Sinch launches with $12m funding

Sinch has launched its communications platform with $12 million in funding. Investors include Index Ventures and Balderton Capital.

PRESS RELEASE

Sinch today announced the launch of its communications platform enabling iOS and Android developers to add a layer of voice and messaging to their apps, for free or at fraction of the cost of competitors. Sinch provides developers with the tools to capitalize on the massive demand among consumers for mobile communication features within apps. The service features the industry’s easiest implementation and can be integrated into an app in 15 minutes or less.

Originally incubated within mobile VoIP giant Rebtel as a developer API, Sinch will launch as an independent company with $12 million in funding. The company will benefit from a strong roster of investors including Index Ventures (investor in companies like Facebook, Dropbox and King) and Balderton Capital (whose portfolio includes MySQL and NaturalMotion).

“We plan to democratize in-app communications with Sinch. Rebtel was a pioneer in offering free and super-cheap voice services to consumers, and now Sinch is giving developers the best way to add a free communication layer to their apps,” Sinch CEO Andreas Bernström said. “We anticipate huge growth for our new business over the next 12 months as app development continues its rapid pace, which is the precise reason we felt Sinch deserved its own dedicated staff and focus as standalone company.”

Simple Implementation and Unmatched Affordability

At launch, the mobile-first platform will offer services including free calling, messaging, group messaging, SMS and call termination. Sinch’s goal is to be simplest and most affordable solution for developers looking to add a useful social layer to their apps without compromising on quality. The service targets developers in a broad range of app categories including travel, communications, gaming, social networking, commerce and dating.

Competing services offer either minimal features or have a complicated integration process. Developers can implement Sinch in minutes and as the service’s name implies, it’s a super easy process. Sinch is also the communication platform price leader, charging considerably less than competitors like Twilio.

Greater Demand for Messaging than Ever Before

According to VisionMobile Analyst Andreas Pappas, the app economy is now on pace for $143 billion in revenue by 2016. The market for in-app communications is similarly exploding, as demonstrated by the recent exits of WhatsApp and Viber and Tango’s recent valuation of more than $1 billion.

“Chat and voice are two of the fastest-growing segments of mobile applications, and developers understand they are critical to driving growth and user engagement,” Bernström continued. “The latest round of skyrocketing acquisition prices and valuations in the mobile communications space have shown the importance of mobile voice and messaging. With Sinch, we hope to empower some of the world’s most innovative companies, helping them to create more social and profitable enterprises.”

Sinch has a team of over 40 employees, and the company will maintain offices in Stockholm and San Francisco with plans to hire additional U.S. sales and business development staff.

About Sinch
Sinch gives mobile developers the best way to add communication into their apps. The company’s platform lets developers integrate voice and messaging into their app in minutes with a few lines of code. Sinch has launched as an independent company with $12 million in funding and is based in Stockholm and San Francisco.