Cisco just made a strategic move in the AI translation space, acquiring Y Combinator-backed startup EzDubs to integrate real-time translation directly into its Webex collaboration platform. The deal, announced over the weekend with undisclosed terms, positions Cisco to compete with tech giants rolling out AI-powered communication features while EzDubs shuts down its consumer apps by December 15.
Cisco is betting big on AI-powered communication with its weekend acquisition of EzDubs, a Y Combinator-backed startup that built real-time translation technology preserving speakers' original voices. The networking giant didn't disclose financial terms, but the deal signals Cisco's push to stay competitive as enterprise communication platforms race to embed AI features.
The timing couldn't be more strategic. EzDubs co-founder Kareem Nassar previously worked at Cisco's Speech AI group before launching the startup in 2023 alongside Padmanabhan Krishnamurthy and Amrutavarsh Kinagi. That inside knowledge of Cisco's infrastructure likely made integration planning smoother from day one.
EzDubs had raised $4.2 million in seed funding led by Venture Highway, founded by former WhatsApp chief business officer Neeraj Arora. The investor lineup reads like a who's who of tech leadership - Replit CEO Amjad Masad, Applied Intuition CEO Qasar Younis, and Replicate CEO Ben Firshman, whose own company was just acquired by Cloudflare on Monday.
The acquisition immediately transforms Cisco's collaboration suite. EzDubs' technology will integrate into Cisco Collaboration, spanning both hardware and software products. Users can expect live translation features rolling out across Webex video calling and messaging platforms, with Cisco indicating the tech could also become available to partners and developers through APIs.
"The EzDubs team will join Cisco Collaboration, working side-by-side with our product, engineering, and go-to-market teams," said Snorre Kjesbu, SVP of Collaboration at Cisco. "Together, we will chart a new course for the industry, one where AI doesn't just support collaboration, but truly empowers it."
But there's a trade-off. EzDubs is shutting down its consumer apps by December 15, ending direct-to-consumer translation services that supported over 30 languages. The startup had gained attention with its video dubbing tool that garnered millions of views on X, plus real-time phone call translation that preserved voice and emotion.
"From launching the world's first video dubbing tool to enabling real-time, voice and emotion preserving phone call translation across 30+ languages, this journey has been extraordinary," the startup wrote in its goodbye post. "But what has truly meant the most is the support, feedback, and stories you've shared along the way."
The move reflects broader consolidation in AI translation. This month, Seven Seven Six-backed Palabra AI acquired live communication platform Talo. In July, language localization giant TransPerfect bought Portugal-founded translation startup Unbabel. The pattern suggests enterprise buyers are scooping up translation startups rather than letting them compete independently.
For Cisco, the acquisition addresses a critical gap. While competitors like Microsoft Teams and Google Meet have been embedding AI-powered features, Cisco's Webex needed a translation breakthrough to stay relevant. EzDubs' voice-preserving technology - which maintains speakers' original tone and inflection during translation - could become a differentiating factor in enterprise sales.
The deal also raises questions about consumer versus enterprise viability in translation tech. According to market research, the global translation services market is valued around $40 billion, but most growth comes from enterprise demand rather than consumer apps.
Cisco hasn't clarified whether all EzDubs team members are joining the company, leaving some uncertainty about talent retention. But with Nassar's prior Cisco experience and the team's proven AI expertise, the integration looks promising for Cisco's collaboration ambitions.
Cisco's EzDubs acquisition represents more than just adding translation features - it's about staying competitive in an AI-first communication landscape. By bringing EzDubs' voice-preserving translation technology into Webex, Cisco positions itself to compete with Microsoft and Google's AI-powered collaboration tools. The real test will be execution: can Cisco integrate EzDubs' consumer-focused innovation into enterprise-grade reliability while maintaining the voice quality that made the startup special? For businesses operating globally, seamless AI translation could become as essential as video calling itself.
