AI
ElevenLabs Hits $22B Valuation as Voice AI Startup Doubles Worth in Nine Months
The synthetic voice company has authorized a $300 million employee equity sale, marking a dramatic leap from its $11 billion valuation earlier this year.
TechCrunch — AI
ElevenLabs, the AI voice generation startup, has reached a $22 billion valuation following a new tender offer that lets its workforce liquidate portions of their holdings. The figure represents a doubling of the company's valuation since its $500 million funding round in February, when it was valued at $11 billion.
Tender Offer Details#
The company facilitated a $300 million secondary transaction, with Wellington and T. Rowe Price—two major institutional investors focused on pre-public companies—co-leading the round. This structure allows these backers to hold their stakes through an eventual public listing rather than exiting immediately.
Employee Retention Strategy#
The share purchase program exemplifies a wider shift in how AI startups manage workforce retention. By providing liquidity opportunities before a traditional exit, companies like ElevenLabs aim to keep skilled employees from defecting to rivals seeking similar talent. This represents ElevenLabs' second employee equity event; the company ran a $100 million tender offer in September 2025 at a $6.6 billion valuation.
The Company#
Founded in 2022, ElevenLabs has built its reputation on creating synthetic voices that closely mimic human speech, along with related audio effects. The New York and London-headquartered company now ranks among Europe's most highly valued startups following the latest valuation bump.
