46elks
46elks is a Sweden-based CPaaS provider offering a unified API for programmable SMS, MMS, voice calls, virtual numbers, IVR, and real-time AI voice streaming, primarily serving Nordic developers and startups with usage-based and subscription pricing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersUppsala, Sweden
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What 46elks does
46elks AB is a Sweden-based Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) provider founded in 2011 in Uppsala, offering a unified HTTP API for programmable SMS, MMS, voice calls, virtual phone numbers, programmable IVR, and real-time voice streaming. The platform serves Nordic and European developers and businesses with eight core API services that share a common phone number infrastructure, allowing customers to use a single virtual number across multiple communication channels. All services are accessed via a single REST API (api.46elks.com/a1/) with Basic Auth and webhook callbacks, supported by code examples in eight or more languages, with no official SDK and no minimum monthly commitments.
The company operates a usage-based revenue model for SMS, MMS, and voice (pay-per-message or pay-per-minute, with inbound SMS free), supplemented by monthly recurring fees for virtual phone number rentals (per 30-day period) and a 2000 SEK/month subscription for the newer Conversations API product (launched June 2024). The June 2024 launch of the Realtime Voice API — a WebSocket-based bidirectional audio streaming service — extends the platform into AI voice agent infrastructure, with documented integration patterns for OpenAI's Realtime API. Go-to-market is API-first and self-serve, with developer community engagement via Discord, GitHub, Medium, workshops, and Trainhack hackathons, plus a complementary inside-sales motion for scaleup/enterprise customers.
46elks holds registered telecommunications operator status under Swedish law (2022:482/LEK) and EU directive 2002/58/EG, stores data on Swedish servers within the EU for GDPR compliance, and has earned Gazelle Company recognition from Dagens Industri in 2022 and 2023. The team of approximately 20 operates from offices in Uppsala, Stockholm, Hudiksvall, and Linköping, serving 350-400+ active customers (predominantly Nordic startups) and having transmitted over 150 million SMS messages since founding.
46elks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 46elks
- Legal name
- 46elks AB
- Website
- https://46elks.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- 46elks is a Sweden-based CPaaS provider offering a unified API for programmable SMS, MMS, voice calls, virtual numbers, IVR, and real-time AI voice streaming, primarily serving Nordic developers and startups with usage-based and subscription pricing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
46elks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS)
- NAICS
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182)
- SIC
- Telephone Communications (No Radiotelephone) (4813), Services-Telephone Interconnect Systems (7385)
- akta.pro primary industry
- CPaaS (Programmable Voice, SMS, Video APIs) (HDAIAHAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Messaging APIs, CPaaS & Programmable Communications (BPAMACAL)
Keywords
Where 46elks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Uppsala
- HQ country
- Sweden
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
46elks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Usage-based SMS/MMS pricing: Pay-per-message pricing where customers pay for each SMS or MMS sent. Inbound SMS is free. No minimum monthly costs. Simple pricing with no commitment.
- Virtual Phone Number rental: Monthly rental fees for virtual phone numbers with capabilities for SMS, MMS, and/or voice. Charged per 30-day period.
- Phone Call charges: Connection fee plus per-minute rate for phone calls. Call duration billed in 1-minute increments with fractions rounded up.
- Conversations API subscription: 2000 SEK per month for Conversations API beta feature, with optional add-ons for additional countries.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Pay-per-use model with no monthly commitment |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Phone calls with connection fee plus per-minute rate |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | SMS and MMS per-message fees |
| Subscription | Monthly | Virtual phone number rental per 30-day period |
| Subscription | Monthly | Conversations API at 2000 SEK monthly |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
46elks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
46elks provides a unified cloud-based CPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service) REST API that lets developers programmatically send and receive SMS and MMS, place and route automated phone calls, build programmable IVR menus, and rent virtual phone numbers across 48 countries. A WebSocket-based Realtime Voice API additionally enables bidirectional audio streaming so customers can connect AI voice agents to live phone calls. Pricing is purely usage-based with no minimum monthly commitments, and developers self-register online to receive API access.
