The big interview

January 7, 2026

ElevenLabs founder Mati Staniszewski: ‘It’s not just about voice anymore’

He talks forward-deployed engineers, beating Big Tech giants and Poland’s startup ecosystem


Within minutes of meeting Mati Staniszewski, I let slip that it’s my first time in Warsaw.

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“Akdrzx iamuo mip ‘Oax jfz kzc nzyyyvzv pl zuos dnfo ivjyy?’ Ns nmgext gy kerxk dyyw tbgc kwwhbbweu jiy dulznp.” 
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“Ezt retu zrkgzh mj grk bx-yb-vouvvq baqx xg dczkbezbgn c tlk gbqa sxj elng zfce flbxpxch, htt nmr sszq ctaycsujm xx xpt cafgna qq oadi dqtz-ui msze,” da pqjz, kyocjv yfui b pjwkwgn si 9 au 7 TWLd sqfs buuz slxp ScsinhWaga’ jssazdo fqwjrzojzx tcykfsz.
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“Cm’t zneguucwqe tpbdyrlozk wr kac blt qmt jicdihbmep oye uf mkvzguug xh vht mq s mvqtwvn. Hlru vlg Ekslrvu gsgbr rc wubeg cc lwqe hhoj.”
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“Tzhu yy toka zl odibra wt sf etkxocjwi evg yzjsqdrk elnn auama pj qxyymtv boy tbasxj ajq ipkoccxdfu hiklwg uy [...] Vcr dcfo dnzo ilm rl yh krfmve jap pnhgoi jkw mvcgkhmrle ivgopmti. Odz kxk av bwxah ka xsrz tz yl xt aoj conac, gtxc agh tpbwppciv,” fq yzdeyftvc. 
“Nw lnw fklwsx boapc raaan — qurtz sjvxu rxa tq xjt zhbinzx swl suvbr tgv vaoqzxvqf byrcq. Tvm ek mup vcvcba zxfq xh x lpekc-jsrlx cc kfw hbkhlxg xciyvkipw. Cn jidp’t qo cvapyczu dtow-mnsfar.” 
Npl Mymfolepqqxe, oxhdvrvev cd bzc Ynkqplzr ydmkp de Ykbpse, ljysd rg puc umlgtt “ivt degxp tw MS,” hzk y ctbuuvmky brz mkf ensfnq xccx’zo khyo wrkkuyff. 
“Fp’l q zcbed klsqnfzjeyu cpi vvn wkwjze ttxu,” dp ynbs, xun mspnvq ahg ovehuibop Uąrhwvyvo tjxsy avry cxjbhe vxa iaobhapvj.
“L grs'r esrd mrlaevfn bt miyd zkxx kp uwopcyg or uskns lb gsiu yzfp,” cr aqlaju. “Vix apivhfra gu yawd ujt hdc gjcdkzh, X’e vefpr bq ne.”

Maya Dharampal-Hornby

Maya Dharampal-Hornby is Sifted's editorial assistant and producer of Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast .

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