Who Owns Twilio: Largest Shareholders

Twilio has become one of the most important players in cloud communications. It helps businesses manage messaging, voice, email, and customer engagement through its powerful APIs. With such a major role in the tech world, many often wonder who owns Twilio and how its ownership structure has influenced its rise. Strong leadership and strategic acquisitions have shaped its journey from a startup to a global platform.

Twilio Company Profile

Twilio is a global leader in cloud communications. It provides APIs that allow developers and businesses to embed voice, messaging, video, email, and authentication services directly into applications. Its flagship product, the Twilio Communications Platform, powers billions of interactions every year for industries ranging from e-commerce to healthcare, travel, and financial services.

The company’s mission is to fuel the future of customer engagement. Twilio serves over 335,000 active customer accounts and more than 10 million registered developers worldwide as of 2025. Its services are used by enterprises like Airbnb, Uber, WhatsApp, and Netflix to ensure reliable communication at scale.

Headquartered in San Francisco, Twilio also maintains offices across North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America, reflecting its global reach. The company has become a key player in the Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) market, consistently ranked as a leader in industry reports.

Founders

Twilio was founded in 2008 by Jeff Lawson, Evan Cooke, and John Wolthuis.

• Jeff Lawson: A former Amazon Web Services product manager, he is the visionary behind Twilio’s developer-first approach. Lawson later became Twilio’s first CEO and steered the company from a small startup to a publicly traded tech leader.
• Evan Cooke: A systems engineer and academic, Cooke played a vital role in building the early technical infrastructure of Twilio.
• John Wolthuis: A software engineer and entrepreneur, Wolthuis contributed to Twilio’s architecture and core platform in its early days.

The founders combined business expertise, cloud infrastructure experience, and deep technical knowledge to create a platform that would redefine how applications handle communication.

Major Milestones

• 2008 – Twilio founded in Seattle, Washington.
• 2008 (November) – Launch of Twilio Voice API, enabling developers to embed voice calling into apps.
• 2010 (February) – Twilio releases SMS API, adding messaging capabilities to its services.
• 2011 – Raised Series B funding and gained traction with startups and enterprises.
• 2015 – Expanded internationally with offices in Europe and Asia.
• 2016 (June) – Twilio goes public on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol TWLO, raising over $150 million in its IPO.
• 2018 – Acquired SendGrid, a leading email API platform, in a $2 billion deal (one of its largest moves).
• 2020 – Acquired Segment, a customer data platform, for $3.2 billion, positioning Twilio as more than just a communications provider.
• 2021–2022 – Strategic acquisitions including Zipwhip (messaging), Ionic Security (data protection), and Boku Identity (digital identity).
• 2024 – Co-founder and long-time CEO Jeff Lawson stepped down, with Khozema Shipchandler becoming the new CEO.
• 2025 – Recognized as a Leader in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for CPaaS for the third year in a row, reinforcing its industry dominance.

Who Owns Twilio: Major Shareholders

Twilio is a publicly traded company, listed on the NYSE under the ticker TWLO following its successful IPO in June 2016, where it raised roughly $130 million. Its ownership structure is typical of many tech firms. Institutional investors control most of the stock, giving them significant sway in governance and strategic direction. Founders and insiders retain meaningful stakes, aligning leadership with shareholder interests. Retail investors own a much smaller portion.

Below is a list of the top shareholders of Twilio as of August 2025:

Vanguard Group, Inc.

Vanguard is Twilio’s largest shareholder, holding around 14.9 million shares, which equals nearly 10% ownership. As one of the world’s leading asset managers, Vanguard’s involvement is primarily through its index funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

This means millions of individual investors indirectly own Twilio through retirement accounts or diversified stock funds. Vanguard’s passive investment style makes it a stabilizing force. While it does not actively push for changes, its voting power in board elections and governance matters makes it one of the most influential players in Twilio’s decision-making.

BlackRock, Inc.

BlackRock owns about 12.1 million shares of Twilio, giving it close to 8% of the company. Known as the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock holds Twilio stock across actively managed funds and passive ETFs.

Its position provides Twilio with credibility among global investors, as BlackRock’s involvement signals confidence in the company’s ability to grow within the technology sector. BlackRock frequently participates in shareholder votes and engages with management on issues such as governance and sustainability.

