Paris-based AI voice startup Gradium raises $100M seed, backed by Nvidia

Gradium, a Paris-based startup developing voice AI models, has raised $100 million in its seed round with backing from Nvidia and other investors. The company is using the funding to open a Bay Area office to compete for talent near major AI companies, acknowledging that proximity to leading AI ecosystems provides strategic advantages. Gradium's technology focuses on delivering AI voices at scale with ultra-low latency, reducing the pauses that often occur in AI agent conversations. Since launching in December with initial funding from investors including Eric Schmidt and Xavier Niel, the startup has already secured major customers such as Renault despite competition from established voice AI companies.