The speech recognition industry in the US is rapidly evolving, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence and natural language processing. Companies range from small startups focusing on specific applications, like voice assistants and transcription services, to large technology giants developing comprehensive AI systems. This industry is not just about converting speech to text; it also enhances user experiences in sectors like healthcare, education, and customer service. As demand grows for more intuitive and reliable voice technologies, investments in innovation and talent development are on the rise, shaping the future of communication across various platforms.


This list includes a mix of prominent venture capital firms that actively invest in the speech recognition domain. Based primarily in California, these investors vary in size from small teams to organizations with substantial resources. Founded between 1977 and 2023, they've collectively engaged in over 1,800 deals in 2024, demonstrating their commitment to fostering innovation in this tech arena. Notables among them include General Catalyst and Intel Capital, each making significant contributions to the advancement of speech technologies.


Top 17 Speech Recognition Investors in the US


1. Y Combinator

  • Website: ycombinator.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 2005
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 802
  • LinkedIn: y-combinator

Y Combinator is a startup accelerator and venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2005. It provides funding and mentorship to early-stage technology companies through a structured program that helps entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses. Y Combinator has successfully launched over 4,000 startups, making it a key player in the technology startup ecosystem. Notably, Y Combinator has invested in several companies in the speech recognition space, including AssemblyAI, which has raised a total of $115 million across multiple funding rounds, including Series A, B, and C, with the latest round announced in December 2023. Additionally, Y Combinator participated in Deepgram's Series B funding round, where the company raised $47 million in November 2022. These investments highlight Y Combinator's active role in supporting innovative companies in the speech recognition industry.


2. Plug and Play Tech Center


Plug and Play Tech Center is an innovation hub and venture capital firm based in Sunnyvale, California, founded in 2006. They focus on connecting startups with corporations to foster growth and innovation, offering various programs including accelerator initiatives and investment opportunities. In 2024 alone, they made 253 investments, showcasing their active role in the venture capital landscape. Notably, they have invested in several companies within the speech recognition sector, including Voiceitt, which raised funds in a Seed Round in 2019, TranscribeMe, which also secured funding in a Seed Round in 2017, and Dasha.AI, which raised funds in a Seed Round in 2020. These transactions highlight their commitment to supporting advancements in speech recognition technology, making them a significant player in this industry.


3. Deep Tech Fund (an Alumni Ventures Fund)

  • Website: av.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Manchester, New Hampshire, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 2023
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 258
  • LinkedIn: deep-tech-fund-av-focused-fund

The Deep Tech Fund, part of Alumni Ventures, is a venture capital firm based in Manchester, New Hampshire, founded in 2023. It provides accredited investors and institutions access to professionally-managed, diversified venture portfolios, leveraging a network of over 10,000 investors to connect them with high-quality investment opportunities in the startup ecosystem. The fund has been involved in several notable transactions, particularly in the speech recognition context, including a significant investment in Cohere, which raised $500 million in Series D funding in July 2024 and $270 million in Series C funding in May 2023. Cohere is known for its advancements in natural language processing, a key area in speech recognition technology. Additionally, the fund invested $25 million in Vectara in July 2024, a company that focuses on AI-driven search and conversational capabilities, further emphasizing its commitment to the speech recognition and AI sectors.


4. Intel Capital

  • Website: intelcapital.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Santa Clara, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 1991
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 23
  • LinkedIn: intelcapital

Intel Capital is a venture capital firm based in Santa Clara, California, founded in 1991. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage technology companies, with a focus on areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and semiconductor technologies. Intel Capital provides funding, strategic support, and access to Intel's extensive resources to help startups scale and innovate within the tech ecosystem. Notably, Intel Capital has made significant investments in companies relevant to speech recognition, including Iflytek, which raised $519,522 in a Series C round in 2002, and MindMeld, which raised $13 million in a Series A round in 2014, as well as additional funding in 2013. These investments highlight Intel Capital's commitment to advancing technologies that enhance speech recognition capabilities. Furthermore, their recent investment in AI21 Labs, which raised $53 million in 2023, underscores their ongoing interest in AI-driven solutions, including those applicable to speech recognition.