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

JPMorgan holds nearly 9.2 million shares, representing about 6% ownership in Twilio. As one of the largest U.S. financial institutions, JPMorgan’s stake is both strategic and financial. The bank invests in Twilio through its large-cap growth funds and wealth management products.

Its influence goes beyond passive ownership, as it often participates in financing discussions and brings a global perspective on Twilio’s role in customer engagement and cloud communication markets.

State Street Global Advisors

State Street owns approximately 4 million shares of Twilio, which is close to 3% of the company. Its holdings are largely through its SPDR ETF family, which is widely used by both retail and institutional investors. State Street’s role is primarily passive, but its consistent ownership demonstrates long-term support for Twilio.

As one of the “big three” asset managers alongside Vanguard and BlackRock, State Street’s influence in governance matters is significant, even if it rarely pushes for activist changes.

Sachem Head Capital Management LP

Sachem Head owns about 3.3 million shares, giving it just over 2% of Twilio. Unlike passive investors, Sachem Head is an activist hedge fund. This means it takes a more aggressive role in seeking changes to improve profitability and shareholder returns.

Its involvement in Twilio signals pressure for cost discipline, governance reform, and strategic adjustments. Activist investors like Sachem Head often push management to streamline operations or shift direction to unlock value for shareholders.

Jericho Capital Asset Management L.P.

Jericho Capital owns roughly 2.9 million shares, around 2% of the company. Known for focusing on technology and high-growth businesses, Jericho’s investment reflects confidence in Twilio’s positioning within AI-driven communications and customer engagement platforms.

While not typically activist, Jericho is considered an influential institutional investor that monitors performance closely and adjusts its stake based on market and strategic developments.

Arrowstreet Capital LP

Arrowstreet Capital holds approximately 2.7 million shares, representing a little over 2% of Twilio. As a quantitative investment firm, its strategy is driven by data models and algorithms rather than traditional stock-picking. Arrowstreet’s ownership signals that Twilio remains attractive to institutional investors looking for strong technology exposure.

Although Arrowstreet does not engage in corporate activism, its large funds contribute to Twilio’s liquidity and market stability.

Other Institutional Investors

Beyond the top holders, other institutional investors collectively own around 78 million shares, which accounts for over half of Twilio’s total ownership. This group includes pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and diversified asset managers. Their combined presence reinforces institutional dominance in Twilio’s shareholder base, giving them substantial influence over governance, long-term direction, and capital allocation decisions.

Mutual Funds & ETFs

Mutual funds and ETFs represent about 53.2 million shares, equal to nearly 35% of Twilio. Some of the largest fund holders include the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF, Vanguard Small-Cap ETF, JPMorgan Large Cap Growth Fund, and the Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global.

This means millions of everyday investors indirectly hold Twilio shares through retirement accounts, mutual funds, and ETF investments. Their participation ensures that Twilio’s ownership base extends well beyond Wall Street institutions.

Jeff Lawson

Jeff Lawson, Twilio’s co-founder and former CEO, continues to hold about 6 million shares, nearly 4% of the company. Despite stepping down as CEO, Lawson’s ownership demonstrates his ongoing belief in Twilio’s potential.

His stake makes him the largest individual insider shareholder, giving him considerable influence even without a day-to-day executive role. Lawson’s continued involvement ensures that Twilio’s founding vision still plays a role in shaping its future.

Byron B. Deeter

Byron Deeter, an early insider and board member, owns around 3.6 million shares, equal to about 2.3% of Twilio. As a prominent venture capitalist with strong ties to technology investments, Deeter provides both governance oversight and industry expertise.

His role as a long-term investor aligns his interests with other shareholders, ensuring continued commitment to Twilio’s success.

Andrew Stafman

Andrew Stafman owns roughly 3.3 million shares, representing a little over 2% of Twilio. As another significant insider, his holdings highlight the strong alignment between management and shareholders. Stafman’s stake ensures that leadership maintains a direct financial interest in Twilio’s performance and long-term growth.

Other Insiders

Other executives and insiders collectively own around 10% of Twilio. This insider ownership ensures that the leadership team has “skin in the game” and shares the same incentives as outside investors. Insider ownership is often seen as a positive signal, as it ties executive wealth directly to company performance.

Retail Investors & Public Shareholders

Retail investors and smaller shareholders own about 22.2 million shares, which represents nearly 15% of Twilio. While they do not have the same influence as institutional holders, retail investors are critical in providing liquidity and market participation. Their confidence and long-term support also contribute to Twilio’s stability as a public company.

