Benchmark

Benchmark, established in 1995, is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments. It focuses on technology companies, primarily in the United States, with a particular emphasis on the West Coast. The firm invests in sectors such as enterprise software, mobile, marketplaces, social infrastructure, and consumer services. Benchmark typically invests between $3 million and $15 million per company, often being the first investor. Known for its equal ownership and compensation structure among partners, Benchmark takes a hands-on approach with entrepreneurs, providing strategic guidance and support. Notable portfolio companies include Uber, Snapchat, Tinder, and successful exits like Twitter and Instagram.

Bruce Dunlevie

General Partner

Peter Fenton

General Partner

Bill Gurley

General Partner

Kevin Harvey

Co-Founder and General Partner

Jill Jarrett

CFO

Bob Kagle

Owner and General Partner

Mitch Lasky

Partner

Victor Lazarte

General Partner

Victor Lazarte

General Partner

Chetan Puttagunta

General Partner

Steven Spurlock

Operating Partner

Sarah Tavel

General Partner

Eric Vishria

General Partner

Past deals in Messaging

Towns

Series B in 2025
Towns is an on-chain messaging platform co-founded by the creator of Houseparty and Meerkat.

Towns

Series A in 2024
Towns is an on-chain messaging platform co-founded by the creator of Houseparty and Meerkat.

Here Not There Labs

Venture Round in 2022
Here Not There Labs specializes in developing decentralized communication solutions for online communities. Led by CEO Ben Rubin, the company has created Towns, a protocol and web-based chat application that empowers users to establish self-owned and self-governed environments. Additionally, Here Not There Labs offers an anti-meeting tool that facilitates efficient and decentralized conversations, reducing the need for traditional meetings. This tool connects individuals based on relevant topics, allowing for discussions that are timely and focused, thereby enhancing collaboration among teams. Through these innovations, Here Not There Labs aims to transform how communities interact and collaborate online.

TTYL

Series A in 2021
TTYL is the audio social network, where hanging out with your closest friends is as easy as throwing on headphones. See who's free to talk and jump into conversations with up to 8 of your best friends. If you're the first one online, just background the app and let them jump in your ears!

Confluent

Series D in 2019
Confluent, Inc. is a technology company that specializes in real-time data integration and stream processing, primarily through its platform based on Apache Kafka. The platform enables organizations to access and manage data as real-time streams, facilitating the movement of data from isolated systems into a cohesive data pipeline for immediate action. Confluent's product offerings include Confluent Cloud, a managed streaming service, and various tools such as Confluent Operator for Kubernetes, KSQL for interactive queries, and ksqlDB, an event streaming database. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, Confluent serves a diverse range of sectors including financial services, insurance, retail, automotive, and government. The company generates revenue through subscriptions and services, with a significant portion coming from the United States. Confluent aims to create a centralized data infrastructure that connects applications, systems, and data layers, enabling organizations to leverage real-time insights effectively.

Discord

Series E in 2018
Discord is a communication platform that offers voice, video, and text services, enabling users to connect with friends and communities. Originally designed for gamers, it has evolved to serve a broader audience, including local clubs, art groups, and study sessions. The platform supports voice-over-internet protocol and texting, ensuring seamless communication across desktops and mobile devices. This versatility allows users to engage in conversations and activities without compromising performance, particularly for gamers who require uninterrupted communication while playing. Discord's focus on community interaction has made it a popular choice for diverse groups seeking to collaborate and socialize online.

Confluent

Series C in 2017
Confluent, Inc. is a technology company that specializes in real-time data integration and stream processing, primarily through its platform based on Apache Kafka. The platform enables organizations to access and manage data as real-time streams, facilitating the movement of data from isolated systems into a cohesive data pipeline for immediate action. Confluent's product offerings include Confluent Cloud, a managed streaming service, and various tools such as Confluent Operator for Kubernetes, KSQL for interactive queries, and ksqlDB, an event streaming database. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, Confluent serves a diverse range of sectors including financial services, insurance, retail, automotive, and government. The company generates revenue through subscriptions and services, with a significant portion coming from the United States. Confluent aims to create a centralized data infrastructure that connects applications, systems, and data layers, enabling organizations to leverage real-time insights effectively.

Discord

Series D in 2017
Discord is a communication platform that offers voice, video, and text services, enabling users to connect with friends and communities. Originally designed for gamers, it has evolved to serve a broader audience, including local clubs, art groups, and study sessions. The platform supports voice-over-internet protocol and texting, ensuring seamless communication across desktops and mobile devices. This versatility allows users to engage in conversations and activities without compromising performance, particularly for gamers who require uninterrupted communication while playing. Discord's focus on community interaction has made it a popular choice for diverse groups seeking to collaborate and socialize online.

