Cisco has acquired EzDubs, a Y Combinator-backed startup known for its real-time, voice-preserving translation technology, strengthening the networking giant’s push into AI-powered communication tools. The company announced the deal over the weekend without disclosing its value, and confirmed plans to fold EzDubs’ capabilities into its Cisco Collaboration platform, including Webex.
Founded in 2023 by Padmanabhan Krishnamurthy, Amrutavarsh Kinagi, and Kareem Nassar — who previously worked in Cisco’s Speech AI group — EzDubs had raised $4.2 million in seed funding led by Venture Highway. Other notable backers included Replit CEO Amjad Masad, Replit President Michele Catasta, Applied Intuition CEO Qasar Younis, and Replicate CEO Ben Firshman.
Once integrated, EzDubs’ technology will allow Cisco users to access real-time translation features across video calls, messaging, and other collaboration products. Cisco also hinted that the technology, which retains a speaker’s original voice and tone, may eventually be opened to partners and developers. As Snorre Kjesbu, SVP of Collaboration at Cisco, stated, “The EzDubs team will join Cisco Collaboration, working side-by-side with our product, engineering, and go-to-market teams. Together, we will chart a new course for the industry, one where AI doesn’t just support collaboration, but truly empowers it.”
EzDubs is in the process of shutting down its consumer apps — which supported over 30 languages — by December 15. In a farewell note, the company reflected on its rapid rise: “From launching the world’s first video dubbing tool that garnered millions of views on X (fka Twitter) to enabling real-time, voice and emotion preserving phone call translation across 30+ languages, this journey has been extraordinary. But what has truly meant the most is the support, feedback, and stories you’ve shared along the way.”
The acquisition comes amid heightened activity in the translation-tech sector. Palabra AI recently bought live communication platform Talo, while TransPerfect acquired Portugal-founded Unbabel earlier this year. EzDubs’ exit also reignites the debate over whether consumer-focused translation apps can survive when enterprise use cases — a market estimated at around $40 billion — offer far stronger commercial potential.