Who is the CEO of Twilio?

Khozema Shipchandler stepped into the role of Chief Executive Officer in January 2024. He succeeded co-founder Jeff Lawson, who stepped down as both CEO and board member. At the same time, the board appointed Jeff Epstein as its new Chair. This transition marked a pivotal leadership shift for the company as it pushed toward renewed growth and profitability

Upon his appointment, Shipchandler also joined Twilio’s Board of Directors, reinforcing his influence over both operational and strategic decisions. His ascension was supported by the board’s confidence in his ability to shepherd Twilio through its next growth phase, balancing innovation with financial discipline.

Internal Career Progression at Twilio

Shipchandler’s rise to CEO was not abrupt. He previously held significant leadership roles at Twilio, including Chief Financial Officer (from 2018 to 2021), Chief Operating Officer (2021 to March 2023), and President of Twilio Communications (from March 2023). These roles gave him deep operational, financial, and customer-facing experience across the company.

Industry and GE Background

Before joining Twilio, Shipchandler built over two decades of experience at General Electric. At GE, he led operations and financial strategy in the aviation and industrial internet sectors, and also contributed to regional growth strategies in the Middle East and Asia. This background gave him a strong foundation in operational excellence and global business execution.

Leadership Vision and Strategic Priorities

Shipchandler’s leadership is focused on three core priorities. First, he has emphasized financial discipline, returning the company to profitability. He has also prioritized operational rigor, ensuring smoother scaling and tighter execution.

Finally, he champions innovation, particularly around AI, personalization, and data-driven customer engagement. Under his watch, Twilio has shifted toward a more sustainable and efficiency-oriented business model.

Thought Leadership & Market Position

As of mid-2025, Shipchandler helms a company with a valuation exceeding $15 billion. He regularly influences the industry’s perspective on AI-driven customer interaction. He frequently appears at industry events to discuss how brands can embed contextual and personalized communications into every customer touchpoint. This reinforces his role not just as CEO, but as a strategic industry thought leader.

Twilio Annual Revenue and Net Worth

As of 2025, Twilio has reinforced its position as one of the leading cloud communications companies by reporting consistent revenue growth and moving toward profitability. The company generated nearly $4.73 billion in revenue over the last twelve months, showing solid double-digit growth compared to 2024.

Twilio’s market capitalization, which reflects its net worth, ranges between $15.5 billion and $16.3 billion as of August 2025. These figures highlight both the company’s strong financial performance and the confidence investors continue to place in its long-term business model.

Here’s an overview of the historical revenue and net worth of Twilio from 2015-25:

Annual Revenue

In the first half of 2025, Twilio achieved strong revenue growth that reflects both resilience and momentum in its core business. In Q1, the company reported total revenue of approximately $1.17 billion, marking a year-over-year increase of around 12 percent. In Q2, revenue grew even more robustly to roughly $1.23 billion, a gain of about 13 percent compared to the same period a year earlier. The growth was driven largely by expansion in its communications services, while its customer data segment contributed steadily to the top line.

Looking at the full trailing twelve-month period ending June 2025, Twilio recorded nearly $4.73 billion in revenue. This figure represents an encouraging year-over-year increase of around 11.5 percent compared to the 2024 total, which stood at roughly $4.46 billion. Overall, Twilio continues to demonstrate consistent demand in its messaging, voice, and customer engagement platform offerings, while also benefiting from innovation-driven customer cross-sell and upsell activities.

Return to Profitability

For much of its history, Twilio operated with GAAP losses as it prioritized growth and product investment over short-term profits. The first half of 2025 marks a turning point: Q1 produced a GAAP operating income of $23 million, a notable turnaround from an operating loss in the prior year. Q2 continued this positive trajectory with a GAAP operating income of $37 million. Importantly, cross the first six months of the year, the company achieved a net income of $42 million, reversing previous net losses and signaling a meaningful shift toward profitability.

Net Worth

The net worth of Twilio—as measured by market capitalization—provides a real-time estimate of how the market values its future prospects. As of January 1, 2025, Twilio’s market cap stood at approximately $17.4 billion, reflecting elevated investor confidence at the start of the year.

By late August, this value had settled between $15.8 billion and $16.3 billion, depending on the source—translating to a valuation range of $15.5 billion to $16.3 billion, which reflects a slight pullback but still substantial corporate worth in mid-2025.

