The company Text Request was founded six-and-a-half years ago by Brian and Jamey Elrod, who were inspired by a frustrating experience at a restaurant where they couldn't get their server's attention. They envisioned a solution that would allow customers to text into the restaurant, which could then be displayed on a big screen to alert the server. The company has since evolved to provide two-way conversation platforms using email and SMS for small and medium businesses, with a focus on making multichannel communication easy for SMBs. Text Request uses Twilio's APIs and SendGrid's inbound parse webhooks to translate texts to emails and vice versa, allowing customers to engage with their preferred method of communication. The company aims to expand its services to include Facebook, WhatsApp, and texting in international markets, providing businesses with a seamless communication experience across multiple channels.