HORISEN

What HORISEN does

HORISEN AG is a privately held Swiss technology software house founded in 2001 and headquartered in Rorschach, Switzerland, with engineering operations in Paraćin (Serbia) and Thessaloniki (Greece). The company builds a modular, vendor-neutral SaaS Messaging Ecosystem for the wholesale and retail messaging industry — explicitly positioning itself as building "planes for the messaging industry" rather than competing with its customers. Its core technology is the HORISEN Messaging Operating System, a foundational software layer that unifies platforms, routing, billing, rating, finance, partner settlement, security, and channel orchestration into one centralized system, on top of which individual platforms operate: SMS Platform, Business Messenger (omnichannel), SS7 Platform, STP Platform, MNP Platform, Inventory Platform, and Omnichannel Router, complemented by MNP Lookup Service, SCCP Signalling Service, and Virtual Long Number Service.

HORISEN's customer base spans mobile network operators (MNOs), mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), SMS aggregators, voice carriers, CPaaS providers, OTT players, marketing agencies, system integrators, and enterprises — sold through direct enterprise field sales and inside sales on custom-quoted annual SaaS subscriptions, with API-first developer access via a dedicated developer portal. Revenue is generated primarily through recurring SaaS platform subscriptions, with additional revenue from professional services (strategy, consulting, technical support, project management) and transaction fees from bulk and premium SMS transit and premium number hosting. A flagship collaboration with Vodafone Germany launched the world's first public transportation ticketing system using RCS messaging and Direct Carrier Billing.

The company's infrastructure is hosted at the Rechenzentrum Ostschweiz (RZO) Tier IV data center in Gais, Switzerland, one of only two Tier IV facilities in the DACH region, with PUE of ~1.15 and carrier-neutral connectivity supporting up to six carriers. HORISEN holds ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and GDPR certifications across Swiss data centers, and has accumulated 30 industry awards since 2017 across CC-Global Awards, Juniper Research Future Digital Awards, Antonio Meucci Global Telco Awards, and The Fast Mode Awards — including a Gold for Best Business Messaging Solution at the 2026 Future Digital Awards. The company is founder-controlled, with Fabrizio Salanitri as CEO and Chairman, and operates without disclosed external venture or private equity backing.

Name

HORISEN

Legal name

HORISEN AG

Website

https://horisen.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

HORISEN is a privately held Swiss software house founded in 2001 that builds a vendor-neutral, modular SaaS Messaging Ecosystem — including SMS, omnichannel Business Messenger, SS7, MNP, and inventory platforms — for telecom operators, CPaaS providers, aggregators, and enterprises globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Messaging Software Platforms

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), All Other Telecommunications (5178)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Telephone Communications (No Radiotelephone) (4813)

akta.pro primary industry

Billing, Payments & Subscription Management (MPAHAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Network Monitoring, Assurance & Managed NOC Services (SLA Ops) (HDAIAGAJ), Endpoint & Mobile Asset Management (UEM/MDM Asset Controls) (BPAEAOAI)

Keywords

• Messaging software platforms
• SMS trading platforms
• CPaaS solutions
• Telecom signaling software
• Mobile number portability

Headquarters

HQ city

Roschach

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. SaaS Platform Subscriptions: HORISEN generates revenue primarily through SaaS subscription licensing of its modular messaging platforms. Customers pay recurring fees to access the HORISEN Messaging Ecosystem including SMS Platform, Business Messenger, SS7 Platform, MNP Platform, and other modules. The platform operates as a vendor-neutral, cloud-based solution enabling customers to run entire messaging businesses.
2. Professional Services: HORISEN provides professional services including strategy and marketing consulting, creative design, project management, software development, technical support, and web hosting. These one-time or recurring service engagements complement the core SaaS platform revenue.
3. Bulk and Premium SMS Transit / Premium Number Hosting: Transit services for bulk and premium SMS traffic, as well as hosting of premium rate numbers. These services are part of the broader HORISEN professional services offering.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HORISEN builds and licenses a modular SaaS Messaging Ecosystem for the telecom industry, including an SMS trading platform, an omnichannel Business Messenger, SS7 and STP signaling platforms, an MNP (mobile number portability) platform, an Inventory platform for number assets, and an Omnichannel Router. All platforms are unified by the proprietary HORISEN Messaging Operating System, which integrates routing, billing, rating, partner settlement, and channel orchestration. Customers are MNOs, MVNOs, SMS aggregators, voice carriers, CPaaS providers, OTTs, marketing agencies, system integrators, and enterprises running wholesale or retail messaging businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HORISEN Messaging Ecosystem: A next-generation environment of interoperable messaging platforms including SMS Platform, Business Messenger, SS7 Platform, STP Platform, MNP Platform, Inventory Platform, and Omnichannel Router.
• HORISEN Messaging Operating System
• HORISEN Messaging Suite

