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LiveKit Valued at $1 Billion, Powering OpenAI’s Voice AI

AI Voice AI Startups Venture Capital OpenAI LiveKit Enterprise Software
January 22, 2026
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Voice AI’s Momentum
Media Hype 7/10
Real Impact 8/10

Article Summary

LiveKit, a developer of real-time AI voice and video applications, announced a significant milestone: a $1 billion valuation. The startup recently closed a $100 million funding round, spearheaded by Index Ventures, with substantial participation from existing investors like Altimeter Capital Management, Hanabi Capital, and Redpoint Ventures. This valuation reflects the surging demand for LiveKit’s services, particularly its role in enabling OpenAI’s ChatGPT voice mode. Founded in 2021 by Russ d’Sa and David Zhao, LiveKit originated as an open-source developer tool but rapidly evolved into a managed cloud solution catering to enterprise clients, including prominent names like xAI, Salesforce, and Tesla. The company’s success underscores the broader trend of voice AI adoption and the need for robust infrastructure solutions to support these applications.

Key Points

  • LiveKit achieved a $1 billion valuation following a $100 million funding round.
  • OpenAI’s ChatGPT voice mode is powered by LiveKit’s infrastructure.
  • The funding round highlights the growing demand for managed cloud solutions in the voice AI market.

Why It Matters

This news is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it demonstrates the considerable investment and belief in the voice AI market, a sector predicted to explode in growth over the next decade. Secondly, LiveKit’s success, particularly its partnership with OpenAI, further solidifies the role of specialized infrastructure providers in supporting large language model applications. Finally, for professionals in enterprise IT and AI strategy, this represents a key player and technology to understand and potentially integrate, showcasing the operational needs of a rapidly evolving landscape.

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