Volley, a leading startup specializing in voice-enabled AI games, has secured $55 million in a Series C funding round. This round was co-led by M12, Microsoft’s Venture Fund, and Lightspeed, with participation from General Catalyst, Causeway, Amazon, BITKRAFT Ventures, Y Combinator, and other notable investors.
Voice-enabled AI games are revolutionizing the way players interact with digital content. By leveraging advanced AI technologies such as speech recognition, natural language processing, LLM-powered content generation, and speech synthesis, Volley has created a unique, hands-free gaming experience. This innovation allows players to use their voice as the game controller, making gaming more accessible and engaging.
Volley’s vision and market leadership
Since founding in 2018, Volley has become the undisputed market leader in AI voice games and the highest-grossing AI-powered games company. Volley’s popular games, including Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, 20 Questions, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, have been played in over 30 million homes.
Volley, under the leadership of CEO Max Child and James Wilsterman, specializes in developing games for the Amazon Alexa platform. Notably, the company successfully launched a gaming hub on the Roku platform and rolled out a mobile application for both iOS and Android devices in 2023.
Volley’s success counters the prevailing narrative of 2024 that startups must choose between AI innovation and revenue generation. Volley has demonstrated that it is possible to excel in both areas, which is one of the reasons behind this latest oversubscribed funding round. This achievement showcases the viability of integrating cutting-edge AI technology with robust revenue models.
Volley’s prospects and expansion
With the new funding, Volley plans to expand its game portfolio, enhance its technology stack, and grow its user base. The company is excited about recent AI advancements, including GPT-4o and Gemini, which present new opportunities for Volley’s voice-based game experiences. Volley’s innovative approach positions it at the forefront of the evolving gaming industry, promising a future where interactive entertainment is more immersive and intuitive.
This latest funding round will accelerate our development of new voice-controlled, AI-powered games. Large language models and other emerging voice AI technologies are allowing us to create entirely new categories of games that weren’t previously possible. We’re thrilled to grow our portfolio of titles and reach new customers with the support of Microsoft and Lightspeed.
Max Child, CEO of Volley
A Hub for Innovation
Volley is a hub for innovation in the vibrant Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco. The company calls for engineers, product builders, and other talented individuals to join their team and help shape the future of voice-enabled AI games. Interested candidates can find job postings on their LinkedIn page.
Lightspeed’s continued support is a testament to Volley’s potential. Having led the Series A in 2020 and co-led the Series B in 2022, Lightspeed is tripling down on its investment in Volley. Board member Moritz Baier-Lentz expressed his excitement about supporting co-founders Max Child and James Wilsterman in their journey to redefine interactive gaming.
Volley’s successful $55 million funding round underscores the potential of voice-enabled AI games. With strong investor backing and a clear vision, Volley is set to lead the charge in this exciting new frontier. As the company continues to innovate and expand, it is poised to play a significant role in shaping the future of interactive entertainment.