Marco Polo

Series B in 2016
Marco Polo is a video communication application that aims to enhance connections among friends and family. It provides users with high-quality video capabilities combined with the ease of text messaging, facilitating both one-to-one and group conversations. This platform enables individuals to stay connected in a meaningful and convenient manner, making it easier to maintain relationships regardless of distance.

Zenly

Series B in 2016
Zenly is a technology company that develops a free, real-time location-sharing smartphone application, available on iOS and Android platforms. It enables users to see where their friends and family are on a private, interactive map, simplifying coordination and communication among social circles. The app also offers an in-app messaging feature to facilitate social interaction alongside location sharing.

Discord

Series C in 2016
Discord is a communication platform that offers voice, video, and text services, enabling users to connect with friends and communities. Originally designed for gamers, it has evolved to serve a broader audience, including local clubs, art groups, and study sessions. The platform supports voice-over-internet protocol and texting, ensuring seamless communication across desktops and mobile devices. This versatility allows users to engage in conversations and activities without compromising performance, particularly for gamers who require uninterrupted communication while playing. Discord's focus on community interaction has made it a popular choice for diverse groups seeking to collaborate and socialize online.

Quip

Series B in 2015
Quip is a living document platform that combines docs, spreadsheets, and communication all in one to help teams get work done faster and smarter. Enabling a frictionless workflow for creating and iterating on living documents, Quip was built for the way people work today -- across a variety of devices and locations. Quip's simple interface combines documents and messages into a single chat-like "thread" of updates, making collaboration immediate and easy. Quip lets you work with people, not files. Some of Quip's customers include Facebook, New Relic, Instacart, Al Jazeera, Product Hunt, and Pinterest, among others. Quip was founded in 2012 by Bret Taylor and Kevin Gibbs. Bret and Kevin have created and worked on some of the world's most widely-used tech products, including Google Maps, Google App Engine and Facebook. Quip is headquartered in San Francisco, CA.

Confluent

Series B in 2015
Confluent, Inc. is a technology company that specializes in real-time data integration and stream processing, primarily through its platform based on Apache Kafka. The platform enables organizations to access and manage data as real-time streams, facilitating the movement of data from isolated systems into a cohesive data pipeline for immediate action. Confluent's product offerings include Confluent Cloud, a managed streaming service, and various tools such as Confluent Operator for Kubernetes, KSQL for interactive queries, and ksqlDB, an event streaming database. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, Confluent serves a diverse range of sectors including financial services, insurance, retail, automotive, and government. The company generates revenue through subscriptions and services, with a significant portion coming from the United States. Confluent aims to create a centralized data infrastructure that connects applications, systems, and data layers, enabling organizations to leverage real-time insights effectively.

Discord

Series B in 2015
Discord is a communication platform that offers voice, video, and text services, enabling users to connect with friends and communities. Originally designed for gamers, it has evolved to serve a broader audience, including local clubs, art groups, and study sessions. The platform supports voice-over-internet protocol and texting, ensuring seamless communication across desktops and mobile devices. This versatility allows users to engage in conversations and activities without compromising performance, particularly for gamers who require uninterrupted communication while playing. Discord's focus on community interaction has made it a popular choice for diverse groups seeking to collaborate and socialize online.

Confluent

Series A in 2014
Confluent, Inc. is a technology company that specializes in real-time data integration and stream processing, primarily through its platform based on Apache Kafka. The platform enables organizations to access and manage data as real-time streams, facilitating the movement of data from isolated systems into a cohesive data pipeline for immediate action. Confluent's product offerings include Confluent Cloud, a managed streaming service, and various tools such as Confluent Operator for Kubernetes, KSQL for interactive queries, and ksqlDB, an event streaming database. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, Confluent serves a diverse range of sectors including financial services, insurance, retail, automotive, and government. The company generates revenue through subscriptions and services, with a significant portion coming from the United States. Confluent aims to create a centralized data infrastructure that connects applications, systems, and data layers, enabling organizations to leverage real-time insights effectively.

Highlight

Series A in 2013
Highlight is a mobile application designed to facilitate social connections among users in their vicinity. The app notifies users when they are in close proximity to others who share mutual friends or interests on Facebook, allowing for potential interactions. Users receive push notifications when they come within a few blocks of these individuals, enabling them to message each other. The app's homescreen features a reverse chronological list of people the user has encountered, enhancing the experience of discovering and engaging with nearby acquaintances. Highlight aims to foster a sense of community and connection in urban environments by leveraging social media networks.

