Activist Investor, Anson Funds has acquired a stake in software firm Twilio, and is pressuring the firm to sell either its entire business or one of its units, according to a report by CNBC. 

The report quotes people familiar with the matter as saying that Anson has sent the firm a letter pushing for a total sale or a sale of the company's data and applications business. Twilio has a market cap of $11.6bn

Anson did not hold any stock of Twilio, which has a market cap of $11.6bn, for the period ended 30 September, according to securities filings, but has since built a stake valued at around $50m. Anson is not alone in its push; Legion Partners which also has a $50m stake in Twilio, has been asking the firm's leadership and advisors to sell the company or refocus around its Communications business unit, according to the report.