Announcing Twilio’s AI Startup Searchlight 2.0 Awards Program

Announcing Twilio’s AI Startup Searchlight 2.0 Awards Program

We love helping builders and developers use large-language models (LLMs), generative artificial intelligence, and big data—in combination with Twilio—to illuminate the future of communications and customer engagement. In fact, Twilio proudly enables startups to use communications and data to add intelligence to every step of the customer journey. 

With Twilio’s AI Startup Searchlight 2.0 Awards Program, we’re searching for startups that are at the forefront of innovation with these emerging technologies and Twilio. Startups that apply and are honored as winners will be featured online by Twilio, awarded credits, and more!

How to apply—or be nominated for—Twilio’s AI Startup Searchlight 2.0 Awards Program

Startups can apply directly or be nominated for Twilio’s AI Startup Searchlight 2.0 Awards Program. We are looking to celebrate and feature startups across the globe that: 

• Can demonstrate how they are using emerging technologies (e.g., LLMs, Generative AI, Big Data) and Twilio creatively on channels—such as Voice, Email, WhatsApp, Conversations, or SMS—to enhance communications and customer experiences for their end users

• Have a product in the market, or a working demo of the solution they have built that leverages Twilio to enhance end user experiences

• Have raised less than $200M in venture funding

What do honorees get?

The 12 Twilio AI Startup Searchlight 2.0 honorees will:

• Be featured online by Twilio and a leading technology media outlet to celebrate their startup and the milestones they have achieved

• Receive $10,000 USD in one time Twilio credits

• Receive a $5,000 USD one time Apple Gift card 

• Have the opportunity for their startups to potentially be featured on the Twilio Marketplace

• Gain the opportunity to collaborate on future co-marketing initiatives with Twilio

   

Who will be the judges?

We have gathered the following industry experts to help us identify the standout startups that are illuminating the future of communications and customer engagement with emerging technologies and Twilio:

• Thomas Wyatt, President of Twilio Segment
• Inbal Shani, Chief Product Officer at Twilio
• Vanessa Thompson, Vice President of Marketing at Twilio
• Chiara Massironi, Head of Twilio’s Developer Network 
• Nnamdi Iregbulem, Investment Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners

When do startups need to apply or be nominated by?

Here’s the timeline for Twilio’s AI Startup Searchlight 2.0 Awards Program:

• Nominations close on Sunday, September 29, 2024

• The judging process takes place throughout October 2024

• Honorees will be announced in November 2024

What kind of startups have won in the past?

Here are some past honorees and some of the ways they’ve used artificial intelligence in combination with Twilio have included:

• Arist -> combines AI with Twilio’s Programmable Messaging and WhatsApp services to build a content creation assistant that reduces administrative work in facilitating employee learning and education

• FleetWorks -> uses Twilio's Voice, interactive voice response (IVR), and SIP Trunking products to automate phone calls, emails, and live order issue handling for the coordination of freight movement and logistics management 

• Milo -> uses Twilio Programmable Messaging to make managing the daily reminders, logistics and details as simple as having a conversation by text

• Next Order -> automates customer interactions and helps restaurants put customer service first with their leading AI assistant and Twilio, including Programmable Messaging, Email API, Voice, IVR, and SIP Trunking

• Rely Health -> leverages Twilio's Email API, Voice, IVR, SIP Trunking, and AI to seamlessly integrate a cutting-edge AI Patient Relationship Suite, fostering hybrid human-AI conversational experiences

• Smith.ai -> relies on Twilio's Programmable Messaging, Voice, and Conference to deliver 24/7/365 service with remarkable uptime, automate its entire workflow, and bolster agent productivity

For more information, or to view our FAQs, please visit our Twilio’s AI Startup Searchlight 2.0 Awards Program web page. We can't wait to see what you're building!