Name: The LoopUp Startup Story to Becoming the World's Most Global Telco
Uploaded: 2025-10-12T17:55:09.000Z
Duration: 1514
Description: In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with Steve Flavell, co-CEO of LoopUp, to hear how a company once known for improving conference calls became a...

In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with Steve Flavell, co-CEO of LoopUp, to hear how a company once known for improving conference calls became a global force in cloud telephony. LoopUp began in 2003 with a mission to make conference calls less frustrating, growing steadily for more than a decade before going public on the London Stock Exchange in 2016. When the pandemic hit, their core business vanished almost overnight as platforms like Teams and Zoom took over the world.
Rather than giving up, Steve and his team made a bold pivot. They transformed LoopUp from a conferencing specialist into a global provider of cloud telephony for Microsoft Teams. Today, the company delivers enterprise voice services across 136 countries and proudly calls itself the world’s most multinational telco. Steve explains how this shift helps multinational businesses simplify operations by replacing dozens of regional telecom providers with a single unified system. With one contract, one support model, and one management portal, LoopUp allows companies to manage telephony the same way they already manage Teams globally.
We also talk about the wider transformation of the telecom industry. Legacy phone systems are being replaced by cloud infrastructure that integrates directly into the platforms people use every day. Steve shares what that change means for businesses seeking efficiency, scalability, and control.
Our conversation isn’t only about technology; it’s about leadership. Steve opens up about the lessons he’s learned through both highs and setbacks, from staying persistent during tough times to keeping honest communication flowing across the team. He also reflects on the strength of his long partnership with fellow co-founder Michael Hughes. For anyone building through uncertainty or leading through change, Steve’s journey is a powerful reminder that adaptability and openness are key to lasting success.