Why Dialpad Spent Nearly $50 Million To Acquire Fellow Voice Startup TalkIQ

Dialpad CEO Craig Walker, left, is joining forces with TalkIQ boss Dan O'Connell. Artificial intelligence is one of Silicon Valley's favorite buzzwords. Artificial intelligence, specifically in how it can quickly analyze the human voice, is at the core of Dialpad acquiring TalkIQ in a deal announced on Wednesday. Both startups had gotten some buzz in recent months, but Dialpad, the acquirer, was far bigger, having raised $70 million and carrying a valuation of about $250 million, according to PitchBook. TalkIQ had raised about $22 million in funding.