In an evolving market, businesses often discover their potential only when the demand arises. Linq, a startup from Birmingham, Alabama, initially launched as a digital business card and lead capture tool for sales teams. However, after several iterations, the company found its niche last year by enhancing customer communication through advanced messaging options like iMessage and RCS.
While Apple has already provided a platform for businesses to connect with customers through its Messages for Business service, and Twilio has established a substantial business in customer messaging, users typically recognize when they are interacting with a business due to the distinguishable text colors and branding.
To address this, Linq's clients expressed a desire to send blue-bubble messages, which convey a sense of authenticity in their communications. Responding to this feedback, the startup, founded by former Shipt executives Elliott Potter (CEO), Patrick Sullivan (CTO), and Jared Mattsson (President), launched an API in February 2025. This innovation allows businesses to communicate natively within iMessage, utilizing the full suite of features available to iPhone users, including group chats, emojis, and voice notes. Within just eight months, Linq doubled its annual recurring revenue, as reported by co-founder and CEO Elliott Potter.
With the rise of AI agents, Linq recognized an opportunity to expand its market reach. The company was inspired by the launch of an AI assistant called Poke, which can manage tasks and schedule events through iMessage. This prompted Linq to shift its focus towards the burgeoning AI market.
Potter recounted how the Interaction Company of California approached them, expressing a desire to use Linq's API for their AI assistant, despite lacking a CRM system. Following the viral success of Poke, Linq experienced a surge in requests for its messaging API, leading many AI companies to seek integration with iMessage, RCS, and SMS.
Linq faced a pivotal decision: to continue serving its established B2B clients or to pivot towards becoming a foundational technology provider for the AI sector. Potter explained, "We cherish our sales customers, but we had to decide whether to remain a spoke in the wheel or become the hub, focusing on being the infrastructure for various programmatic messaging applications."
The startup believes that consumers are experiencing app fatigue. With Linq's technology, users can interact with AI assistants without needing additional apps, as these can be integrated within existing messaging platforms. Developers can also streamline their efforts by creating solutions tailored for messaging-native interfaces.
"Poke.com and similar platforms have demonstrated that AI has reached a level of sophistication where traditional apps are no longer necessary," Potter noted. "What's essential is an interface that allows users to communicate with a capable AI and provide feedback."
After its pivot, Linq reported a remarkable 132% growth in its customer base from the previous quarter, with an average account expansion of 34%. The platform now supports AI agents that engage with 134,000 monthly active users, facilitating over 30 million messages each month and achieving an impressive net revenue retention of 295% without any churn.
To further advance its technology, Linq announced a successful $20 million Series A funding round led by TQ Ventures, with participation from Mucker Capital and several angel investors. The funds will be utilized to expand the team, refine their market strategy, and continue enhancing their technology. However, Linq's operations currently rely on Apple's platform, and the future remains uncertain regarding potential restrictions from Apple on third-party AI chatbot integrations.
Despite this, Potter envisions a broader future for Linq beyond messaging. "Our goal is to create a comprehensive platform for conversational technology that transcends a few channels. Currently, we support programmatic voice, iMessage, RCS, and SMS, but our ambition is to ensure that businesses can engage with customers across various platforms, including Slack, email, Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, and Signal," he stated.
"By making AI-to-human communication as seamless as texting a friend, Linq is paving the way for a new wave of companies," remarked Andrew Marks, co-founding Partner of TQ Ventures. "The founding team at Linq is exceptional, and we are confident in their ability to capitalize on this significant opportunity."