Braze (originally Appboy) is a customer engagement platform that powers real-time messaging for some of the world’s largest consumer brands. Bill Magnuson, Jon Hyman, and Mark Ghermezian founded it in 2011, and the company went public on NASDAQ in 2021.
The platform handles email, push notifications, SMS, in-app messages, Content Cards, WhatsApp, and webhook-triggered actions — all orchestrated through a visual canvas called Braze Canvas. The key differentiator is real-time data processing: when a user takes an action (opens an app, adds to cart, watches a video), Braze can trigger a response within seconds rather than waiting for a batch process.
Braze processes billions of messages daily. The platform’s streaming data architecture means customer profiles update instantly, so segmentation is always based on the most current data. This matters for time-sensitive use cases like flash sales, breaking news notifications, or live event engagement.
The company’s Intelligence Suite includes features like Intelligent Timing (send messages when each user is most likely to engage), Intelligent Channel selection, and predictive churn and purchase models. Content Cards — persistent in-app messages that live in a dedicated inbox — are a Braze innovation that many competitors have since copied.
Revenue reached $471 million in fiscal year 2024, growing 33% year over year. Braze serves over 2,100 customers, including HBO Max, Burger King, Grubhub, and Urban Outfitters. Pricing is enterprise-only and not publicly disclosed. Braze competes with Iterable, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, and Adobe Campaign, but its real-time processing speed and mobile-first heritage give it an edge with high-volume consumer apps.
