Breaking news

ElevenLabs Raises $500M Series D At $11B Valuation

Overview Of A Groundbreaking Momentum

ElevenLabs raised $500 million in a Series D funding round announced in February, reaching a valuation of $11 billion. The round expands the company’s investor base and follows continued growth in its voice AI business.

ARR Growth And Valuation

Annual recurring revenue exceeded $500 million, up from about $350 million a year earlier. CEO and co-founder Mati Staniszewski said the first quarter of 2026 added $100 million in net new ARR. Internal figures indicate ARR reached approximately $450 million during the quarter, before continuing to grow beyond the $500 million mark. Valuation increased from $6.6 billion in September to $11 billion at the time of the funding round.

Investor Base And Enterprise Clients

The Series D round includes institutional investors such as BlackRock, Wellington Management, D.E. Shaw and Schroders. Corporate investors include NVIDIA, Salesforce Ventures, Santander, KPN and Deutsche Telekom. Enterprise clients include Deutsche Telekom, Revolut and Klarna.

Product And Technology

The company develops voice AI systems for customer interaction, including voice generation, multilingual support and automation tools. Focus areas include response speed, output quality and system security, which are central to enterprise deployment. Karine Peters, Managing Director at Deutsche Telekom’s venture arm T. Capital, said the company’s technology is integrated into parts of its industrial AI strategy.

Expansion And Capital Strategy

ElevenLabs acquired the research team from Polish startup Papla to expand its voice model development capabilities. A $100 million tender offer was completed, marking the second such transaction within six months. Plans include opening investment access to retail investors through Robinhood Ventures, although details have not yet been disclosed.

Short-Form Video Unleashed: Transforming The Living Room Experience

The Mobile Origins Of A Big-Screen Revolution

Short-form vertical videos, initially designed for smartphone viewing, are increasingly gaining traction on larger screens as viewing habits continue evolving across digital platforms. YouTube said audiences now watch more than 2 billion hours of Shorts content on televisions every month, highlighting the growing role of connected TV devices in short-form video consumption. The figures reflect a broader shift in how viewers engage with mobile-first formats beyond traditional smartphone environments.

Expanding Horizons In The Living Room

According to Kurt Wilms, television has become YouTube’s fastest-growing screen category. The company said integrated recommendations and search functions on smart TV interfaces are increasingly exposing users to Shorts content, even when viewers did not originally intend to watch short-form videos. As a result, living room viewing is becoming a larger part of YouTube’s overall content ecosystem.

Innovative Adjustments For Enhanced Engagement

To support this transition, YouTube has introduced interface changes designed specifically for larger screens. Features, including side-by-side comments and expanded layouts, aim to create a more interactive viewing experience while also improving engagement opportunities for creators. Sarah Ali said the updated viewing experience is intended to help creators expand audience reach across global markets and connected devices.

The Convergence Of Audio And Visual Media

Growth in living room consumption is also extending beyond short-form video into podcasting and long-form creator content. YouTube reported that viewers spent more than 700 million hours watching podcasts on living room devices during 2025, up from 400 million hours the previous year. At the same time, streaming platforms including Netflix are increasing investments in video podcasts and creator-led programming through partnerships with companies such as iHeartMedia, Barstool Sports and Spotify. The trend reflects a broader convergence between mobile-first content formats, streaming television and creator-driven media ecosystems.

eCredo
Uol
The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties
Aretilaw firm

Become a Speaker

Become a Speaker

Become a Partner

Subscribe for our weekly newsletter