Products and services

• SMS Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• World's first public transportation ticketing system using RCS messaging and Direct Carrier Billing launched with Vodafone Germany
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Vodafone GermanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 November 2024Vodafone Germany and HORISEN collaborated to launch the world's first public transportation ticketing system using RCS messaging and Direct Carrier Billing. This landmark innovation combined HORISEN's messaging technology with Vodafone Germany's mobile payment infrastructure, enabling transit ticket purchases via RCS messages charged to the user's mobile account — eliminating the need for credit cards or apps.
• Rechenzentrum Ostschweiz (RZO)coreTechnology or IntegrationHORISEN partnered with RZO (Rechenzentrum Ostschweiz) to host its messaging infrastructure at the Tier IV data centre in Gais, Switzerland. RZO is a carrier-neutral, Tier IV colocation facility — one of only two in the DACH region. The partnership provides HORISEN with geo-redundant infrastructure, high availability (continuous uptime since opening), and sustainable data centre operations with PUE of ~1.15. RZO's multi-carrier connectivity (up to 6 different carriers) supports HORISEN's global messaging routing requirements.
• HORISEN GROUP entitiescoreOthersHORISEN GROUP comprises HORISEN AG (headquarters, Switzerland), HORISEN Technology (Serbia, Vožda Karađorđa 10, Paraćin), and HORISEN Greece (Thessaloniki). All group members apply the same information security and privacy measures following ISO 27001 ISMS and GDPR practices. Customer data processed by any group member is stored in ISO 27001 and PCI DSS certified data centres in Switzerland. Group members are considered sub-processors under HORISEN's Data Processing Agreement.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CM.com: CM.com is a European CPaaS provider offering SMS, WhatsApp, RCS, voice, and customer engagement solutions to enterprises and operators. Comparable to HORISEN as a similarly-sized European competitor with a focus on omnichannel business messaging and operator-grade integrations.
• Infobip: Infobip is a global CPaaS and messaging platform provider serving enterprises, MNOs, and developers with SMS, RCS, WhatsApp, and omnichannel APIs. It is the most directly comparable peer to HORISEN — competing in the same telecom messaging infrastructure layer with both wholesale and retail offerings.
• Sinch: Sinch is a Swedish-headquartered CPaaS leader providing messaging, voice, and customer verification APIs at global scale. Comparable to HORISEN because it serves the same telecom operator and enterprise customers with messaging APIs, omnichannel communication, and number portability-adjacent services.
• Route Mobile: Route Mobile is an Indian-headquartered CPaaS and messaging aggregation company serving MNOs, aggregators, and enterprises globally. Comparable to HORISEN because of its strong presence in SMS wholesale and A2P messaging, and similar operator-tier customer base.
• Plivo: Plivo is a cloud communications platform offering SMS, voice, and omnichannel APIs for developers and enterprises. Comparable to HORISEN because it serves the same SMB-to-enterprise messaging market with developer-friendly APIs and operator routing.
• MessageBird (Bird): MessageBird (now Bird) is a European-headquartered omnichannel messaging platform providing SMS, WhatsApp, email, and voice APIs. Comparable to HORISEN as a similarly European-rooted, enterprise-focused CPaaS competitor in the omnichannel messaging and CPaaS market.
• Soprano Design: Soprano Design is a global enterprise mobile messaging platform providing SMS, RCS, WhatsApp, and omnichannel solutions to enterprises and governments. Comparable to HORISEN because it sells similar messaging infrastructure and engagement software into enterprise and government verticals.

Broad incumbents

• Twilio: Twilio is the global CPaaS leader offering messaging, voice, video, and email APIs at massive scale to developers and enterprises. Comparable to HORISEN as a broader incumbent in the same messaging-API category, though Twilio operates at significantly larger scale and developer-first positioning.
• Vonage (Ericsson): Vonage, now part of Ericsson, is a global CPaaS and unified communications provider offering messaging, voice, and video APIs. Comparable to HORISEN as a broader incumbent with overlapping messaging APIs and operator-grade platform capabilities, now embedded in Ericsson's telecom stack.

Emerging players

• iBasis: iBasis is a wholesale carrier specializing in international voice, SMS, and data services for MNOs and MVNOs. Comparable to HORISEN because of its overlap in SS7 signalling, MNP lookups, and wholesale messaging routing for tier-1 telecom operators.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/horisen

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HORISEN