AI voice startup ElevenLabs doubles valuation to $22B
News Source
β’Wed, 30 Sep 2026 18:23:57 +0000
π° What Happened
Voice AI company ElevenLabs let its workers sell some shares at a value of $22 billion. That doubles the $11 billion figure from February. The $300 million deal was led by the investors Wellington and T. Rowe Price. This is the second time the four-year-old firm has offered staff a share sale. It previously ran a $100 million sale at a $6.6 billion value in September 2025.
π The Backstory
ElevenLabs started in 2022 and is known for making lifelike human voices and sound effects. Its new value puts it among Europe's most valuable startups. Many fast-growing AI firms now let staff cash out shares to stop them from leaving for rivals. The company is based in New York and London, and its co-founder, Mati Staniszewski, leads it.
π― Why It Matters
This shows how hot voice AI has become and how much investors will pay for it. For workers, it shows that startup staff can get real money from shares long before a company goes public.
Voice AI company ElevenLabs let its workers sell some shares at a value of $22 billion. That doubles the $11 billion figure from February. The $300 million deal was led by the investors Wellington and T. Rowe Price. This is the second time the four-year-old firm has offered staff a share sale. It previously ran a $100 million sale at a $6.6 billion value in September 2025.
ElevenLabs started in 2022 and is known for making lifelike human voices and sound effects. Its new value puts it among Europe's most valuable startups. Many fast-growing AI firms now let staff cash out shares to stop them from leaving for rivals. The company is based in New York and London, and its co-founder, Mati Staniszewski, leads it.
This shows how hot voice AI has become and how much investors will pay for it. For workers, it shows that startup staff can get real money from shares long before a company goes public.