5. 500 Global

  • Website: 500.co
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 2010
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • Number of deals in 2024: 98
  • LinkedIn: 500-startups

500 Global is a venture capital firm and startup accelerator based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2010. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage technology companies, providing funding, mentorship, and resources to help founders scale their businesses. With a global focus, 500 Global has made significant investments in various innovative startups. Among their notable transactions, they invested in Fluent.ai, which raised $2 million in 2018 for its speech recognition technology, and Voiceloft, which raised an undisclosed amount in 2023. Additionally, they participated in the funding of Snips, a company that aimed to integrate artificial intelligence into smartphones, which includes voice technology applications. These investments highlight 500 Global's active role in the speech recognition sector.


6. Insight Partners

  • Website: insightpartners.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: New York, New York, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 1995
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • Number of deals in 2024: 64
  • LinkedIn: insight--partners

Insight Partners is a venture capital firm based in New York, specializing in providing investment and advisory services to high-growth technology and software companies. Founded in 1995, the firm manages over $75 billion in assets and has a strong focus on helping portfolio companies scale effectively in competitive markets. Notably, Insight Partners has invested in AssemblyAI, which raised $50 million in Series C funding to support research and development in speech recognition technology. Additionally, they participated in AssemblyAI's Series B funding round of $30 million. Another significant investment was in Sanas, which raised $65 million in Series B funding, focusing on speech recognition solutions. Furthermore, Insight Partners led a $20 million Series A funding round for Deepdub, a company developing AI-based dubbing solutions, which also relates to speech technology. These transactions highlight Insight Partners' active role in the speech recognition industry.


7. SV Angel

  • Website: svangel.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 2009
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 44
  • LinkedIn: sv-angel

SV Angel is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2009. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage and growth-stage technology companies, providing not only financial backing but also strategic advice and access to a vast network of industry experts. SV Angel's mission is to foster innovation and assist startups in navigating the challenges of business development. Among their notable transactions, they participated in the seed round for Wit.ai, a natural language platform, which highlights their engagement in the speech recognition domain. Furthermore, SV Angel has been involved in multiple funding rounds for ElevenLabs, a voice AI startup, including their Series A, B, and C rounds, which collectively raised significant capital for advancing voice AI technologies. Additionally, they invested in Ava, which also aligns with speech-related technologies. These investments demonstrate SV Angel's commitment to supporting companies that are innovating in the speech recognition and voice AI sectors.


8. Accel

  • Website: accel.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Palo Alto, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 1983
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 101
  • LinkedIn: accel-vc

Accel is a venture capital firm founded in 1983, based in Palo Alto, California, specializing in investing in startups and early-stage companies primarily within the technology sector. The firm has a global presence with offices in San Francisco, London, India, and China. Accel has been actively investing in the speech recognition industry, with notable transactions including multiple funding rounds for AssemblyAI, a company focused on advanced speech recognition technology, where they led a Series C round raising $50M in December 2023, and participated in earlier rounds totaling $28M in Series A and $30M in Series B. Additionally, Accel was involved in a Series C financing round for Rasa, a company that develops conversational AI solutions, further demonstrating their engagement in the speech recognition and natural language processing fields.


9. New Enterprise Associates (NEA)

  • Website: nea.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Menlo Park, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 1977
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 57
  • LinkedIn: new-enterprise-associates

New Enterprise Associates (NEA) is a prominent venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California, founded in 1977. NEA specializes in investment management and advisory services for startups, particularly in the technology and healthcare sectors. The firm emphasizes a collaborative approach, fostering long-term relationships with entrepreneurs to help them navigate the challenges of building successful businesses. NEA has been actively involved in the speech recognition industry, with notable investments including Wit.ai, a natural language platform that raised a seed round with NEA's participation, and Uniphore, a conversational automation startup that secured $400 million in a Series E round led by NEA. Additionally, NEA invested in ElevenLabs, which raised $180 million in Series C funding, focusing on AI-driven voice synthesis. Their recent investments also include Hamming AI and Wispr AI, both of which are engaged in developing innovative technologies related to speech recognition and natural language processing.


