Analysis · AI & Deep Tech

ElevenLabs CEO discusses voice AI future with Nikhil Kamath

By Startup Enthusiast · 13 March 2026

What they do

ElevenLabs provides voice AI technology for companies like Meesho and MasterClass

CEO Mati Staniszewski discussed hardware challenges and translation benefits in an interview

Kamath highlighted India's opportunity to build its own voice-first platforms

Nikhil Kamath interviewed ElevenLabs CEO Mati Staniszewski on his podcast People by WTF.
The discussion focused on the future of voice AI as a major tech interface.
Staniszewski noted that hardware form factors remain the biggest challenge for adoption.
He identified three essentials: high-quality speech models, knowledge integration, and right hardware.
ElevenLabs' technology was used to dub an interview between Lex Fridman and PM Narendra Modi.
Customers include Meesho, MasterClass, and TVS Motor Company.
Kamath warned about risks of relying on foreign-owned platforms amid geopolitical tensions.
He urged Indian entrepreneurs to diversify dependencies and explore open-source infrastructure.

Voice AI could expand digital tool access beyond English-speaking or tech-savvy groups.
Real-time translation enables natural communication across different languages.
India has a large population and linguistic diversity suitable for voice-first platforms.

ElevenLabs creates high-quality speech models for various applications.
It integrates seamlessly with external knowledge bases for enhanced functionality.
The company serves enterprise customers across multiple industries.
Its technology supports multilingual dubbing and content creation.
Hardware partnerships are critical for reaching consumer markets effectively.

Staniszewski suggested possible collaboration between ElevenLabs and Kamath's ecosystem.
No formal partnership was announced during the interview.

Product: AI voice and audio synthesis platform with advanced natural language processing for speech generation
Customers: Enterprises, content creators and developers building voice-enabled applications globally
How it makes money: B2B SaaS API and subscription model for voice synthesis and audio generation services
What sets it apart: Advanced AI models for natural-sounding speech with 500M+ annual recurring revenue