The founder of AI voice technology company SoundHound, Keyvan Mohajer, has shared how Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s unusual Sunday habit helped shape the company’s journey into a $5.4 billion firm.
Speaking in an interview, Mohajer said that nearly ten years ago Huang began sending him technical research papers on Sunday mornings, complete with notes, and expected detailed feedback. This routine, Mohajer explained, not only sharpened his own ideas but also pushed SoundHound’s growth. “It’s been one of the good things in my life to cross paths with Jensen and Nvidia,” Mohajer said. “He had a passion for what’s the next big thing, and he became very interested in our field.”
Mohajer, who first launched SoundHound in 2004 from his Stanford dorm room, met Huang about a decade ago. What started as a chance meeting developed into a long-term relationship that blended mentorship, demanding assignments and inspiration. Huang’s commitment stood out as he would often share research papers over weekends and ask for responses. “I had to read it and give my feedback,” Mohajer recalled. Impressed with the dedication, Huang later backed SoundHound personally and through Nvidia.
By 2022, SoundHound went public, and in 2023 Nvidia purchased around 1.73 million shares in the company. “He’s an amazing person, engineer and leader,” Mohajer said. “Our relationship with him has been great.”
Mohajer also spoke about his own work style, describing how passion for building SoundHound blurred the lines between work and personal life. “Work-life balance is not a problem because I really enjoy it,” he said. “If you work to live, then work-life balance is a big question… but in my case, I really enjoy my work.”
The SoundHound chief said he often wakes up before 5 a.m. to capture his most productive “golden hours.” Even during chores or exercise, he added, ideas for work flow naturally. “I do spend a lot of hours working. And even sometimes I go wash dishes and I’m still thinking about my work,” he said. “That can be therapeutic, and it can give you really good ideas.”
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
Do Follow: The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News LinkedIn Account | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Facebook | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Youtube | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Twitter |The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Whatsapp Channel | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Instagram
About us:
The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News is a premier platform dedicated to delivering latest news, updates, and insights from the tech industry. With its strong foundation of intellectual property and thought leadership, the platform is well-positioned to stay ahead of the curve and lead conversations about how technology shapes our world. From its early days as CIO News to its rebranding as The Mainstream on November 28, 2024, it has been expanding its global reach, targeting key markets in the Middle East & Africa, ASEAN, the USA, and the UK. The Mainstream is a vision to put technology at the center of every conversation, inspiring professionals and organizations to embrace the future of tech.