10. Salesforce Ventures


Salesforce Ventures is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2009. The firm specializes in investing in innovative enterprise software companies, providing not only funding but also strategic guidance and access to a network of industry leaders to help startups grow from seed to IPO. Salesforce Ventures has a diverse investment portfolio that spans various sectors, including AI, digital health, and climate technology. Notably, they have participated in significant funding rounds for companies relevant to speech recognition, such as ElevenLabs, which raised $180 million in Series C funding, and Cohere, which raised $500 million in Series D funding. Additionally, they invested in Anthropic, a leading AI startup that raised $3.5 billion in Series E funding. These transactions highlight Salesforce Ventures' active role in supporting companies that are likely to contribute to advancements in speech recognition technology.


11. General Catalyst


General Catalyst is a venture capital firm founded in 2000, based in San Francisco, California. The firm specializes in early-stage and growth investments, providing capital and strategic guidance to startups across various industries, including technology and healthcare. Notably, General Catalyst has been involved in significant transactions within the speech recognition context, such as their investments in Sanas, a company focused on speech recognition and accent translation, which raised over $36 million in 2022 and $5.5 million in 2021. Additionally, their investment in Grammarly, which has developed an AI-powered communication assistant, further demonstrates their commitment to advancing technologies that enhance communication, including potential applications in speech recognition. Overall, General Catalyst's diverse portfolio and strategic investments position them as a key player in the technology landscape, particularly in areas related to speech recognition.


12. Liquid 2 Ventures

  • Website: liquid2.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 2015
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 91
  • LinkedIn: liquid-2-ventures

Liquid 2 Ventures is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2015. The firm specializes in investing in technology startups at the pre-seed and seed stages, as well as growth-stage companies. They provide capital, mentorship, and access to a vast network of industry insiders to help founders navigate their entrepreneurial journeys. Notable transactions include their investment in BoldVoice, which focuses on improving speech clarity, and Giga ML, which is working on large language models that are crucial for advancements in speech recognition technology. Their diverse portfolio also includes investments in companies like Parrot Software, which, while not directly related to speech recognition, showcases their broad interest in technology-driven solutions. Overall, Liquid 2 Ventures is committed to supporting exceptional founders in building lasting companies, particularly in the tech sector.


13. Tiger Global

  • Website: tigerglobal.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: New York, New York, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 2001
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 25
  • LinkedIn: tiger-global-management

Tiger Global Management, LLC is a prominent investment firm based in New York, specializing in both public and private equity investments. Founded in 2001, the firm manages approximately $50 billion and focuses on innovative companies leveraging technology. Among its notable transactions, Tiger Global has invested in Deepgram, which raised $47 million in a Series B funding round in November 2022, and previously in February 2021, where they led a $25 million Series B funding round for the same company. Additionally, they invested in AI Rudder, a Singapore-based voice artificial intelligence startup, which raised $50 million in a Series B funding round in March 2022. These investments highlight Tiger Global's commitment to supporting advancements in speech recognition technology.


14. Bessemer Venture Partners

  • Website: bvp.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 1911
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 78
  • LinkedIn: bessemer-venture-partners

Bessemer Venture Partners is a prominent venture capital firm founded in 1911, based in San Francisco, California. The firm specializes in providing funding and investment management services to startups and growth-stage companies across various sectors, including technology and healthcare. Bessemer has a strong track record of investing in innovative companies, particularly in the AI and speech recognition domains. Notable transactions include their investment in Rev, which raised $10 million in Series B funding in 2013, a company that specializes in speech-to-text services. They also invested in MindMeld, which raised $13 million in Series A funding in 2014, focusing on conversational AI technology. Furthermore, Bessemer's participation in the funding round for DeepL, an AI startup, and their involvement with Anthropic, which raised $3.5 billion in Series E funding, showcases their commitment to advancing AI technologies that often incorporate speech recognition capabilities. This diverse portfolio positions Bessemer as a key player in the speech recognition investment landscape.


