Also known as: Olark Live Chat
Live chat software that enables businesses to connect with customers in real-time on their website.
Businesses struggle to engage with customers in real-time on their websites, and traditional pop-out chat windows disrupt the user experience and create friction in customer interactions.
Businesses struggle to engage with customers in real-time on their websites, and traditional pop-out chat windows disrupt the user experience and create friction in customer interactions.
Olark provides an on-page live chat platform that enables real-time communication between businesses and customers without interrupting the browsing experience, facilitating immediate support, sales engagement, and relationship building.
Olark provides an on-page live chat platform that enables real-time communication between businesses and customers without interrupting the browsing experience, facilitating immediate support, sales engagement, and relationship building.
Appears active as of February 2026 based on company website and Y Combinator directory listing.
Appears active as of February 2026 based on company website and Y Combinator directory listing.
Olark is a live chat platform designed to help businesses engage with customers in real-time. Founded in 2009 and launched through Y Combinator's Summer 2009 batch, Olark introduced an innovative approach to web-based customer communication by creating the first live chat solution that remains on-page, eliminating the need for disruptive pop-out windows. The platform enables businesses to connect with website visitors, organize customer data, and apply insights to improve products and services.
Olark's live chat software allows businesses to communicate with customers while they browse their website without interruption. The platform is built on Jabber/XMPP, an open-source technology that powers most modern live chat solutions. By keeping the chat interface on-page, Olark maintains the immediacy of human interaction while reducing friction in the customer communication process. The software enables real-time conversations between support agents and customers, facilitating immediate problem resolution and sales engagement.
Olark is a live chat platform designed to help businesses engage with customers in real-time. Founded in 2009 and launched through Y Combinator's Summer 2009 batch, Olark introduced an innovative approach to web-based customer communication by creating the first live chat solution that remains on-page, eliminating the need for disruptive pop-out windows. The platform enables businesses to connect with website visitors, organize customer data, and apply insights to improve products and services.
Olark's live chat software allows businesses to communicate with customers while they browse their website without interruption. The platform is built on Jabber/XMPP, an open-source technology that powers most modern live chat solutions. By keeping the chat interface on-page, Olark maintains the immediacy of human interaction while reducing friction in the customer communication process. The software enables real-time conversations between support agents and customers, facilitating immediate problem resolution and sales engagement.
Subscription-based SaaS (Software as a Service) with paying subscribers.
Subscription-based SaaS (Software as a Service) with paying subscribers.
Small businesses seeking to enhance customer interaction, support, and sales engagement through real-time web communication.
Small businesses seeking to enhance customer interaction, support, and sales engagement through real-time web communication.
Company website active and Y Combinator directory shows current status as of February 2026.
Hiring: unknown
Company website active and Y Combinator directory shows current status as of February 2026.
Hiring: unknown
Olark primarily serves small businesses looking to enhance their customer interaction and support capabilities. The platform is used by more than 11,000 businesses worldwide across various industries. Common use cases include customer support and service, sales engagement, and customer retention. Businesses use Olark to reduce customer churn, close sales more effectively, and provide responsive support that builds stronger relationships with their customer base.
Olark primarily serves small businesses looking to enhance their customer interaction and support capabilities. The platform is used by more than 11,000 businesses worldwide across various industries. Common use cases include customer support and service, sales engagement, and customer retention. Businesses use Olark to reduce customer churn, close sales more effectively, and provide responsive support that builds stronger relationships with their customer base.
The platform enables businesses to organize customer data and apply insights to improve their products and services. By facilitating direct communication between businesses and customers, Olark helps humanize the web and restore relationships that can be lost in impersonal digital interactions. The software is designed to be accessible and easy to implement, allowing companies to start talking to website visitors quickly without requiring extensive technical setup or integration work.
The platform enables businesses to organize customer data and apply insights to improve their products and services. By facilitating direct communication between businesses and customers, Olark helps humanize the web and restore relationships that can be lost in impersonal digital interactions. The software is designed to be accessible and easy to implement, allowing companies to start talking to website visitors quickly without requiring extensive technical setup or integration work.
Olark emerged from the founders' previous venture, Netherweb, a web hosting company. The founders learned valuable lessons from Netherweb about the importance of maintaining direct customer relationships and committing fully to a single vision. When they founded Olark, they applied these lessons with greater dedication and focus. The company grew from four founders in Palo Alto to a fully remote team spanning multiple time zones, with team members distributed across various cities primarily in North American time zones to align with customer activity patterns.
Olark emerged from the founders' previous venture, Netherweb, a web hosting company. The founders learned valuable lessons from Netherweb about the importance of maintaining direct customer relationships and committing fully to a single vision. When they founded Olark, they applied these lessons with greater dedication and focus. The company grew from four founders in Palo Alto to a fully remote team spanning multiple time zones, with team members distributed across various cities primarily in North American time zones to align with customer activity patterns.
Olark operates in the customer service and sales software sector, competing with other live chat solutions in a market that has grown significantly since the company's founding. The platform represents a shift in how businesses approach customer communication, emphasizing the importance of immediate, human interaction in the digital age. As companies increasingly recognize the value of real-time customer engagement, Olark has positioned itself as a solution that prioritizes user experience and relationship building.
Olark operates in the customer service and sales software sector, competing with other live chat solutions in a market that has grown significantly since the company's founding. The platform represents a shift in how businesses approach customer communication, emphasizing the importance of immediate, human interaction in the digital age. As companies increasingly recognize the value of real-time customer engagement, Olark has positioned itself as a solution that prioritizes user experience and relationship building.
The company values diversity of thought and backgrounds, seeking to hire genuine people who will contribute to a more inclusive and human-centered culture. Olark operates as a fully distributed organization, using remote collaboration tools and periodic in-person gatherings to maintain team cohesion and alignment. The company holds annual events and regular team meetings to foster connection and discuss the company's future direction.
The company values diversity of thought and backgrounds, seeking to hire genuine people who will contribute to a more inclusive and human-centered culture. Olark operates as a fully distributed organization, using remote collaboration tools and periodic in-person gatherings to maintain team cohesion and alignment. The company holds annual events and regular team meetings to foster connection and discuss the company's future direction.
