option
Home
News
Telli, a YC Alum, Secures Pre-Seed Funding for AI Voice Agents

Telli, a YC Alum, Secures Pre-Seed Funding for AI Voice Agents

April 16, 2025
173

Telli, a YC Alum, Secures Pre-Seed Funding for AI Voice Agents

If you've ever been frustrated by the long wait times when trying to book an appointment, the Berlin-based startup telli might just be the solution you've been looking for. Founded by Seb Hapte-Selassie, Philipp Baumanns, and Finn zur Mühlen, telli has developed AI voice agents that step in to manage high volumes of customer interactions, seamlessly integrating into company operations. This innovative approach has recently led to a successful pre-seed funding round, raising $3.6 million, spearheaded by Berlin's Cherry Ventures and Y Combinator.

Telli's AI voice agents are designed to handle a range of tasks, from automated callbacks to closing deals. This technology aims to alleviate the bottleneck that often occurs when a surge of customers tries to reach out, allowing human operators to focus on more complex issues. The voices of these AI agents are crafted by professional voice actors and then cloned using advanced platforms like ElevenLabs or Cartesian AI, ensuring a natural and engaging customer experience.

Impressive Growth and Expansion

Since its inception, telli has experienced remarkable growth, boasting a revenue increase of over 50% month over month. Operating out of Berlin with just a six-person team, the startup has managed to process nearly a million phone calls. Their customer base spans across Germany, the U.K., Latin America, and the U.S., with ambitions to expand further.

Origins and Inspiration

The idea for telli was born out of the founders' experiences at Enpal, a leading German startup. CEO Finn zur Mühlen shared with TechCrunch, "We scaled the customer service people, and we saw first-hand how difficult call automation for customer acquisition is and how challenging it is to manage performance." This insight led them to create AI agents capable of achieving tangible outcomes such as booking appointments, prequalifying leads, and making product suggestions.

Technology and Flexibility

Telli leverages a variety of AI models, including those from Open AI and Claude, to ensure they provide the most effective solutions to their clients. Zur Mühlen explained, "We switch around. Our goal is always to give our customers the best solutions that are out there right now." This adaptability is key to telli's success in meeting the diverse needs of their global clientele.

Related article
Google Photos brings Clueless's iconic closet to life with AI Google Photos brings Clueless's iconic closet to life with AI Google Photos announced a new AI-powered feature on Wednesday that will soon turn photos of your clothes into a digital closet, letting you create fresh outfit combinations and even virtually try them on. The concept clearly draws inspiration from Ch
Notion transforms its workspace into a hub for AI agents Notion transforms its workspace into a hub for AI agents Notion, the productivity software company, is entering the agentic era.During a live-streamed product announcement on Wednesday, Notion—best known for its collaborative note-taking app—unveiled a new developer platform that extends the capabilities o
ElevenLabs names BlackRock, Jamie Foxx, Eva Longoria as new investors ElevenLabs names BlackRock, Jamie Foxx, Eva Longoria as new investors ElevenLabs, the voice AI company, has disclosed additional investors in its $500 million Series D round, originally announced in February. These include institutional investors like BlackRock, Wellington, D.E. Shaw, and Schroders; corporations such a
Related Special Topic Recommendations
chatbot Best Custom AI Girlfriend Generators: Design Unique Personalities, Hobbies, and Backstories
Best Custom AI Girlfriend Generators: Design Unique Personalities, Hobbies, and Backstories

Discover the 2026 best custom AI girlfriend generators on XIX.AI. Explore our top-rated, curated list for designing unique personalities, hobbies, and deep backstories. Compare free vs paid options with real-world insights. Unlock your perfect creative companion today.

10 tools
xix.ai
Productivity AI Architecture Designers: Build Scalable System Architectures Using Natural Language
AI Architecture Designers: Build Scalable System Architectures Using Natural Language

Discover the 2026 best AI architecture design tools on XIX.AI. Our curated, top-rated list features powerful, game-changing solutions to build scalable system architectures using natural language. Compare free vs paid options with real-world insights. Unlock your AI edge and streamline development today.

