Zipwhip
Facts
- HQ
- Seattle, Washington, US
- Sectors
- Software Development
- Founded
- 2007
- Type
- LLC Seattle business license
- Employees
- 20
- Registered name
- Zipwhip LLC Seattle business license
- Stage
- Acquired
- Total raised
- $83M SEC Form D filings Total of this company's SEC Form D filings
- Last round
- $51.5M · Jan 2019 SEC Form D
WTIA launches 2026 Washington Tech Universe Map detailing 625 companies and founder lineages — first update since 2015
The Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) released the 2026 Washington Tech Universe Map on July 27, 2026 — the first update since 2015 — visualizing 625 notable Washington tech companies and the founder lineages linking Microsoft, Amazon, the University of Washington, and new hubs. The wall-sized map organizes companies by founder origin to highlight how major organizations act as launchpads for successive generations of local tech founders.
Seattle Startup Ambassador Acquires Tacoma-based Ad Platform Humming to Enhance AI Customer Engagement
Seattle startup Ambassador acquired Tacoma-based ad platform Humming to integrate its digital ad technology and enhance its AI-driven customer engagement services. Ambassador anticipates more acquisitions amid an AI startup shakeout, leveraging its longstanding proprietary customer data to stay competitive.
Seattle Startup Ambassador Raises $7M to Grow AI-Powered Customer Feedback Platform and Launch HiroAI in 2024
Seattle startup Ambassador raised $7 million to expand its AI-driven software that helps companies analyze customer feedback and manage engagement tools. The funding supports the launch of HiroAI, which aids marketing teams by providing insights and action recommendations to boost retention and revenue.
Seattle Startup Ambassador Recruits Former Zipwhip Leaders, Closes $4.5M Convertible Note to Expand Conversational Commerce
Ambassador, a Seattle-based conversational commerce startup with over 200 clients and $3 million in annual recurring revenue, recently added former Zipwhip leaders to its team to drive growth. The company is closing a $4.5 million convertible note round and aims to leverage AI and messaging technology to enhance customer referral and rewards programs.
Tom Huseby, Founder of SeaPoint Ventures and Seattle Tech Investor, Dies at 76 from Pancreatic Cancer
Tom Huseby, founder of SeaPoint Ventures and longtime Seattle tech investor and advisor, passed away at 76 in June 2024 due to pancreatic cancer. Remembered for his wisdom, wit, and deep kindness, he significantly impacted numerous technology startups over 25 years.
Madrona Adds Jeff Mills as Partner to Lead Silicon Valley Expansion; Nex Hires Former Walmart Execs; Amperity CEO Steps Down
Seattle venture firm Madrona hired Jeff Mills as partner to expand its Silicon Valley presence, while Nex appointed two former Walmart tech leaders, and Amperity's CEO Barry Padgett stepped down. Other Pacific Northwest tech industry moves include leadership changes at Zendesk and Cohesity.
Voyager Capital Targets $100M Sixth Fund to Support Early-Stage B2B Startups in the Pacific Northwest
Voyager Capital is aiming to raise $100 million for its sixth fund to invest in early-stage B2B startups in the Pacific Northwest, targeting software, SaaS, AI, and cloud infrastructure sectors. Founded in 1997, the firm has backed over 75 companies and manages more than $520 million in assets.
GeekWire returns in person for 2022 Awards at Showbox SoDo, honoring 60+ finalists across 15 categories with 16,000+ votes
GeekWire held its first in-person GeekWire Awards in three years at Showbox SoDo in Seattle, honoring 60+ finalists across 15 categories with over 16,000 community votes and appearances by local tech leaders and entertainers.
Yardstick launches browser app for structured job interviews, founded and self-funded by ex-Zipwhip SVP Lucas Price
Seattle startup Yardstick, founded and self-funded by former Zipwhip SVP Lucas Price, launched a browser app today to guide hiring managers through structured interviews and improve consistent, competency-based hiring decisions.
GeekWire: Pacific Northwest records 55 exits and 282 VC deals this year, including Rad Power Bikes’ $154M round
GeekWire reports a surge in deal activity across the Pacific Northwest this year, tracking 55 acquisitions, SPACs, IPOs and private equity buyouts and 282 venture financings (nearly one per day). Notable transactions include Nintendo’s Jan. 5 acquisition of Next Level Games, BitTitan’s sale to Idera, and Rad Power Bikes’ $154 million funding round.