Discord

Series A in 2013
Discord is a communication platform that offers voice, video, and text services, enabling users to connect with friends and communities. Originally designed for gamers, it has evolved to serve a broader audience, including local clubs, art groups, and study sessions. The platform supports voice-over-internet protocol and texting, ensuring seamless communication across desktops and mobile devices. This versatility allows users to engage in conversations and activities without compromising performance, particularly for gamers who require uninterrupted communication while playing. Discord's focus on community interaction has made it a popular choice for diverse groups seeking to collaborate and socialize online.

Quip

Series A in 2013
Quip is a living document platform that combines docs, spreadsheets, and communication all in one to help teams get work done faster and smarter. Enabling a frictionless workflow for creating and iterating on living documents, Quip was built for the way people work today -- across a variety of devices and locations. Quip's simple interface combines documents and messages into a single chat-like "thread" of updates, making collaboration immediate and easy. Quip lets you work with people, not files. Some of Quip's customers include Facebook, New Relic, Instacart, Al Jazeera, Product Hunt, and Pinterest, among others. Quip was founded in 2012 by Bret Taylor and Kevin Gibbs. Bret and Kevin have created and worked on some of the world's most widely-used tech products, including Google Maps, Google App Engine and Facebook. Quip is headquartered in San Francisco, CA.

Snap

Series B in 2013
Snap Inc., established in 2010, is a global camera company headquartered in Santa Monica, California. It operates primarily through its flagship product, Snapchat, a multimedia messaging application renowned for its ephemeral nature, allowing users to send and share photos, videos, and messages that disappear after viewing. Snapchat offers a range of creative features, including filters, lenses, augmented reality experiences, and Stories, which enable users to create and share content with friends or a broader audience. The platform also includes Discover, providing access to original content from publishers and creators, and Memories, allowing users to save and revisit their Snaps. In addition to its software offerings, Snap Inc. has ventured into hardware with Spectacles, wearable cameras that capture first-person perspective content and sync with Snapchat. The company generates nearly all its revenue from advertising, with North America being its largest market despite only accounting for a quarter of its user base. As of 2023, Snapchat boasts over 400 million daily active users.

Snap

Series A in 2013
Snap Inc., established in 2010, is a global camera company headquartered in Santa Monica, California. It operates primarily through its flagship product, Snapchat, a multimedia messaging application renowned for its ephemeral nature, allowing users to send and share photos, videos, and messages that disappear after viewing. Snapchat offers a range of creative features, including filters, lenses, augmented reality experiences, and Stories, which enable users to create and share content with friends or a broader audience. The platform also includes Discover, providing access to original content from publishers and creators, and Memories, allowing users to save and revisit their Snaps. In addition to its software offerings, Snap Inc. has ventured into hardware with Spectacles, wearable cameras that capture first-person perspective content and sync with Snapchat. The company generates nearly all its revenue from advertising, with North America being its largest market despite only accounting for a quarter of its user base. As of 2023, Snapchat boasts over 400 million daily active users.

Biba

Series A in 2013
Biba Systems, Inc. is a mobile-first business application provider based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2011. The company specializes in offering a comprehensive platform for conference calling and messaging services, enabling seamless communication for businesses. Biba's integrated application allows users to connect instantly with their teams, facilitating online meetings, video calls, screen-sharing, and business chats across various devices and organizations. By addressing common communication challenges, Biba aims to enhance collaboration and efficiency in the workplace. As of December 31, 2015, Biba operates as a subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc.

Zendesk

Series D in 2012
Zendesk, established in 2007, is a leading customer service platform that develops and provides cloud-based software solutions. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Zendesk empowers organizations to enhance customer engagement and understanding by offering a unified, multi-channel customer communication system. Its software, easy to use and implement, enables businesses to scale quickly, focus on innovation, and serve over 150,000 customers across diverse industries and languages.

Highlight

Seed Round in 2012
Highlight is a mobile application designed to facilitate social connections among users in their vicinity. The app notifies users when they are in close proximity to others who share mutual friends or interests on Facebook, allowing for potential interactions. Users receive push notifications when they come within a few blocks of these individuals, enabling them to message each other. The app's homescreen features a reverse chronological list of people the user has encountered, enhancing the experience of discovering and engaging with nearby acquaintances. Highlight aims to foster a sense of community and connection in urban environments by leveraging social media networks.