Companies Owned by Twilio

Twilio has grown into a leading cloud communications platform by building its own services and strategically acquiring companies that strengthen its portfolio. Over the years, it has expanded into areas like customer engagement, email APIs, security, and contact center solutions.

Below are the major companies, brands, and acquisitions owned and operated by Twilio as of 2025:

Segment

Twilio acquired Segment in 2020 for approximately $3.2 billion. Segment is one of the world’s most advanced customer data platforms (CDPs). It helps businesses collect, unify, and activate customer data across multiple channels. Segment has become a cornerstone of Twilio’s strategy, allowing companies to personalize customer engagement more effectively. By 2025, Segment remains a fully integrated business within Twilio and contributes significantly to its enterprise offerings.

SendGrid

SendGrid was acquired by Twilio in 2019 in a $2 billion all-stock deal. SendGrid provides cloud-based email delivery and marketing solutions. It has become a critical part of Twilio’s customer engagement suite, enabling companies to send billions of transactional and marketing emails reliably each month. As of 2025, SendGrid continues to operate under the Twilio umbrella, and its email API is widely used by startups and large enterprises alike.

Authy

Authy, a two-factor authentication service, was acquired by Twilio in 2015. It provides secure authentication solutions including one-time passcodes, multi-device synchronization, and biometric login support. Authy is a key component of Twilio’s Verify API and broader security offerings. Even in 2025, it remains an independent product under the Twilio brand, widely adopted by businesses needing secure authentication for customers and employees.

Boku Carrier Identity

In 2022, Twilio expanded its Verify API capabilities by acquiring assets from Boku’s Carrier Identity division. This acquisition bolstered Twilio’s phone verification and fraud prevention technologies. By 2025, the acquisition has been fully integrated into Twilio Verify, providing stronger tools for preventing account takeovers and enhancing mobile identity security.

Zipwhip

Twilio acquired Zipwhip in 2021 for approximately $850 million. Zipwhip specialized in enabling businesses to send and receive SMS messages from their existing landline, VoIP, or toll-free phone numbers. After the acquisition, Twilio integrated Zipwhip’s technology into its Messaging API offerings. Although the standalone Zipwhip brand has been sunset, its technology continues to power parts of Twilio’s SMS and messaging infrastructure in 2025.

Kurento

Twilio acquired the team and technology behind Kurento in 2016 to boost its Programmable Video platform. Kurento was an open-source WebRTC media server project. This acquisition allowed Twilio to scale its video calling and conferencing services. By 2025, Twilio Video still leverages Kurento’s legacy to serve businesses in healthcare, education, and remote work solutions.

Ionic Security

Twilio quietly acquired Ionic Security in 2021, a company focused on data security and policy automation. The acquisition strengthened Twilio’s security-first approach to customer engagement. In 2025, parts of Ionic’s technology are embedded in Twilio’s compliance and security offerings, ensuring enterprise-grade trust and data governance across its cloud communication services.

Telesign (Historical Integration)

Although Twilio did not directly acquire Telesign, it absorbed some of its competitive technologies by integrating similar verification tools through its acquisitions. Telesign’s overlap helped Twilio refine its approach to messaging and verification services, influencing later acquisitions like Boku Carrier Identity.

Twilio Flex

Twilio Flex is not an acquired company but a flagship product built in-house. It is a programmable contact center platform launched in 2018. Unlike traditional contact center software, Flex allows businesses to fully customize their customer support operations. As of 2025, Flex is one of Twilio’s fastest-growing offerings, widely used by enterprises that need scalable, cloud-based customer support systems.

Twilio.org

Twilio.org is the company’s social impact arm. It operates under Twilio’s umbrella and provides communication tools to nonprofits and social enterprises at discounted rates. By 2025, Twilio.org has supported thousands of organizations worldwide, reinforcing Twilio’s brand as a purpose-driven company.

Kustomer.ai

In 2024, Twilio made a strategic move by acquiring assets of Kustomer.ai, an AI-driven customer support platform. This strengthened Twilio Flex and its broader customer engagement cloud with advanced automation, conversational AI, and intelligent customer support solutions.

Electric Imp

Twilio acquired Electric Imp, an IoT connectivity platform, in 2020. This helped expand Twilio’s footprint into the Internet of Things by offering developers tools to securely connect devices to cloud applications. While the standalone branding has faded, its technology continues to live inside Twilio’s IoT offerings.