10 tools
xix.ai
Comic Creation AI Character Profile Creators: Generate Detailed Backstories & Visual Refs for Manga Leads
AI Character Profile Creators: Generate Detailed Backstories & Visual Refs for Manga Leads

2026 Latest Best AI Character Profile Creators: Discover top-rated tools to generate detailed backstories and visual references for your manga leads. Our curated, weekly-updated list compares free vs paid options based on real-world tests. Find powerful, game-changing solutions to craft compelling characters and streamline your creative workflow. Explore the rankings on XIX.AI and unlock your perfect storytelling ally today.

10 tools
xix.ai
Health & Wellness AI Pregnancy Copilots: Generate Safe Trimester-by-Trimester Workout & Nutrition Plans
AI Pregnancy Copilots: Generate Safe Trimester-by-Trimester Workout & Nutrition Plans

Discover the 2026 best AI pregnancy copilots for safe, personalized trimester-by-trimester workout and nutrition plans. Get top-rated, curated recommendations with free vs paid comparisons and real-world insights. Unlock your healthiest pregnancy journey with XIX.AI's expert guide. Explore now.

10 tools
xix.ai
writing Best Free AI Undetectable Writers: Turn Robotic Drafts into Natural, Human-Like Prose
Best Free AI Undetectable Writers: Turn Robotic Drafts into Natural, Human-Like Prose

Discover the 2026 best free undetectable AI writers at XIX.AI. Our top-rated, curated list helps you transform robotic drafts into natural, human-like prose. Compare free vs paid options with real-world tests and weekly updated rankings. Unlock your AI writing edge today.

10 tools
xix.ai
Image editing AI Art Generators for Short-Drama Storyboards: Fantasy & Urban Romance Characters
AI Art Generators for Short-Drama Storyboards: Fantasy & Urban Romance Characters

2026 Latest: Discover the best AI art generators for short-drama storyboards. Our curated list features top-rated tools for creating compelling fantasy and urban romance characters. Compare free vs paid options, see real-world test results, and find your perfect creative partner. Get weekly updated rankings and expert insights from XIX.AI. Start visualizing your story today!

10 tools
xix.ai
Comments (25)
0/500
RalphGarcia
RalphGarcia November 26, 2025 at 5:30:33 PM EST

待ち時間の長さにいつもイライラしてたから、このAI音声エージェントは本当に助かるかも!でも完全にAIに任せちゃうのには少し不安もあるな…倫理的な問題は大丈夫?🤔

RaymondWalker
RaymondWalker October 3, 2025 at 4:30:36 AM EDT

¡Finalmente una solución real para las eternas esperas en las llamadas! 🎉 Aunque me pregunto si estos agentes de voz entiendrán acentos regionales... mi abuela tiene un fuerte andaluz que ni Siri comprende 🤣

JerryLopez
JerryLopez September 10, 2025 at 10:30:37 AM EDT

用AI语音助手来预约确实是个不错的点子 🤖 不过还是有点担心隐私问题...这些通话记录会被保存多久?创业团队来自柏林倒是有趣,欧洲在AI应用层面发力了?

RobertSanchez
RobertSanchez August 9, 2025 at 11:00:59 AM EDT

Telli's AI voice agents sound like a game-changer for customer service! Imagine booking appointments without the endless hold music. Excited to see how they scale globally. 🚀

AnthonyMiller
AnthonyMiller August 2, 2025 at 11:08:37 AM EDT

Telli's AI voice agents sound like a game-changer for customer service! I'm curious how they handle tricky calls compared to humans. Exciting stuff! 😄

EricLewis
EricLewis April 23, 2025 at 9:32:58 AM EDT

¡Los agentes de voz de IA de telli son una maravilla! No más tiempos de espera para hacer citas. Es súper eficiente y la voz suena tan natural. Solo desearía que pudiera manejar más tipos de reservas. Aún así, es imprescindible! 😍

OR