Hiya Adds Salesforce President and CMO Sarah Franklin to Board as User Base Hits 180M
Seattle spam-call blocker Hiya added Salesforce President and CMO Sarah Franklin to its board as it scales enterprise growth, after adding 50 million monthly active users in the past year and serving 180 million users worldwide. The company also appointed Bill McAleer as a board advisor and highlighted more than 115% growth in global enterprise customers.
Twilio acquires Seattle business-texting startup Zipwhip for $850M in cash-and-stock deal
Twilio is acquiring Seattle business-texting startup Zipwhip for about $850 million in a cash-and-stock deal, a transaction that closed on July 14. Zipwhip, founded in 2007, pivoted to enable businesses to send and receive texts from landlines and toll-free numbers, and Twilio says the acquisition advances their shared vision for business messaging.
Rec Room raises $100M, becomes $1.25B Seattle unicorn after pandemic-fueled 566% revenue surge
Seattle-based social gaming startup Rec Room raised $100 million at a $1.25 billion valuation after explosive growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by 15 million lifetime users and a 566% year-over-year revenue increase. The five-year-old company offers cross-platform tools for creating virtual rooms and games, has over 2 million creators, isn’t yet profitable, and plans an Android launch later this year.
Mailchimp acquires Chatitive; CEO Andy Hollenbeck to lead conversational SMS at Mailchimp
Mailchimp has acquired Seattle SMS-marketing startup Chatitive, a Madrona Venture Labs spinout, integrating its team (fewer than 10 employees) and naming CEO Andy Hollenbeck head of conversational SMS; terms were not disclosed.
Qumulo names ex-AWS Janine Corey cloud CTO; Elissa Fink joins Conversica board; Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson joins Amperity board
Seattle startup Qumulo hired Janine Corey as cloud CTO after five years at Amazon Web Services; the company is valued at $1.2 billion and raised $125 million earlier this year. Former Tableau CMO Elissa Fink joined Conversica’s board and Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson joined Amperity’s board, reflecting several executive moves among Seattle-area tech firms.
GeekWire 200 CEO Survey: Most Seattle-Area Startups Report Little or No Pandemic Impact and Plan Hiring
A GeekWire 200 CEO survey of nearly 50 Pacific Northwest startup leaders found most report little or no negative impact from the pandemic, many plan to hire, and significant optimism about the regional economy over the next 18 months.
Qumulo Adds Ex-Tableau CMO Elissa Fink to Board After $125M Raise; Maven COO Co-founder Bill Sornsin Steps Down
Seattle data-storage startup Qumulo added former Tableau CMO Elissa Fink to its board after raising $125 million and reaching a $1.2B+ valuation; separately, Maven COO and co-founder Bill Sornsin stepped down as part of a company realignment.
Zipwhip extends work-from-home through July 2021 after moving into 75,000 sq ft Seattle office in Oct 2019
Seattle startup Zipwhip, which moved into a 75,000-square-foot office in October 2019, is extending its coronavirus-induced work-from-home policy through July 2021 while nearly all of its 250+ employees work remotely. The company provided $500 per employee for home-office setups, keeps the office open for up to 25 people with special needs, and found 80% of employees prefer hybrid schedules.
GeekWire Awards 2020 Goes Virtual; Ally Wins Startup of the Year as Bill Gates and Celebrities Celebrate
GeekWire held a virtual GeekWire Awards livestream honoring top Pacific Northwest tech companies and leaders across 12 categories, with winners accepting via Zoom and special video messages from figures like Bill Gates. Seattle startup Ally won Startup of the Year, and the event included entertainment such as The Drunken Tenorperforming an "Opera di Zoom."
Hiya names Hillery Nye GC and John Novak SVP of Marketing; Unity hires Scott Pitasky; Bellevue College appoints Gary Locke interim president
Seattle caller-ID startup Hiya hired Hillery Nye as general counsel and John Novak as SVP of marketing; Unity Technologies named Scott Pitasky chief people officer. Bellevue College appointed former Washington governor Gary Locke as interim president starting June 15.
Zipwhip hires 17-year-old Avery Wagar as IT systems programmer after he builds Textspresso IV text-enabled coffee robot
Avery Wagar, a junior at Ballard High School, is Zipwhip’s youngest full-time employee who helped develop the Textspresso IV text-enabled robotic coffee machine and was recently hired as an IT systems programmer after joining as a robotics intern. He is also a TA for AP Computer Science, runs his school’s VR club, participates in college classes via Running Start, and has a background of award-winning VR projects.
