Prelude

Prelude builds an SMS verification API that helps companies onboard and authenticate users in more than 230 countries. Founded in 2022 by former members of the Zenly team, the company connects to over 30 SMS providers and uses a real-time multi-routing engine to select the optimal delivery route for each message. The product combines OTP delivery with four layers of AI-powered fraud protection. It reports a 95% successful verification rate while blocking 99% of fraudulent attempts.

The company frames authentication as a cost centre to be reduced rather than merely a compliance requirement. Customers are reported to cut SMS costs by an average of 60%. Prelude has verified phone numbers for some 100m user accounts and counts BeReal, Alma, Sunday and Bitstack among its clients, spanning fintech, consumer apps and B2B software.

Prelude raised $8m in seed funding and is backed by Singular and Seedcamp. Its technical work covers telecom provider aggregation, route optimisation, AI-based fraud detection and security: the solution is SOC 2 Type II compliant. The company has a presence in Europe and North America, with product reach extending across its 230-country footprint.