Transforming Communication: The Rise of Sanas in Voice Recognition Technology

The demand for voice and speech recognition technologies is skyrocketing! According to a recent analysis by Markets and Markets, this dynamic sector is projected to surpass a whopping $28.1 billion by 2027. With countless vendors entering the arena, one particular startup is making headlines with its innovative approach: Sanas.

A New Player on the Scene

Founded in 2020 by a trio of college students—Maxim Serebryakov, Shawn Zhang, and Andrés Soderi—Sanas is on a mission to enhance human connection through cutting-edge technology. Drawn from a poignant experience of a friend facing accent discrimination while working in a call center, the founders decided to create a solution that would mitigate accent bias.

As Sharath Keshava Narayana, Sanas’ co-founder and president, explains, “At Sanas, we believe that while technology is transforming the industry, it shouldn’t replace human connection but rather enhance it.” This vision resonates, especially as global customer interactions continue to grow.

How Does It Work?

The technology behind Sanas is nothing short of revolutionary. Using artificial intelligence, the software analyzes speech and outputs a transformed version that matches a desired accent—all while preserving the speaker’s original emotion and identity. Narayana touts the company’s patented AI technologies, stating that “Sanas’s AI models are trained with over 50 million utterances of speech” sourced from collaborations with voice actors and industry partners.

Recently, the company expanded its capabilities by acquiring InTone, bolstering its intellectual property and broadening its potential customer base.

Building a Customer Base

Today, Sanas serves around 50 customers across various industries, including healthcare, logistics, and hardware manufacturing. Impressive growth can be seen in their annual recurring revenue, which has surged to $21 million—an increase of $3 million from the previous year.

However, not everyone is fully on board with the concept of accent modification. Critics argue that hearing diverse accents could actually fight bias rather than mitigate it. Some technologists suggest that solutions like Sanas risk creating a more homogenized workforce. Narayana counters this notion with a clarion call for inclusivity: “What makes Sanas special is not just the technology, but its deeply human mission to break barriers, reduce discrimination, and amplify voices across the globe.”

Funding and Future Prospects

Despite the somewhat contentious debate surrounding its mission, Sanas has continued to attract financial backing. Recently, the company closed a substantial $65 million funding round, pushing its valuation beyond $500 million. The round was led by Quadrille Capital and Teleperformance, with support from Insight Partners, Quiet Capital, Alorica, and DN Capital. To date, Sanas has raised over $100 million in capital.

What’s next for Sanas? The company plans to develop new "speech-to-speech" algorithms, expand into new regions, and explore opportunities in industries such as healthcare and retail. Narayana emphasizes their commitment to responsible scaling and continuous innovation, remarking, "Sanas is well-prepared to weather potential headwinds."

Looking ahead, Sanas aims to grow its team of approximately 150 employees and open a new office in the Philippines, a global hub for contact centers.

Conclusion

As the world becomes more interconnected, the role of communication is more vital than ever. Sanas stands out not only for its innovative technology but also for its mission to foster understanding and connection across language barriers.

The AI Buzz Hub team is excited to see where these breakthroughs take us. Want to stay in the loop on all things AI? Subscribe to our newsletter or share this article with your fellow enthusiasts.