Product overview
46elks is a cloud-based CPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service) provider offering a unified API for programmable SMS, MMS, voice calling, and virtual phone numbers. The core platform consists of eight primary API services: One-way SMS, Two-way SMS, Photo Messaging (MMS), Automated Phone Calls, Dynamic Call Forwarding, Programmable IVR, Virtual Phone Numbers, and Realtime Voice. These services share the same underlying API and phone number infrastructure, allowing developers to use the same virtual numbers for multiple communication channels. Supporting the core API are extended services (Short Codes, Sender ID Protection, RCS, and custom tailored solutions), consumer-facing applications (Just Send! and Shared SMS Inbox), and educational resources (API Workshops). All services are accessed via a single HTTP API with webhook-based callbacks for inbound events, making the platform suitable for developers building automated communication workflows without deep telecommunications expertise.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Just Send!: Web application for sending SMS directly from the web
- Shared SMS inbox
Products and services
- One-way SMS API Programmatic one-way SMS messaging API that lets businesses and developers send SMS text messages to users with reliable, near-instant delivery and an industry-wide 99% read rate.
- Two-way SMS API Bidirectional SMS API that sends and receives SMS messages, with incoming messages forwarded to the developer's backend via webhooks to enable interactive two-way conversations, automatic replies, and reply handling.
- Photo Messaging (MMS) MMS API that sends and receives images and long text messages, with built-in support for receiving GPS location markers from mobile devices for location-aware applications.
- Automated Phone Calls API that automatically triggers and places outbound phone calls in parallel for use cases such as invitations, warnings, confirmations, and thank-you messages distributed programmatically to large contact lists.
- Dynamic Call Forwarding Programmable inbound call routing that gives full code-based control over how incoming phone calls are forwarded and routed using business logic.
- Programmable IVR Programmable Interactive Voice Response system that generates unique phone menus per call and supports automatic call recording, enabling custom voice menus and call-logging applications.
- Virtual Phone Numbers Rentable SMS-ready phone numbers available in 48 countries and landline numbers in over 30 countries, providing the foundation for sending, receiving, and routing communications across all 46elks services.
- Realtime Voice (WebSocket Audio API) WebSocket-based bidirectional audio-streaming API for live phone calls that enables developers to connect virtual phone numbers to AI voice agents and models in real time, with audio interruption control and session synchronization.
- Conversations API (Beta) Subscription-based two-way SMS conversational feature that sends a question and receives a reply, handling multi-message exchanges automatically with webhook delivery and a default limit of three active conversations per recipient.
- Just Send! (Web application) Standalone browser-based web application that lets users send SMS messages directly from a browser without writing code, designed for quick ad-hoc SMS sending.
- Shared SMS Inbox (Web application) Team-oriented web application that lets multiple team members collaboratively manage and respond to incoming SMS conversations on the web.
Quantifiable outcome
- 150+ million SMS messages transmitted since founding
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use 46elks
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
46elks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability3 records
Feature9 records
46elks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SJ ABcoreSwedish railway company co-organizing Trainhack 2017, the world's longest trainhack. Provided overnight train between Gothenburg and Uppsala via Luleå for 48 developers.
- TrafiklabcoreSwedish public transport data platform providing GTFS transit data and API access for developers at Trainhack 2017 to build public transportation applications.
- MicrosoftminorTechnology sponsor for Trainhack 2017, contributing to the ecosystem of 16 organizations organizing the world's longest trainhack.
- Blå TågetcoreRailway operator providing train carriages adapted for hackathons with internet connectivity for Trainhack events.
- Luleå tekniska universitetminorTechnical university in Luleå acting as destination and co-organizer for Trainhack 2017, hosting Facebook and other tech presence in northern Sweden.
- LovablecoreIntegration partnership enabling Lovable (AI coding platform) users to add SMS functionality to AI-generated applications through simple prompts. Allows developers to send OTP, notifications, and two-way SMS without separate backend within 5 minutes.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
46elks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bandwidth: CPaaS provider offering programmable voice, messaging, and 911 services, with its own carrier network. Comparable to 46elks in voice and messaging APIs, though serving a more enterprise-leaning customer base.
