Telli, a Y Combinator Alum, Secures Pre-Seed Funding for Innovative AI Voice Agents
Telli, a former Y Combinator startup, is revolutionizing customer service by utilizing advanced AI voice agents to mitigate the challenges businesses face when managing high volumes of customer interactions. By automating routine tasks like appointment bookings, Telli allows human operators to focus on more complex issues, significantly improving operational efficiency.
Funding Success and Growth Trajectory
Recently, Telli secured $3.6 million in a pre-seed funding round, led by Berlin’s Cherry Ventures and Y Combinator. This financial boost will enable the startup to enhance its services and expand its reach.
Impressive AI Capabilities
Telli’s AI voice agents are designed to execute a variety of functions, such as:
- Automated callbacks
- Closing deals
- Booking appointments
- Prequalifying leads
- Making product suggestions
According to the company, these capabilities are achieved while maintaining a lean operation, with only a six-person team managing nearly a million processed phone calls from their Berlin office.
Rapid Revenue Growth and Global Expansion
Telli has reported a remarkable revenue growth of over 50% month over month. The startup is making waves not only in Germany but also across the U.K., Latin America, and the U.S., with plans for further expansion into new markets.
Founders’ Vision and Experience
The startup was founded by Seb Hapte-Selassie, Philipp Baumanns, and Finn zur Mühlen, who drew inspiration from their previous experiences at Enpal, one of Germany’s leading unicorns. CEO zur Mühlen noted, “We scaled the customer service people, and we saw firsthand how difficult call automation for customer acquisition is and how challenging it is to manage performance.”
Innovative Voice Technology
Telli’s AI agents utilize voices created by professional voice actors, which are then cloned using cutting-edge platforms like ElevenLabs and Cartesian AI. The company’s AI models are a mix of technologies, including OpenAI and Claude, ensuring that they provide the best solutions available to their clients.
As customer service continues to evolve, Telli stands at the forefront of innovation, proving that AI can greatly enhance the customer experience while streamlining operations for businesses. For more insights on AI advancements in customer service, visit our internal page.
