French voice AI startup Gradium has successfully raised an additional $30 million in funding, bringing its total seed round to over $100 million just seven months after its inception. This recent boost was supported by new investors, notably including US chip giant Nvidia. However, Gradium has not disclosed other participants in this funding round or its current valuation. Previously, the company secured $70 million late last year, led by US venture capital firm Firstmark and French investor Eurazeo. Among its investors are French billionaires Xavier Niel and Rodolphe Saadé, as well as former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.
Originating from Kyutai, a Paris-based non-profit AI research lab, Gradium was launched in 2023 with €300 million from Niel, Saadé, and Schmidt. Kyutai focuses on open-source AI research, particularly in voice AI. Gradium develops tools for creating voice applications, offering AI models for real-time text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and voice translation, especially for smaller devices like laptops and phones. The startup has also developed an open-source framework to facilitate the creation of voice agents. Their technology is being utilized across various sectors, from customer service to healthcare, for applications like medical secretaries and video game character creation.
The new funding will help Gradium establish a new office in San Francisco and enhance its research and product development efforts. The voice AI industry is rapidly growing, with European companies like London-based ElevenLabs aiming for high valuations. US firms like OpenAI are also actively developing voice AI technologies. Data indicates that European AI-native startups focused on voice applications raised €536 million in the first half of 2026, a significant increase from the €360 million during the same period in 2025. According to Gradium cofounder Neil Zeghidour, the voice AI sector is experiencing rapid acceleration, with intense competition among a limited number of players capable of training models at scale. Gradium is at the forefront, publishing new models almost monthly, contrasting with the longer development cycles of its competitors.
