ElevenLabs, the leading voice AI company, has revealed a prestigious list of new investors in its $500 million Series D fundraise, first announced in February. The round includes institutional giants like BlackRock, Wellington, D.E. Shaw, and Schroders, alongside strategic partners such as NVIDIA, Salesforce, Santander, KPN, and Deutsche Telekom. Individual investors now include actor Jamie Foxx, actress Eva Longoria, and Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk. This news, reported from New York on May 27, marks a significant milestone for the voice AI industry.
ElevenLabs BlackRock Investment Drives Historic Growth
The company also disclosed that it has surpassed $500 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR), a remarkable jump from nearly $350 million at the end of last year. CEO Mati Staniszewski recently stated that ElevenLabs added $100 million in net new ARR in Q1 2026 alone, ending the quarter at roughly $450 million. This rapid acceleration has pushed the company’s valuation from $6.6 billion in September to $11 billion in February, underscoring the explosive demand for voice AI solutions.
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Enterprise Voice AI Contracts Fuel Revenue Surge
In the past quarter, ElevenLabs has signed major enterprise contracts with Deutsche Telekom, Revolut, and Klarna. These partnerships demonstrate the company’s ability to deliver high-quality, low-latency voice services at scale. Karine Peters, Managing Director at Deutsche Telekom’s venture arm T. Capital, praised ElevenLabs as “a foundational enabler of Deutsche Telekom’s broader Industrial AI vision,” highlighting its role in voice-as-a-service and multilingual automation.
Strategic Investor Roster Signals Market Confidence
The inclusion of BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, and individual investors like Jamie Foxx and Eva Longoria signals strong market confidence. Foxx and Longoria bring celebrity cachet, while NVIDIA and Salesforce provide deep tech expertise. This diverse mix of institutional, strategic, and celebrity investors positions ElevenLabs for global expansion.
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Voice AI Company Surpasses $500 Million ARR
ElevenLabs’ ARR milestone is a testament to its product-market fit. The company’s voice models power everything from customer service bots to content creation tools. Staniszewski emphasized that consumers “won’t trust systems that sound robotic” and stressed the importance of building “human-level AI voice models.” This focus on quality has driven adoption across industries, from telecom to fintech.
Retail Investors Get Access Through Robinhood Ventures
In a rare move, ElevenLabs is offering retail investors an opportunity to participate through Robinhood Ventures. Staniszewski mentioned the program in a blog post but did not provide specific details. This democratization of investment could broaden the company’s shareholder base and increase public engagement with voice AI technology.
Voice AI Technology Reshapes Customer Interactions
The company’s technology is transforming how businesses interact with customers. Voice is described as the “highest-stakes channel” for customer interactions, requiring extreme quality, latency, and security. ElevenLabs’ models enable multilingual automation and in-network AI agents, allowing companies like Deutsche Telekom to offer easy, natural-sounding voice services.
Acquisition of Polish AI Startup Papla Bolsters Research
Last month, ElevenLabs acquired the team from Polish voice AI startup Papla to strengthen its research capabilities. This acquisition adds expertise in voice processing and machine learning, helping the company stay ahead in a competitive market. The move aligns with its strategy of continuous innovation.
Conclusion
ElevenLabs’ listing of BlackRock, Jamie Foxx, and other high-profile investors in its $500 million Series D, combined with surpassing $500 million ARR, solidifies its position as a leader in voice AI. The company’s rapid growth, enterprise partnerships, and commitment to human-level voice models are reshaping customer interactions globally. As voice AI becomes a foundational technology, ElevenLabs is poised for continued dominance.
FAQs
Q1: What is ElevenLabs’ latest funding round?
ElevenLabs announced a $500 million Series D fundraise, with new investors including BlackRock, Jamie Foxx, and Eva Longoria.
Q2: How much ARR does ElevenLabs have now?
The company has surpassed $500 million in Annual Recurring Revenue, up from $350 million at the end of last year.
Q3: Who are the key individual investors in ElevenLabs?
Individual investors include actor Jamie Foxx, actress Eva Longoria, and Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk.
Q4: What enterprise clients has ElevenLabs signed recently?
ElevenLabs has signed contracts with Deutsche Telekom, Revolut, and Klarna in the past quarter.
Q5: How can retail investors invest in ElevenLabs?
ElevenLabs plans to offer retail investment through Robinhood Ventures, though specific details are not yet available.
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