Cisco, the global networking giant, has acquired EzDubs, a startup specializing in real-time, voice-preserving translation technology. The acquisition, announced over the weekend, aims to integrate EzDubs’ capabilities directly into Cisco’s Collaboration platform, including Webex video conferencing and messaging. Financial details of the deal remain undisclosed.
Startup Origins and Backing
EzDubs was founded in 2023 by Padmanabhan Krishnamurthy, Amrutavarsh Kinagi, and Kareem Nassar. Notably, Nassar previously worked within Cisco’s Speech AI group before co-founding the startup, signaling a pre-existing alignment with the company’s technological direction. The startup secured $4.2 million in seed funding led by Venture Highway, with participation from prominent tech investors, including former WhatsApp executive Neeraj Arora, Replit CEO Amjad Masad, and Applied Intuition CEO Qasar Younis. This backing reflects a broader industry interest in accessible, real-time communication tools.
Integration into Cisco Collaboration
Cisco plans to embed EzDubs’ technology into its Collaboration suite, enabling live translation features for Webex and other communication products. The company also intends to make the translation technology available to partners and developers, potentially expanding its reach beyond Cisco’s direct user base. Snorre Kjesbu, SVP of Collaboration at Cisco, emphasized the goal of “empowering” collaboration through AI-driven translation.
Market Trends and Recent Acquisitions
The acquisition of EzDubs occurs within a growing trend of consolidation in the translation technology space. This month, Palabra AI acquired live communication platform Talo, and in July, TransPerfect acquired Unbabel, another translation startup. These deals demonstrate increased investment in AI-powered language tools as demand for global communication rises. The ability to preserve the speaker’s original voice during translation—a key feature of EzDubs’ technology—is becoming a critical differentiator.
Sunsetting of Consumer Apps
EzDubs will discontinue its consumer-facing apps by December 15. These apps offered real-time call translation in over 30 languages. The startup acknowledged the support of its users in a blog post, framing the acquisition as a natural progression of its technology.
Implications for Cisco
The acquisition of EzDubs positions Cisco to compete more effectively in the global communication market. By integrating real-time translation into its Collaboration platform, Cisco can appeal to businesses and individuals seeking seamless multilingual communication. The move also suggests a broader strategic focus on AI-driven communication tools.
The integration of EzDubs’ technology into Cisco Collaboration will likely redefine the industry standard for real-time multilingual communication, making it a key driver of global collaboration