15. Sosv

  • Website: sosv.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 1995
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 170
  • LinkedIn: sosv

SOSV is a venture capital firm founded in 1995, specializing in funding and supporting deep tech startups through its development programs. With a global reach, SOSV connects innovative companies with investors, providing not only venture capital investment but also resources to help startups grow and succeed. In recent years, SOSV has made significant investments in the speech recognition domain, including a notable investment in ELSA, an English learning app that raised $15 million in Series B funding to expand its operations and enhance its AI and speech recognition capabilities. Additionally, SOSV participated in earlier funding rounds for ELSA, including a $7 million Series A round aimed at hiring AI scientists and engineers to bolster its speech recognition technology. Their investment in DXwand, an AI startup focused on enhancing AI research, further illustrates their engagement in the AI sector, which often overlaps with speech recognition technologies.


16. Gaingels

  • Website: gaingels.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Burlington, Vermont, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 2015
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 60
  • LinkedIn: gaingels

Gaingels is a venture capital firm founded in 2015, based in Burlington, Vermont, dedicated to investing in companies with diverse leadership. The firm provides capital and support to startups, particularly those led by underrepresented groups, to foster diversity and inclusion in the innovation economy. In 2024, Gaingels has been particularly active, with 60 investments, including notable transactions in the speech recognition space. They invested in Speechlab, Inc., which raised $2.9 million in a Pre-Seed round, and Ellipsis Health, which focuses on voice-based technology for behavioral health. These investments highlight Gaingels' commitment to supporting innovative companies in the speech recognition industry while promoting diversity in leadership.


17. Khosla Ventures

  • Website: khoslaventures.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Menlo Park, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 2004
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 97
  • LinkedIn: khosla-ventures

Khosla Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2004, based in Menlo Park, California. The firm specializes in providing funding and strategic guidance to startups, particularly in technology, healthcare, and sustainability sectors. Khosla Ventures has been actively involved in various funding rounds, including notable investments in companies like Idibon, which raised $5.5 million in Series A funding to expand its operations in natural language processing, a key area related to speech recognition. Additionally, Khosla Ventures participated in the funding of Sarvam AI, an AI startup targeting the Indian market, indicating their engagement with innovative technologies that may include speech recognition applications. Their diverse portfolio and strategic support for entrepreneurs position them as a significant player in the venture capital landscape.



Speech Recognition Insights: Key Investors in the US


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
Y CombinatorSan Francisco, California, United States (USA)51-2002005802
Plug and Play Tech CenterSunnyvale, California, United States (USA)501-10002006253
Deep Tech Fund (an Alumni Ventures Fund)Manchester, New Hampshire, United States (USA)51-2002023258
Intel CapitalSanta Clara, California, United States (USA)11-50199123
500 GlobalSan Francisco, California, United States (USA)201-500201098
Insight PartnersNew York, New York, United States (USA)201-500199564
SV AngelSan Francisco, California, United States (USA)1-10200944
AccelPalo Alto, California, United States (USA)51-2001983101
New Enterprise Associates (NEA)Menlo Park, California, United States (USA)51-200197757
Salesforce VenturesSan Francisco, California, United States (USA)11-50200958
General CatalystSan Francisco, California, United States (USA)51-2002000144
Liquid 2 VenturesSan Francisco, California, United States (USA)1-10201591
Tiger GlobalNew York, New York, United States (USA)51-200200125
Bessemer Venture PartnersSan Francisco, California, United States (USA)11-50191178
SosvUnited States (USA)51-2001995170
GaingelsBurlington, Vermont, United States (USA)11-50201560
Khosla VenturesMenlo Park, California, United States (USA)51-200200497


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