Gupshup

Last updated

Gupshup
Company typePrivate company
IndustrySoftware
FounderBeerud Sheth
Headquarters San Francisco, California
Key people
  • Beerud Sheth (CEO)
Products Chatbots
SMS
WhatsApp Business API
RCS
Omnichannel messaging
Voice
Instagram Messenger API
AI Agent
Conversational AI
Website gupshup.io

Gupshup is an American messaging platform for businesses to communicate. With primary operations in India, United States, Europe, Latin America, Africa, Middle East and South East Asia. It is owned and operated by Webaroo Inc. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

The company provides Messaging, Voice, Video, USSD and IP messaging, and chatbot development services to BFSI (banking, financial services and insurance), retail, e-commerce, Fintech, EdTech, Healthcare and Media & Entertainment companies. [5] [6] [7]

History

Gupshup was founded in 2004 by Beerud Sheth as an SMS network in India, and is headquartered in Cupertino, California. [8] [9]

Gupshup developed the messaging app Teamchat, which introduced "smart" messages in 2014. [10]

In 2015, the multi-channel serverless bot platform went live. In 2016, Gupshup launched a partnership with FBM, and launched APIs for Slack, Telegram, and introduced their bot platform and bot builder tools. [11]

In 2017, the company was one of the earliest global partners of WhatsApp. [12] The company also launched InterBot, a platform enabling bot-to-bot communication, allowing bots to transact, coordinate, and collaborate with each other. [13] Additionally, Gupshup developed chatbots compatible with platforms like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. [14] In 2018, Gupshup partnered with leading handset OEMs.

In 2020, the company launched its own IP Messaging channel - Gupshup IP Messaging, aka GIP.

In April 2021, Gupshup raised a $100 million Series F funding round led by Tiger Global at a valuation of $1.4 billion, becoming a unicorn. [15] [16] [17] The platform was used by more than 100,000 businesses and developers. [18] In July 2021, it raised an additional $240 million. [19] Gupshup achieved unicorn status in April 2021, joining the ranks of startup companies valued at over $1 billion. [20]

Acquisitions

Awards and recognition

Gupshup has been recognized by several industry analyst firms for its conversational AI and messaging capabilities.

In 2023, IDC MarketScape positioned Gupshup as a "Major Player" in its "Worldwide Communications Platform as a Service Vendor Assessment" (document #US50607923), noting the company's AI-driven engagement capabilities within the CPaaS market. [24]

Juniper Research designated Gupshup as an "Established Leader" in its "Conversational AI Leaderboard" (2025) [25] and "OTT Business Messaging Competitor Leaderboard" (2024). [26] The company was recognized for its product positioning, innovation in conversational AI, and future prospects.

In October 2023, Everest Group recognized Gupshup as a "Major Contender" in its "Conversational AI Products PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2023". [27]

A Total Economic Impact™ (TEI) study commissioned by Meta and conducted by Forrester Consulting (April 2025) analyzed the business benefits of using Gupshup's platform with the WhatsApp Business Platform. The study indicated a 270% return on investment over three years for a composite organization and higher customer engagement rates compared to traditional SMS and email campaigns. [28] [29] [30]

Gupshup has received several industry awards for its products and services:

Technology

In April 2016, Gupshup launched one of the first chatbot building platforms. [36] As of September 2017, the company has over 30,000 chatbots across 22 channels, like Facebook Messenger, [37] SMS, Twitter, Hangouts, Google Home, [38] Amazon Alexa, WeChat, Skype, Microsoft Teams, and email. [9]

In March 2023, Gupshup launched a generative AI platform called Auto Bot Builder, which uses large language models (LLMs) to automate chatbot creation by generating conversational flows from website URLs or documentation. [39]

In July 2023, Gupshup integrated Meta's Llama 2 large language model into its platform, becoming an early partner for Meta's AI technology. This integration expanded the platform's natural language processing capabilities. [40]

The platform supports custom LLM integration, allowing businesses to incorporate their preferred language models. [41]

Conversational Intelligence and Routing

Gupshup's platform incorporates conversational intelligence capabilities that analyze customer interactions. The system includes dynamic routing technology that directs conversations to appropriate AI agents or human representatives based on conversation context and complexity. [42]

The platform facilitates human-agent collaboration through tools that enable customer service representatives to monitor AI conversations and intervene when necessary. [43]

Agentic AI Capabilities

In 2024, Gupshup expanded its technology with the introduction of agentic AI features. These capabilities enable AI systems to perform complex tasks, make decisions, and execute multi-step processes based on user inputs. [44]

The company's AI Campaign Co-Pilot, recognized by Juniper Research in 2025, assists marketing professionals in messaging campaign management across multiple channels. [45]

The platform incorporates knowledge integration features that allow AI agents to access company knowledge bases, providing more contextually relevant responses. [46]

Messaging and Conversation Orchestration

Gupshup's technology includes conversation orchestration capabilities that manage multi-step interactions across different channels and departments. The platform supports communication across WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, RCS (Rich Communication Services), SMS, and other messaging platforms through a unified API. [47]

Through its 2021 acquisition of Dotgo, Gupshup enhanced its RCS business messaging capabilities. RCS offers features like rich media, interactive buttons, and verified business profiles within native messaging apps. [48]

Enterprise Integration and Compliance

Gupshup's platform offers integration capabilities with various business systems, including CRM platforms, e-commerce systems, and enterprise applications. These integrations enable businesses to connect their existing systems with Gupshup's conversational interfaces, facilitating seamless data flow and process automation. [49]

The platform includes pre-built industry-specific templates and workflows for sectors such as banking, e-commerce, and healthcare, allowing faster implementation of conversational solutions tailored to specific business needs. [50]

References

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  2. "Industry: Conversational Engagement Platforms—Commerce is Taking a Chatty Turn". The Financial Express. May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
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  4. "Best Conversational Marketing Software for Mid-Size Businesses". SourceForge. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
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  39. "Gupshup Launches Auto Bot Builder, a Generative AI Tool to Automatically Build Bots from Website URL, Documents, or Product Catalogues". MarTech Cube. March 28, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  40. "Meta launches Llama 2, gives free access to businesses - here's all you need to know". Business Today. July 19, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
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  45. "Juniper Research Unveils 2025's Telco Innovation Awards Winners". Juniper Research. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
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  48. "Gupshup acquires Dotgo". The Economic Times. September 23, 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  49. "Gupshup's AI Gains Recognition in a Crowded Conversational AI Market". CIOL. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
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