Twilio chief: 'Machine learning has changed the game'

When a text arrives from an Uber driver, a password message from Netflix, or an SMS regarding an Airbnb booking, these were created by developers using a communications platform called Twilio. Founded in 2008 by its chief executive, Jeff Lawson, Twilio was given a "unicorn" billion dollar valuation by private investors, even before its IPO in 2016. The 800-strong business services more than 40,000 clients, although the bulk of its revenue is servicing the needs of its fellow San Francisco tech giants. Mr Lawson believes that the firm has often succeeded against the odds, particularly when raising money amidst the chaos of the financial crisis. "We pitched to a slew of venture capitalist firms to raise money before launching. One meeting happened on the day Lehman Brothers collapsed. You can bet that didn't go well," he says.