Zendesk

Series C in 2010
Zendesk, established in 2007, is a leading customer service platform that develops and provides cloud-based software solutions. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Zendesk empowers organizations to enhance customer engagement and understanding by offering a unified, multi-channel customer communication system. Its software, easy to use and implement, enables businesses to scale quickly, focus on innovation, and serve over 150,000 customers across diverse industries and languages.

Vivox

Series C in 2010
Vivox, Inc. is a communication technology company based in Natick, Massachusetts, specializing in voice and messaging applications tailored for online gaming and social networking environments. Founded in 2003, Vivox provides an integrated voice platform that allows users to communicate seamlessly while engaging in games or social interactions. Its flagship offerings include C3, which grants control and access for publishers and studios, and Integrated Voice, facilitating real-time communication among players. The company partners with game and social publishers to enhance user engagement through voice services, while also generating revenue through audio advertisements and virtual goods. With over 45 million users across more than 200 countries, Vivox enables the exchange of over three billion voice chat minutes monthly, fostering natural and immersive interactions in digital spaces. Vivox operates as a subsidiary of Unity Technologies, enhancing its reach and capabilities in the gaming industry.

Demandforce

Venture Round in 2010
Demandforce, Inc. is a provider of marketing automation and reputation management solutions primarily serving the dental, medical, spa, salon, automotive, optometry, and veterinary industries. Founded in 2003 and based in San Francisco, California, the company specializes in software-as-a-service applications designed to enhance customer engagement, streamline operations, and drive revenue growth for small businesses. Its flagship product, Demandforce D3, facilitates communication through automated emails, text messaging, and online services, connecting clients to over 18 million end consumers. Key features include appointment reminders, reputation management, targeted email marketing, online scheduling, and referral programs. Demandforce also offers a mobile application that adapts these services for smartphone use. As of February 2016, Demandforce operates as a subsidiary of Internet Brands, Inc.

X (formerly Twitter)

Series D in 2009
Twitter is a social networking platform that facilitates the exchange of micro-blogs, known as "tweets," which can be up to 280 characters in length. Launched in 2006, it allows users to send and read tweets through various means, including web browsers, SMS, and mobile applications. With over 400 million monthly visitors and 255 million active users, Twitter serves as a global real-time communications platform. Its diverse user base includes world leaders, athletes, entertainers, and news organizations, contributing to its role as a significant source of information and engagement. The platform is available in more than 35 languages and has a strong presence in major cities worldwide, with headquarters in San Francisco and offices across the United States and internationally.

Zendesk

Series B in 2009
Zendesk, established in 2007, is a leading customer service platform that develops and provides cloud-based software solutions. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Zendesk empowers organizations to enhance customer engagement and understanding by offering a unified, multi-channel customer communication system. Its software, easy to use and implement, enables businesses to scale quickly, focus on innovation, and serve over 150,000 customers across diverse industries and languages.

X (formerly Twitter)

Series C in 2009
Twitter is a social networking platform that facilitates the exchange of micro-blogs, known as "tweets," which can be up to 280 characters in length. Launched in 2006, it allows users to send and read tweets through various means, including web browsers, SMS, and mobile applications. With over 400 million monthly visitors and 255 million active users, Twitter serves as a global real-time communications platform. Its diverse user base includes world leaders, athletes, entertainers, and news organizations, contributing to its role as a significant source of information and engagement. The platform is available in more than 35 languages and has a strong presence in major cities worldwide, with headquarters in San Francisco and offices across the United States and internationally.

Vivox

Series B in 2007
Vivox, Inc. is a communication technology company based in Natick, Massachusetts, specializing in voice and messaging applications tailored for online gaming and social networking environments. Founded in 2003, Vivox provides an integrated voice platform that allows users to communicate seamlessly while engaging in games or social interactions. Its flagship offerings include C3, which grants control and access for publishers and studios, and Integrated Voice, facilitating real-time communication among players. The company partners with game and social publishers to enhance user engagement through voice services, while also generating revenue through audio advertisements and virtual goods. With over 45 million users across more than 200 countries, Vivox enables the exchange of over three billion voice chat minutes monthly, fostering natural and immersive interactions in digital spaces. Vivox operates as a subsidiary of Unity Technologies, enhancing its reach and capabilities in the gaming industry.

LiveOps

Series C in 2007
LiveOps, Inc. is a provider of cloud-based multi-channel solutions designed for customer engagement across various industries, including finance, healthcare, insurance, retail, and technology. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, the company offers a range of services such as LiveOps Chat for real-time customer interaction, an on-demand outsourced call center solution, and a comprehensive email system that gives agents a complete view of customer interactions. LiveOps also features Skill Builder, a customizable training program to enhance the skills of customer service agents. The company specializes in delivering an on-demand workforce of skilled virtual agents, enabling clients to efficiently scale their customer service operations while minimizing overhead costs. LiveOps serves over 400 organizations, providing faster program readiness and improved customer satisfaction compared to traditional call centers.

