Fundraising FoxAudioTelligence
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Disruptive hearing/audio clarity technology start-up
Also known as AudioTelligence · AudioTelligence Ltd
Investors · 5
How we know: octopusventures.com · research · enterprise.cam.ac.uk · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Parkwalk Advisors's portfolio page · Not right? Tell us
How we know: a partner's Signal profile · research · enterprise.cam.ac.uk · Not right? Tell us
Also in the syndicate · 2
Company profile
researched Aug 2026AudioTelligence is a Cambridge, UK-based audio technology company founded in 2017 as a spin-out from CEDAR Audio Ltd, a University of Cambridge-founded specialist in audio restoration, dialogue noise suppression and speech enhancement for the entertainment and audio forensic sectors. The company also draws on technology developed by the Signal Processing Group of the University of Cambridge. Its core product is data-driven "blind audio signal separation" (blind source separation, or BSS) software for multi-microphone audio capture, described by the company as acting like auto-focus for sound: it identifies a sound source of interest in a busy acoustic environment and separates it from interfering noise, so that human listeners or speech-recognition systems can hear the target speaker more clearly.
The technology addresses the limitation that modern speech recognition accuracy degrades in noisy environments, and the underlying "cocktail party problem" of following one voice amid competing sound. Stated application areas include voice assistants operating in noisy settings, smart speakers, smart TVs and set-top boxes where broadcast audio interferes with command recognition, two-way telephony in noisy places, smartphones and tablets, automotive products, hearing aid devices and voice communications systems. The company has also explored hearing assistance for people who struggle to hear in noisy crowds.
Founding story
The company was founded in 2017 in Cambridge, UK as a spin-out from CEDAR Audio Ltd, a University of Cambridge-founded company specialising in audio restoration, dialogue noise suppression and speech enhancement. Founder and CEO Ken Roberts has said the original impetus for the technology was solving the "cocktail party problem" — isolating a single voice among competing sound sources.
Business model
AudioTelligence creates and licenses intellectual property rather than building its own direct-to-consumer hardware. Its blind source separation technology is supplied as production-ready software that, according to the company, can be added to existing devices via a software update.
Licensing of audio signal-processing intellectual property and software to device makers and technology providers.
Traction
Tests with a home assistant platform reported that sentence recognition rate in noisy conditions rose from 22% to 94%. At CES the company reported generating 90 business leads in four days. It had raised $12.5 million across seed and Series A rounds by March 2020.
Latest developments
In March 2020 AudioTelligence announced an $8.5 million Series A round led by Octopus Ventures, with existing investors Cambridge Enterprise, Cambridge Innovation Capital and CEDAR Audio participating; the company said it would use the funds for further product development, technology-provider partnerships and tripling employee headcount over the following three years.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
The company positions its technology against the accuracy limits of speech recognition in noisy environments, targeting what it describes as a $10 billion voice market.
AudioTelligence states its approach differs from existing background-noise removal solutions in that it does not require matched microphone arrays, requires no user training or calibration of the algorithm, adapts in real time to new voices and noise sources, and delivers low latency sufficient to preserve lip sync, with production-ready code deployable to existing devices by software update.
Technology
The company developed data-driven blind source separation (BSS) for audio captured by multiple microphones. The system homes in on a source of interest and suppresses interfering noise. Per the company, it does not require "matched" microphones — reducing cost and implementation complexity — and needs no prior training or calibration, allowing it to recognise new background sounds and new voices in real time and adjust its focus. It is also described as offering low enough latency to retain lip sync, which the company says is important for hearing-assist use cases.
Go-to-market
The company pursues a licensing strategy targeting OEMs and technology partners, using industry events such as CES to generate commercial leads, and stated after its Series A that it would use the capital to support new partnerships with technology providers.
Manufacturers and technology providers of consumer devices including smart speakers, smart TVs and set-top boxes, smartphones and tablets, voice assistant and voice communications systems, automotive products, and hearing aid devices.
Geography
Headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom, with commercial activity including exhibiting in the United States at CES in Las Vegas.
History
Founded in 2017 as a CEDAR Audio spin-out, AudioTelligence raised $4.0 million (£3.1 million) in seed funding in 2018 from Cambridge Innovation Capital and Cambridge Enterprise. In January 2020 it demonstrated its technology at CES in Las Vegas, reporting 90 business leads over four days. In March 2020 it announced an $8.5 million Series A round led by Octopus Ventures with participation from existing investors Cambridge Enterprise, Cambridge Innovation Capital and CEDAR Audio, with proceeds earmarked for further product development, new partnerships with technology providers and tripling headcount over three years.
Compiled by commissioned research from 5 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 3
launches, deals, and filingsThe company announced an $8.5 million Series A round led by Octopus Ventures with participation from existing investors Cambridge Enterprise, Cambridge Innovation Capital and CEDAR Audio, to fund product development, technology partnerships and tripling headcount over three years.
$8.5M source ↗
AudioTelligence demonstrated its blind audio signal separation technology at CES, reporting interest from OEMs and 90 business leads over four days.
AudioTelligence raised $4.0 million (£3.1 million) in seed funding from Cambridge Innovation Capital and Cambridge Enterprise.
$4M source ↗
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 5
primary sources listed
- Portfolio company AudioTelligence raises $8.5m in Series A fundingenterprise.cam.ac.uk · web
5 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does AudioTelligence do?
- Cambridge, UK spin-out licensing blind audio source separation technology that isolates speech from background noise.
- Who are AudioTelligence's investors?
- AudioTelligence's investors include Octopus Ventures, Parkwalk Advisors, Cambridge Innovation Capital.