TwilioFund

Top investment firms and Twilio coming together to advance communications.

TwilioFund is a $50M investment fund designed to grow an ecosystem of companies that build innovative and engaging applications on Twilio's platform.

We partnered with top VC firms Bessemer Venture Partners, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, and Redpoint Ventures to fund developers and startups using Twilio's platform to build mobile and web applications. Teams funded through this program have an opportunity to access capital from our VC partners, receive Twilio discounts, and get marketing support and advice on best practices.

Types of companies the TwilioFund will support
The TwilioFund is open to any company using Twilio's platform to power a meaningful part of their business. We look for companies focused on big problems and the ability to bring communications to the masses.

A few areas of interest are:

  • Data and analytics used to help drive a better customer experience from communications
  • Interesting ways to expose data via APIs
  • Leverage our two-factor authentication solution in new and interesting ways
  • Use the new Twilio Video API to solve unmet customer needs
  • Utilizing messaging to power the on-demand request economy
Current TwilioFund portfilio companies
  • Sonar enables companies to communicate with their customers on modern mobile messaging channels. Facebook Messenger, SMS, WeChat and more are the preferred communication medium for customers to provide a more personal, efficient experience.
  • Hobnob magically creates beautiful, mobile-first invitations with a layer of intelligence for a seamless experience across native app, mobile web and text messaging so that you can focus on what matters most about an event: being there.
Previous TwilioFund portfilio companies
  • Talkdesk is an easy-to-use, cloud-based call center software solution that helps improve customer interactions while reducing costs. Received Series A funding in June 2015.
  • Wedgies are social polls for media and brands that allow engagement via social media and website audiences. Wedgies polls are built for the social web, they're -- real time, media rich, engaging, and mobile optimized. Received Seed Round funding in March 2015.
  • Speakeasy's mobile conferencing app transforms today's out-of-touch conference call technology into an engaging, shared experience that delights the user, increases productivity, and builds better business relationships.
How are companies selected?
We are looking for companies that are creating communications experiences that solve customer problems, at scale, that align with Twilio's leadership principles and values.
After companies apply to the TwilioFund, we will review the company's product, market, and team. Here are a few of the attributes we are looking for:

  • Wear the customer's shoes

    Solve problems from the customer's perspective

  • Think at scale

    Companies building products to tackle big problems and can support them as they grow

  • Relentless about success

    Building the best possible experience for your customer

Why work with the TwilioFund
Financial support is a significant factor in turning ideas into great products. In addition, Twilio has built a community of over 750,000 developers that span large and small companies with global-reach.
The ecosystem we have invested in is something we work hard to build and support daily. The TwilioFund can offer product guidance and expertise, credits/discounts for Twilio services, showcasing at major events, and the ability to engage with top-tier VC partners:

  • Bessemer Venture Partners

    Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP) manages more than $4 billion in venture capital invested in over 130 companies around the world. BVP has invested in companies including: LinkedIn, Shopify, Pinterest, Yelp, and SendGrid.

  • Draper Fisher Jurvetson

    Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ) provides venture capital to extraordinary entrepreneurs who want to change the world. DFJ has invested in companies including: Space-X, Tesla, Twitter, Yammer, and Box.

  • Redpoint Ventures

    Redpoint Ventures has helped entrepreneurs build innovative businesses that defy convention, shape the future, and change the world. Redpoint has invested in companies including: Stripe, Looker, RelateIQ, Sonos, and Nextdoor.

Participating accelerators
The TwilioFund has expanded our relationship with key accelerators to provide services to support the early stage growth of companies building on our platform.
  • Y Combinator
    Y Combinator
    Y Combinator
    Y Combinator
    Apply to TwilioFund
    We can’t wait to see what you build.