From Garage to Billions: Polish Duo’s AI Voice Tech Lands Them on Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe

Two Polish founders have become billionaires before age 31. Their company, ElevenLabs, was honored on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list for 2025. The AI startup achieved a staggering $6.6 billion valuation in just three years.Forbes recognized Mateusz Staniszewski and Piotr Dabkowski for revolutionizing synthetic speech. Their technology powers audiobooks, film dubbing, and customer service agents globally.

The Rapid Ascent of a European Tech Unicorn

ElevenLabs launched in May 2022. The founders used their savings after leaving jobs at Palantir and Google. Their first product debuted in January 2023.The AI model could read any text in any voice with startling emotion. It quickly outperformed offerings from tech giants like Apple. According to Forbes, venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz invested $19 million by 2023.Total funding surpassed $300 million within two years. The company’s valuation hit $6.6 billion in late 2025. Both founders now hold billionaire status due to their significant equity stakes.

Real-World Impact and Inherent Ethical Risks

The technology’s applications are vast. It instantly creates audiobooks for publishers like HarperCollins. It also translates YouTube videos into many languages using the creator’s own voice.This power also created serious problems. Bad actors used the tool to clone voices for scams and deepfakes. Viral clips featured fake voices of celebrities and politicians.ElevenLabs created a “no go” list to block certain voice clones. The company also faced a lawsuit from audiobook narrators in 2025. That case was settled confidentially out of court.

Maintaining a Competitive Edge in a Crowded Field

Despite challenges, ElevenLabs stays ahead. It employs over 300 people focused solely on voice AI. The company boasts a library of 10,000 unique, licensed voices.Independent tests by firms like Labelbox show its models are highly accurate. They make fewer errors than competitors from OpenAI and Google. This quality attracts major enterprise clients.Half its revenue comes from large companies like Cisco. The other half comes from individual creators and small businesses. The firm is notably profitable, with strong margins.

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The recognition on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list underscores a seismic shift. Youth-led innovation is now capable of building multi-billion dollar empires almost overnight. The story of ElevenLabs highlights both the breathtaking potential and the profound responsibilities of shaping the future of AI.

Info at your fingertips

Who are the ElevenLabs founders on the Forbes list?

Mateusz Staniszewski and Piotr Dabkowski are the Polish founders. They were both 30 when named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list in 2025. They started ElevenLabs in 2022.

How much is ElevenLabs worth?

ElevenLabs reached a $6.6 billion valuation in 2025. This followed multiple funding rounds totaling over $300 million. The high valuation granted its founders billionaire status.

What does ElevenLabs’ AI actually do?

Its core technology converts text into highly realistic, emotive speech. It can clone and replicate human voices in many languages. The tool is used for dubbing, audiobooks, and customer service bots.

Have there been controversies with the AI?

Yes. The tool has been misused to create voice deepfakes and scams. This prompted the company to introduce ethical safeguards and block certain voices. A lawsuit from narrators was also settled in 2025.

Is ElevenLabs profitable?

Yes. Reports indicate the company is profitable with strong margins. It generates revenue from both large enterprise contracts and subscriptions from individual content creators.