Via

Via, operating under the entity Via Software, has carved a niche for itself in the conversational commerce landscape. The company was co-founded by Tejas Konduru, who serves as the CEO. His background includes experience as a founder at two other ventures, mobileDev and StudyRoom, and a role as a product manager at Tilt.com, which was later acquired by Airbnb. This journey through product management and entrepreneurship appears to have shaped Via's strategic direction.

The firm initially focused on providing software tools to enhance online visibility and engagement for businesses. Recognizing a market shift, Via pivoted its strategy to develop a conversational commerce platform. This platform is designed to assist businesses in cultivating and maintaining customer relationships through direct interaction on frequently used mobile devices and networks. The core of their offering is a system that leverages SMS to enable e-commerce and retail brands to communicate with their customers. This includes functionalities for marketing campaigns, customer service interactions, and facilitating purchases directly through text messaging.

Via's business model is centered on providing this platform to a client base primarily composed of e-commerce companies and retail brands. Revenue is generated by charging these businesses for access to and use of their conversational commerce tools. The platform's main feature is its ability to integrate with a brand's existing e-commerce setup, such as Shopify, allowing for personalized and automated mobile messaging. The benefit for their clients lies in the potential for higher engagement rates and the creation of a direct, personal channel to their end-customers, moving beyond traditional email marketing.

Keywords: conversational commerce, SMS marketing, e-commerce engagement, customer relationship management, mobile messaging, retail technology, Shopify integration, direct-to-consumer, customer retention, brand communication