DeepGram
Deepgram is a voice AI infrastructure company that provides real-time speech-to-text, text-to-speech, and voice agent APIs.
Profile
Deepgram provides real-time APIs for speech-to-text, text-to-speech, and autonomous voice agents, enabling developers and enterprises to build voice AI applications.
Deepgram is a voice AI infrastructure company that provides real-time speech-to-text, text-to-speech, and voice agent APIs. Founded in 2015 by physicists, the company initially focused on end-to-end deep learning for speech recognition, moving away from rule-based systems. As of January 2026, Deepgram raised $130 million in Series C funding at a $1.3 billion valuation, led by AVP, with participation from existing investors including Tiger Global, Madrona, In-Q-Tel, and new investors such as Twilio, ServiceNow Ventures, SAP, Citi Ventures, Alumni Ventures, and Princeville Capital.
The company also acquired OfOne, a voice AI platform for drive-thrus, to expand into the restaurant industry. Deepgram reports over 1,300 organizations building on its APIs, including customers like NASA and Amazon Web Services. The platform processes over 50,000 years of audio and has transcribed more than one trillion words.
The company claims 100%+ year-over-year revenue growth continuing into 2026, with over 400 enterprise customers and a developer community of over 200,000. Deepgram supports over 50 languages and offers flexible deployment options including cloud, on-premises, and hybrid. The company opened a new Voice AI Collaboration Hub in San Francisco and expanded its patent portfolio. CEO and co-founder Scott Stephenson has stated the company's goal is to pass the 'Audio Turing Test' at scale in 2026.
Products by DeepGram
- D Deepgram Speech-to-Text API Deepgram is a speech-to-text API designed for developers and enterprises requiring real-time transcription and conversational understanding. Founded in Be the first to review →
- D Deepgram Text-to-Speech API Deepgram Text-to-Speech API (Aura-2) is a neural TTS service designed for developers building professional-grade voice applications, particularly in Be the first to review →
- D Deepgram Voice Agent API Deepgram Voice Agent API is a real-time conversational AI platform combining speech-to-text, LLM orchestration, and text-to-speech capabilities into Be the first to review →
Who buys this
- Enterprises deploying AI voice agents for customer service and contact centers
- Developers building voice-enabled applications across industries
- Restaurants and hospitality businesses using voice automation for drive-thrus and ordering
- Media and content companies needing real-time transcription and captioning
- Healthcare and financial services organizations requiring compliance monitoring and call analytics
Publicly disclosed clients
- NASA
- Amazon Web Services
- Twilio
- Sierra
- Decagon
- Cresta
- IBM
Strengths and what to watch
Strengths
- Deepgram's real-time transcription engine achieves sub-300 millisecond latency and processes speech up to 40x faster than real time, critical for live voice agent applications.
- The company has raised over $130 million in Series C funding at a $1.3 billion valuation, with strategic investors including Twilio, ServiceNow, SAP, and Citi Ventures, indicating strong market validation.
- Deepgram supports over 50 languages and offers flexible deployment (cloud, on-premises, hybrid), making it adaptable for enterprise security and compliance requirements.
Watch for
- Deepgram faces intense competition from large cloud providers (AWS, Google, Microsoft) and well-funded startups (AssemblyAI, Rev) in the speech AI space, which could pressure pricing and market share.
- The company's reliance on compute-intensive deep learning models means scaling costs are high; the Series C funding will partly go toward large compute purchases, and profitability has not been disclosed.
- Deepgram's acquisition of OfOne (drive-thru voice AI) is a niche bet; integration and expansion beyond quick-service restaurants may prove challenging if the market does not scale as expected.
Recent moves
Key Information
- Industry
- Speech
- Founded
- 2015
- Headquarters
- San Francisco
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Deepgram and what does it do?
Deepgram is a voice AI infrastructure company that provides real-time APIs for speech-to-text, text-to-speech, and autonomous voice agents. Founded in 2015 by physicists, it helps developers and enterprises build voice AI applications across industries.
How much funding has Deepgram raised and what is its valuation?
As of January 2026, Deepgram raised $130 million in Series C funding at a $1.3 billion valuation. The round was led by AVP with participation from investors including Twilio, ServiceNow Ventures, SAP, and Citi Ventures.
What are the key features of Deepgram's speech-to-text API?
Deepgram's real-time transcription engine achieves sub-300 millisecond latency and processes speech up to 40x faster than real time. It supports over 50 languages and offers flexible deployment options including cloud, on-premises, and hybrid.
Who are Deepgram's main customers and what industries use it?
Deepgram serves over 400 enterprise customers and 1,300 organizations, including NASA and Amazon Web Services. Key industries include customer service, contact centers, restaurants, media, healthcare, and financial services.
What was Deepgram's acquisition of OfOne and why does it matter?
Deepgram acquired OfOne, a voice AI platform for drive-thrus, to expand into the restaurant industry. This niche bet aims to automate ordering in quick-service restaurants, though integration and market scaling may present challenges.
How does Deepgram compare to competitors like AWS and AssemblyAI?
Deepgram faces competition from large cloud providers like AWS, Google, and Microsoft, as well as startups like AssemblyAI and Rev. Its strengths include sub-300ms latency, over 50 languages, and flexible deployment, but pricing pressure is a risk.
Sources
- deepgram.com — Company homepage showing product offerings, customer logos (Twilio, Sierra, IBM, NASA, etc.), and language support claims.
- deepgram.com — Official press release detailing $130M Series C, $1.3B valuation, acquisition of OfOne, investor list, and customer count of 1,300+ organizations.
- www.reuters.com — Reuters report confirming the Series C round, valuation, investor participation, and plans for international expansion and compute purchases.
- techcrunch.com — TechCrunch article covering the funding round and acquisition of OfOne, with context on voice AI market growth.
- fueler.io — Third-party blog aggregating Deepgram usage statistics: 200,000+ developers, 50,000 years of audio processed, 1 trillion words transcribed, 400+ enterprise customers, 100%+ YoY revenue growth.