ElevenLabs Lands $500M Boost from BlackRock, Jamie Foxx, and Hollywood Stars in Voice AI Surge
ElevenLabs, a leading voice AI company, has unveiled high-profile investors for its $500 million Series D funding round.
New backers include financial giants BlackRock, Wellington, D.E. Shaw, and Schroders, alongside tech leaders NVIDIA and Salesforce, plus celebrities like Jamie Foxx, Eva Longoria, and Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk.
Valuation Doubles Amid Explosive Revenue Growth
The startup's valuation jumped to $11 billion in February from $6.6 billion last September, reflecting surging demand for realistic voice technology.
ElevenLabs surpassed $500 million in annual recurring revenue, up from nearly $350 million last year after adding $100 million in the first quarter of 2026 alone.
From Startup to Enterprise Powerhouse
Founded in 2022, the company quickly became a category leader by developing human-like AI voice models that power everything from audiobooks to customer service bots.
Recent enterprise deals with Deutsche Telekom, Revolut, and Klarna underscore its shift toward large-scale business applications.
CEO Mati Staniszewski emphasized that consumer trust hinges on natural-sounding voices, avoiding robotic interactions that erode confidence.
The involvement of actor-investors like Foxx and Longoria signals Hollywood's proactive stake in voice AI to revolutionize dubbing and protect digital likenesses amid rising deepfake concerns.
A $100 million employee tender offer, the second in six months, allows staff and soon retail investors via Robinhood Ventures to cash in on the boom.
For everyday users, this funding accelerates accessible tools for podcasters, educators, and creators, making professional voiceovers affordable and instant.
Looking ahead, ElevenLabs' global push, bolstered by multilingual capabilities and institutional backing, positions it to dominate as voice interfaces become ubiquitous in smart devices and metaverses.
