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Voice AI Startup Walks Away From $125M Deal
10 Sep
Summary
- Listen Labs backed away from a signed $125 million funding round.
- The company is reportedly in acquisition talks with Salesforce.
- Salesforce may consider acquiring Listen Labs for around $2 billion.
Listen Labs, a startup specializing in voice AI for customer interviews, has made a surprising move by backing away from a $125 million Series C funding round. This decision, which occurred after a term sheet was signed at a $1.5 billion valuation, is highly uncommon in the venture capital landscape.
The collapse of the financing appears connected to acquisition talks with Salesforce, the customer relationship management giant. Reports indicate that Salesforce has been discussing a potential purchase of Listen Labs for around $2 billion. While these discussions are ongoing, a definitive deal has not yet been finalized and may not materialize.
Founded in 2023, Listen Labs utilizes AI to generate survey questions and conduct customer interviews via audio or video, delivering reports for businesses. The company boasts approximately $30 million in annualized revenue, significantly more than competitors like Simile. If the Salesforce acquisition talks fail, Listen Labs is expected to re-enter the market seeking a valuation exceeding $2 billion.