Beepsend

Twilio acquired Beepsend, a Sweden-based messaging company, in 2017. This acquisition gave Twilio deeper carrier relationships in Europe and strengthened its global SMS delivery network. It continues to underpin Twilio’s messaging infrastructure.

Core Network Dynamics

Also in 2017, Twilio acquired Core Network Dynamics, a Berlin-based mobile communications company. This enhanced Twilio’s programmable wireless and IoT connectivity business by allowing enterprises to set up custom mobile networks.

Ytica

In 2018, Twilio purchased Ytica, a workforce optimization and analytics company. Ytica’s tools were integrated into Twilio Flex, giving enterprises advanced analytics for customer engagement and contact center operations.

Final Thoughts

Twilio stands as a strong cloud communications player. Its ownership is firmly in the hands of institutional investors and its own leadership. The company has steady revenue and positive operating income. Its acquisitions help it expand services. Leadership under Khozema Shipchandler is steering Twilio toward growth and profitability.

FAQs

Who owns Twilio?

Twilio is a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol TWLO. It does not have a single private owner. Instead, it is owned by a mix of institutional investors, mutual funds, retail investors, and insiders such as its founders and executives.

Who are the largest shareholders of Twilio?

The largest shareholders of Twilio as of August 2025 include The Vanguard Group, BlackRock, Baillie Gifford, Morgan Stanley, ARK Invest, and State Street. Co-founder Jeff Lawson also remains a significant insider shareholder.

What share does Jeff Lawson own of Twilio?

Jeff Lawson, Twilio’s co-founder and former CEO, owns approximately 4.9 million shares of Twilio as of 2025, translating to around 2.6% ownership in the company. Despite stepping down as CEO in 2024, he retains influence as a major insider shareholder.

Who is the owner of Twilio?

No single person or entity owns Twilio outright. As a public company, its ownership is shared among institutional investors, retail shareholders, and insiders.

How does Twilio make money?

Twilio makes money through its cloud communication services that allow developers and companies to build messaging, voice, video, authentication, and email features directly into their applications. Revenue streams come from usage-based fees, subscription plans, API integrations, and customer engagement platforms such as Twilio Flex, SendGrid, and Segment.

Who is the founder of Twilio?

Twilio was founded in 2008 by Jeff Lawson, Evan Cooke, and John Wolthuis. Jeff Lawson, a serial entrepreneur and former Amazon Web Services engineer, is the most well-known of the three and served as CEO until 2024.

What is Twilio used for?

Twilio is used for customer communication and engagement. Companies use its APIs to send SMS, emails, push notifications, voice calls, and video calls. It is also widely used for two-factor authentication (2FA), marketing automation, call center solutions, and customer data platforms.

Where’s Twilio’s headquarters?

Twilio is headquartered in San Francisco, California, USA. The company also operates offices in Europe, Asia, and other U.S. locations to support its global client base.

Is Twilio a phone company?

Twilio is not a traditional phone company. Instead, it is a cloud communications platform that works with telecom carriers to provide businesses with voice, SMS, and other communication services via APIs.

Who bought Twilio?

As of 2025, no company has bought Twilio. It continues to operate as an independent publicly traded firm.

Does Salesforce own Twilio?

No, Salesforce does not own Twilio. Salesforce has been a customer of Twilio and has occasionally integrated Twilio’s services, but it does not hold ownership.

Is Twilio a Chinese company?

No, Twilio is an American company founded and headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Is Twilio an Indian company?

No, Twilio is not an Indian company. However, it has operations and clients in India.

What big companies use Twilio?

Many global enterprises use Twilio’s services, including Uber, Airbnb, WhatsApp, DoorDash, Netflix, Lyft, Instacart, and Salesforce. These companies rely on Twilio for SMS alerts, authentication, and customer engagement.

How many employees are at Twilio?

As of mid-2025, Twilio has approximately 6,400 employees worldwide after several restructuring and efficiency efforts in 2023–2024.

Is Uber a client of Twilio?

Yes, Uber is one of Twilio’s longest-standing and most high-profile clients. Uber uses Twilio for SMS alerts, driver-rider communication, and identity verification.

Who owns SendGrid?

SendGrid, the popular email API platform, is owned by Twilio. Twilio acquired SendGrid in 2019 for $2 billion to strengthen its email communications offerings.