Lango

Series A in 2007
Lango, an Israel-based developer of an icon-based language for Web and mobile messaging.

Rebtel

Series A in 2006
Rebtel is a company focused on addressing the challenges faced by migrants, including communication, work, and banking issues. Founded in Stockholm, Sweden, Rebtel offers a mobile application that provides Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services, allowing users to make international calls, send messages, and transfer money at ultra-low rates. The company also features an independent work program called Activist, designed to create job opportunities for its users. With a diverse team of 85 employees from over 35 nationalities, Rebtel has established itself as a profitable and innovative player in the telecommunications sector, leveraging technology to facilitate seamless connections for those crossing borders in search of better opportunities.

HeyWire

Series D in 2004
HeyWire is a provider of a live-text messaging channel that connects consumers with businesses through various messaging formats, including SMS and social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. The company has developed award-winning solutions that integrate seamlessly with Salesforce, allowing businesses to enable conversational text messaging through their existing phone numbers. This service facilitates direct communication between customers and brands, enhancing customer satisfaction while helping to reduce operational costs. With a proven messaging cloud solution, HeyWire has delivered over 8 billion messages to date. The company is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

HeyWire

Series C in 2002
HeyWire is a provider of a live-text messaging channel that connects consumers with businesses through various messaging formats, including SMS and social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. The company has developed award-winning solutions that integrate seamlessly with Salesforce, allowing businesses to enable conversational text messaging through their existing phone numbers. This service facilitates direct communication between customers and brands, enhancing customer satisfaction while helping to reduce operational costs. With a proven messaging cloud solution, HeyWire has delivered over 8 billion messages to date. The company is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

HeyWire

Series B in 2001
HeyWire is a provider of a live-text messaging channel that connects consumers with businesses through various messaging formats, including SMS and social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. The company has developed award-winning solutions that integrate seamlessly with Salesforce, allowing businesses to enable conversational text messaging through their existing phone numbers. This service facilitates direct communication between customers and brands, enhancing customer satisfaction while helping to reduce operational costs. With a proven messaging cloud solution, HeyWire has delivered over 8 billion messages to date. The company is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Critical Path

Series B in 1999
Critical Path was acquired by Openwave Messaging on December 4, 2013. Critical Path offers consumer and enterprise solutions for online and mobile communication. The portfolio spans web and mobile messaging, social media messaging, security and archiving. They also own the award-winning "ShoZu" service which connects millions of subscribers around the world to their favourite social sites and feeds. Critical Path's Memova suite of applications and services are chosen by leading service providers and enterprises around the world to enable millions of people to communicate, connect, share and organize while providing industry-leading safety and assurance. With offices around the globe, Critical Path supports companies with their deployments of Memova solutions to drive revenue, boost loyalty, streamline operations and reduce costs. In November 2010 it merged with Mirapoint who are a global leader in the mail server appliance market. By combining email security expertise with extensive messaging appliance experience, Mirapoint offers the industry’s only integrated email security, archiving and mailbox appliances with a dramatically lower total cost of ownership (TCO), as well as security, simplicity and peace of mind. Their mail server appliances and messaging appliances intelligently serve, secure and manage more than 120 million mailboxes worldwide, from large enterprises and service providers to educational institutions and government entities.

Critical Path

Series A in 1998
Critical Path was acquired by Openwave Messaging on December 4, 2013. Critical Path offers consumer and enterprise solutions for online and mobile communication. The portfolio spans web and mobile messaging, social media messaging, security and archiving. They also own the award-winning "ShoZu" service which connects millions of subscribers around the world to their favourite social sites and feeds. Critical Path's Memova suite of applications and services are chosen by leading service providers and enterprises around the world to enable millions of people to communicate, connect, share and organize while providing industry-leading safety and assurance. With offices around the globe, Critical Path supports companies with their deployments of Memova solutions to drive revenue, boost loyalty, streamline operations and reduce costs. In November 2010 it merged with Mirapoint who are a global leader in the mail server appliance market. By combining email security expertise with extensive messaging appliance experience, Mirapoint offers the industry’s only integrated email security, archiving and mailbox appliances with a dramatically lower total cost of ownership (TCO), as well as security, simplicity and peace of mind. Their mail server appliances and messaging appliances intelligently serve, secure and manage more than 120 million mailboxes worldwide, from large enterprises and service providers to educational institutions and government entities.
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