmented point solutions.
Visit Neru Health’s website.
Nooks
Location: United States
Overview: AI-powered pipeline engine doubling pipeline without adding headcount. 4x ARR in 2024, trusted by over 1,000 customers, featured in Twilio Q2 2025 earnings.
Twilio Products:
- Voice for outbound calling
- Media Streams for real-time audio
- Actions for dial trees/voicemails
- Conferences for rep connection
Mission & Tech: Building 10x AI-assisted sales rep. Nooks isn’t just a dialer or another AI tool – it’s the outbound workspace reps actually want to use. By unifying prospecting, enrichment, calling, and coaching into one AI-powered platform, Nooks turns every call into a feedback loop that sharpens targeting, messaging, and performance.
Unique Approach: Human-in-the-loop AI platform competing against legacy point solutions, leveraging vast, rich call data across the entire sales workflow.
Visit Nooks.ai’s website.
OhMD
Location: United States
Overview: Hero-in-the-loop patient communication software that automates routine patient calls and decreases call volume in physician practices using voice AI and two-way texting.
AI Tools: Extensible API for patient-facing AI, LangGraph, ConversationRelay, OpenAI, ElevenLabs, Cartesia
Twilio Products:
- Programmable Messaging, RCS
- Voice, Video
- Studio for automation workflows
- Conversation Relay for call automation
- SendGrid for emails
- Segment for data analytics
Mission & Tech: Make healthcare better for everyone through conversations. Launched AI agent for EHR integrated voice/text automation of routine calls like appointment scheduling and medication refills. The OhMD Special Delivery API powers a unified inbox for patient communication across the healthcare ecosystem.
Unique Approach: Built for empathic human conversations, not just automation. OhMD’s patient communication layer enables smart automation with human touch. Handle 70% of patient calls with AI so healthcare staff can have human conversations with patients again.
Visit OhMD’s website.
Phonely
Location: United States
Overview: Voice AI company delivering human-level performance, handling everything from appointments to CRM integration.
Twilio Products:
- Entire communication infrastructure
- Inbound/outbound dialing, SIP integration
- SMS messaging, conference calls
Mission & Tech: Empower anyone to build advanced AI voice agents regardless of technical skill. Latest: ultra-low-latency agents achieving 99.2% accuracy. Unique Approach: Combines state-of-the-art AI with Twilio's APIs for ultra-low-latency, human-level voice automation at scale.
Visit Phonely.ai’s website.
R2
Location: Mexico
Overview: Embedded lending for Latin American platforms (Uber, Rappi, InDrive). 200k pre-approved credit offers representing $200M available credit.
Twilio Products:
- WhatsApp API (primary channel)
- SMS messaging
- SendGrid (planned)
Mission & Tech: Unlock credit access for millions of SMBs. "Rita" AI agent reduced support tickets 59% while credit offers increased 16%.
Unique Approach: Model Context Protocol orchestrates multi-agent system. Built for full automation, not hybrid models.
Visit R2 Capital’s website.
Strada
Location: United States
Overview: AI front office for insurance, trusted by national carriers, MGAs, and brokers for 24/7 customer service, claims intake, and quoting.
Twilio Products:
- Programmable Voice API
- Programmable Messaging API (SMS/MMS)
- Answering Machine Detection
Mission & Tech: Transform the insurance experience with real time intelligence. Strada handles calls, emails, and chats with AI and executes the downstream workflow so work gets done instantly.
Unique Approach: Built for insurance operations reality - AI agents that don't just talk but take action in core systems.
Visit Strada’s website.
Subbyx
Location: Italy
Overview: Subscription platform for device-as-a-service (smartphones, laptops, wearables). Founded July 2023 as Benefit Corporation.
Twilio Products:
- SMS/WhatsApp for OTPs and reminders
- SendGrid for email communications
- Verify for authentication
- Lookup for carrier identification
Mission & Tech: Revolutionize consumption with a circular economy model. AI agent "Rosie" for customer care, "Sublime" digital assistant replacing traditional catalogs.
Unique Approach: Tech-native with AI at the heart. Removed traditional catalog, replaced with AI assistant. "We don't ask IF something is possible; we assume it is."
Visit Subbyx’s website.
Vozy
Location: Colombia
Overview: Conversational AI transforming customer experience, deployed 300+ AI agents across 15+ countries, handling 200M+ interactions.
Twilio Products:
- Messaging (WhatsApp, RCS, SMS)
- Voice (IVR, calling)
- Flex for human agent handoffs
- AI Tools (Conversational Intelligence, Relay)
Mission & Tech: Solving $3.7 trillion customer service problem. Lili Resolve uses multiagent architecture where specialized AI agents collaborate throughout conversations.
Unique Approach: End-to-end AI automation with strategic human-in-the-loop. Self-improving systems optimized for Latin American markets.
Visit Vozy.ai’s website.
Wispr AI
Location: United States
Overview: Building the voice interface for AI. Wispr Flow lets users voice type across all apps, in any text box, on Mac, Windows & iPhone - median user uses it for 72% of laptop input.
Twilio Products:
- SMS for download links
- SendGrid for email marketing automation
- Segment as analytics backbone
Mission & Tech: Make interacting with AI as easy as talking to a friend. World's best speech-to-text model replacing 150-year-old keyboards.
Unique Approach: Making AI better, because more context = better results, for everyone (not just techies) through delightful UX that "just works."
Visit Wispr.ai’s website.
Celebrating the builders shaping what’s next
To our 20 honorees: once again, congratulations. And to everyone who applied: thank you for sharing your work with us.
What you’re shipping, the problems you’re tackling, and the impact you're already having is why we created the AI Startup Searchlight. You’re showing us how AI and other emerging technologies can help make communications more human, more contextual, and – most importantly – more useful in everyday life.
And we may be three years into the contest, but – just like with the new year – this is just the beginning. We’ll continue to spotlight founders and companies using Twilio and emerging technologies to reimagine customer engagement. You heard it here first: Twilio’s AI Startup Searchlight will return again this year.
In the meantime, keep building, keep experimenting, and keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with Twilio. We can’t wait to experience what you create next.
Appendix
Inspired by this year’s honorees? Want to try the products they used? Here’s where you can find more information:
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