ElevenLabs Secures Funding from NTT DOCOMO Ventures to Propel Generative AI Innovations
Deal News | Jan 31, 2025 | NTT DOCOMO Ventures Inc
NTT DOCOMO Ventures, Inc., a prominent investment firm under the NTT DOCOMO Group, has announced its latest investment in ElevenLabs, Inc. The U.S.-based startup, led by CEO Mati Staniszewski, specializes in generative AI aimed at synthesizing highly expressive human-like speech. ElevenLabs leverages a unique AI-driven architecture capable of reproducing dynamic speech patterns, distinguishing itself from conventional text-to-speech technologies that struggle with emotion and inflection. This innovation has applications across multiple fields, including entertainment, where it facilitates the global audio localization of video content, and customer support, enhancing chatbot interactivity to mimic a call center experience. With a strategic focus on integrating generative AI solutions, NTT DOCOMO Ventures intends to deepen its collaboration with ElevenLabs, aligning with its ambitions in next-generation communications and entertainment sector expansion.
Sectors
- Technology
- Artificial Intelligence
- Entertainment
- Customer Support
Geography
- United States – ElevenLabs is based in the USA, indicating the geographical focus of the startup.
- Japan – NTT DOCOMO Ventures is based in Japan, highlighting its geographical influence on the investment landscape.
Industry
- Technology – ElevenLabs operates within the technology sector, focusing on advancements in generative AI for speech synthesis.
- Artificial Intelligence – The article focuses on the use of generative AI, indicating its relevance to the AI industry.
- Entertainment – ElevenLabs offers solutions for audio localization in video productions, applying its technology in the entertainment industry.
- Customer Support – The integration of AI speech synthesis for enhancing customer support systems places the article within this industry.
Financials
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| NTT DOCOMO Ventures, Inc. | Investor | Company | Investment arm of NTT DOCOMO Group, focusing on technology and communications innovation. |
| ElevenLabs, Inc. | Target company | Company | A startup specializing in generative AI for expressive speech synthesis. |
| Jun Yasumoto | President and CEO | Person | Leading NTT DOCOMO Ventures in strategic investment decisions. |
| Mati Staniszewski | CEO | Person | CEO of ElevenLabs, driving innovations in AI speech technology. |