Linq Secures $20M to Integrate AI Assistants into Messaging Applications
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Understanding Linq’s Journey: From Digital Business Card to Messaging Innovator
Linq, a startup from Birmingham, Alabama, started its journey by launching a digital business card that also served as a lead capture tool for sales teams. However, the company didn’t find its groove immediately and underwent several pivots before discovering a promising direction. In the past year, Linq focused on enhancing communication for businesses by transitioning from SMS to more refined messaging platforms like iMessage and RCS.
The Market Landscape: Existing Solutions and Opportunities
Currently, Apple offers businesses a way to communicate via its Messages for Business service, and Twilio has built a substantial market, worth $18.26 billion, providing SMS solutions for various companies. However, a clear distinction remains between personal and business messaging. Business texts are displayed in gray, making them easily recognizable and often branded.
Linq identified a pressing need: its clients desired the capability to send blue-bubble messages, like personal texts, which add a layer of authenticity to their communications. This feedback led the startup to develop an API that allows businesses to communicate natively through iMessage, leveraging the platform’s extensive functionalities, including group chats, emojis, and voice notes.
A Rapid Transformation in Business Strategy
Founded by former Shipt executives Elliott Potter (CEO), Patrick Sullivan (CTO), and Jared Mattsson (President), Linq launched this API in February 2025. Within just eight months, the company doubled its annual recurring revenue, which had taken four years to establish. This rapid success showcased the demand for authentic communication methods in a technology-driven world.
The AI Wave: A New Market
As Linq settled into its product-market fit, the emergence of AI agents opened up new possibilities. An AI assistant called Poke—designed for iMessage, capable of managing tasks and scheduling—served as a catalyst for Linq’s refocusing towards the AI market. The collaboration with the Interaction Company of California, which wanted to utilize Linq’s API without a traditional CRM, signified a shift in demand for business messaging.
Capitalizing on Increased Demand
After Poke went viral at its launch last September, Linq faced an influx of requests for its messaging API. Numerous AI companies sought to integrate their chatbots and assistants with iMessage, RCS, and SMS platforms. The company was then faced with a pivotal decision: should they continue serving B2B clients, or pivot again to become an infrastructure layer for the burgeoning AI sector?
“We still love our sales customers and value that use case. However, we had to decide between being a spoke in this wheel or transforming into the hub,” remarked Potter.
Addressing App Fatigue
Many consumers are currently experiencing app fatigue, making Linq’s integration solutions appealing. By enabling AI assistants to function within existing messaging apps, Linq minimizes the need for users to download additional applications. Developers can leverage a messaging-native interface without the complexities of creating an entirely new app.
Potter emphasized, “AI has advanced enough that traditional applications are no longer necessary—what’s required is an interface that enables efficient communication with an intelligent AI.”
Growth Metrics and Achievements
Linq’s pivot proved fruitful, with claims of a 132% increase in its customer base from the previous quarter and an average expansion of 34% in customer accounts. The AI agents powered by Linq’s platform now engage with 134,000 monthly active users and facilitate over 30 million messages each month. The company boasts a remarkable net revenue retention rate of 295% with zero churn.
Series A Funding for Further Development
Recently, Linq announced it has secured $20 million in a Series A funding round led by TQ Ventures, with participation from Mucker Capital and several angel investors. This capital will be used to expand the team, enhance market strategies, and continue improving its technology offerings. While Linq’s valuation remains undisclosed, the growth potential appears strong.
Challenges Ahead: Navigating Dependencies
Despite a positive outlook for Linq, challenges remain. The company is still reliant on Apple’s platform, creating uncertainties about whether Apple might limit third-party access to its chatbot services. While iMessage is highly popular in the U.S., other messaging platforms like WhatsApp, WeChat, and WeChat dominate international markets.
Potter is aware of these challenges but envisions a greater goal for Linq that transcends messaging platforms. “Our ultimate ambition is to create everything necessary for building conversational technology across multiple channels. We currently support programmatic voice, iMessage, RCS, and SMS, but that’s just the beginning,” he stated.
The Vision for Future Communication
Linq aims to ensure that communication between businesses and customers is as seamless as texting a friend. By enhancing AI-to-human interaction, Linq opens avenues for a new category of companies. Andrew Marks, co-founding partner of TQ Ventures, echoed this sentiment, praising Linq’s founding team and their capability to capitalize on this vast opportunity.
“By making AI-to-human communication frictionless, Linq is setting the stage for an entirely new way of engaging with customers,” Marks noted.
Conclusion
Linq’s journey from a digital business card to a key player in the messaging and AI landscape exemplifies how innovative ideas, when iteratively refined, can capitalize on market gaps. Focused on creating authentic communication experiences, Linq not only enhances customer engagement but also addresses the evolving demands of digitized interactions. In a world with app fatigue and a growing reliance on AI, Linq is poised for significant impact as it navigates its future in the tech marketplace.
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