- MessageBird (now Bird): European CPaaS provider offering SMS, voice, WhatsApp Business API, and Inbox products. Comparable to 46elks in serving European SMB and enterprise customers with multi-channel communications APIs.
- Plivo: CPaaS provider focused on SMS, voice, and WhatsApp APIs for developers and enterprises. Directly comparable SMB and developer-targeting CPaaS competitor with similar usage-based pricing model.
- Sinch: Sweden-headquartered CPaaS provider offering messaging, voice, and verification APIs globally. Most directly comparable peer given similar Nordic origin, CPaaS focus, and European customer base.
- Telnyx: CPaaS provider offering programmable voice, SMS, and networking with private global infrastructure. Comparable to 46elks in targeting developers with API-first messaging and voice products, including emerging AI voice agent use cases.
- Infobip: Global CPaaS platform offering messaging, voice, email, and rich communication services. Comparable CPaaS provider with strong European roots and growing AI agent capabilities (Conversations).
Broad incumbents
- Twilio: Largest global CPaaS provider offering programmable SMS, MMS, voice, video, and now Voice AI for AI agent applications. Directly comparable to 46elks across all core CPaaS products but at vastly larger scale and broader geographic reach.
- Vonage (Ericsson): CPaaS and UCaaS provider, now part of Ericsson, offering programmable communications APIs for SMS, voice, and video. Comparable API-first CPaaS offering but with enterprise and telco-grade infrastructure.
Regional players
- Telia: Major Nordic telecom operator providing connectivity, voice, and messaging services to Swedish and Baltic customers. Comparable in Nordic market presence and registered telecom operator status, though serving broader telecom needs.
- Teliax (Telavox): Nordic-focused cloud communications provider offering UCaaS, CCaaS, and telephony APIs to Nordic enterprises. Comparable in serving the Nordic market with developer-adjacent communication services.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
46elks social profiles
Digital presence46elks compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
46elks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
46elks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
46elks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
46elks M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 46elks
What does 46elks do?
46elks provides a unified cloud-based CPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service) REST API that lets developers programmatically send and receive SMS and MMS, place and route automated phone calls, build programmable IVR menus, and rent virtual phone numbers across 48 countries. A WebSocket-based Realtime Voice API additionally enables bidirectional audio streaming so customers can connect AI voice agents to live phone calls. Pricing is purely usage-based with no minimum monthly commitments, and developers self-register online to receive API access.
Is 46elks a public or private company?
46elks is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was 46elks founded?
46elks was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is 46elks based?
46elks is headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden, in the Europe region.
How does 46elks make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Usage-based SMS/MMS pricing is the primary driver. The others are virtual Phone Number rental, phone Call charges and conversations API subscription.
Who are 46elks's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bandwidth, MessageBird (now Bird), Plivo, Sinch, Telnyx and Infobip. Broad incumbents are Twilio and Vonage (Ericsson). Regional players are Telia and Teliax (Telavox).
Does 46elks have an API?
Yes. The 46elks API is a simple HTTP API for interacting with all products. Base URL: https://api.46elks.com/a1/. Authentication uses Basic Auth. Request content type is application/x-www-form-urlencoded. Webhooks (HTTP callbacks) are used for asynchronous events. Code examples are provided in multiple languages including C, C#, Go, Google App Script, Haskell, Java, Node.js, PHP, Python, Postman, and Ruby. The API covers SMS, MMS, phone calls, virtual numbers, subaccounts, conversations, recordings, and account management. No official language-specific SDK is offered; developers use provided code examples. Realtime Voice API uses WebSocket for streaming bidirectional audio during phone calls. Developer documentation is at 46elks.com/docs/overview.
What industry is 46elks in?
46elks's product category is Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS). Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAIAHAG, CPaaS (Programmable Voice, SMS, Video APIs), with a secondary code of BPAMACAL, Messaging APIs, CPaaS & Programmable Communications. Its NAICS code is 5182 and its SIC code is 4813.