Nvidia CEO's Mentorship Transforms SoundHound AI from Dorm Project to $5.4 Billion Voice Tech Giant

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang sent research reports on Sundays to SoundHound's CEO for feedback -- an unusual ritual that helped grow the $5 billion AI firm

One random encounter can change the course of an entire business career -- and for SoundHound AI cofounder Keyvan Mohajer, that came when he met Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang around 10 years ago. "It's been one of the good things in my life to cross paths with Jensen and Nvidia," Mohajer told Fortune, recalling that the two became acquainted because Huang "had a passion for what's the next big thing, and he became very interested in our field." That "thing," was SoundHound AI -- an AI voice communication company that first began in 2004 in his Stanford University dorm room. And the unlikely encounter set the stage for a decade-long relationship that resulted in leadership inspiration and even a bit of homework for Mohajer on some weekends. On a Sunday morning, specifically, Huang would send Mohajer research papers with notes. "I had to read it and give my feedback," Mohajer recalled. This always-on mentality is something that's unsurprising coming from Huang; after all, he's admitted he is someone who works seven days of the week and even finds it hard to not think about work. But Huang's hands-on nature, of all-in on business -- even on weekends -- became a source of inspiration for Mohajer. In the end, their exchanges impressed Huang and even contributed to the company's success. SoundHound IPO'd in 2022, and by the end of 2023, Nvidia became an investor, purchasing about 1.73 million shares in Mohajer's company. Its market cap has since soared to about $5.4 billion at time of publication. "He's an amazing person, engineer and leader," Mohajer said warmly about Huang. "Our relationship with him has been great." Growing an idea into a multi-billion-dollar company has been no easy feat for anyone, but Mohajer said it has been made easier by the fact he's found what he loves doing -- and it's allowed him to blur the lines between work-life balance. In fact, Mohajer starts his day before the crack of dawn, usually before 5 a.m., a time that he called his "golden hours" when no one else is awake to reply to his messages. "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, so it's not a problem." And even when he escapes to spend time with his family, his passion for his work still creeps back in -- but instead of being mad about it, he embraces it. "I do spend a lot of hours working. And even sometimes I go wash dishes and I'm still thinking about my work," Mohajer said. "That can be therapeutic, and it can give you really good ideas. Sometimes I go exercise, and when I'm on a run, I come up with great ideas or solve new problems." On top of learning about being hands-on from Huang, Mohajer said he's been inspired by one of his favorite films, Modern Times -- which was released in 1936. "What really inspired me was that Charlie Chaplin, he directed it, he produced it, he was the main actor, he wrote the story, and he made the music," Mohajer said to Fortune. "And it's just an example of something being so hands on -- and they're all amazing. The music is amazing, the storyline is amazing, the acting is amazing." Mohajer said he wanted to emulate Chaplin in his own company: understanding technology, business, fundraising, recruitment, and more. "When it's for the first time I'm doing it, I know that I'm not experienced, and then I learn, and I become good at it, and I expand my horizon," Mohajer said. "And I just saw that in him, and he was just so fluent at it and that was an inspiration."

Nvidia's Jensen Huang Mentored SoundHound AI Founder For A Decade, Helping Turn A Dorm-Room Idea Into $5.4 Billion Voice Tech Powerhouse - NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), SoundHound AI (NASDAQ:SOUN)

Nvidia Corporation NVDA CEO Jensen Huang's decade-long mentorship of SoundHound AI Inc. SOUN founder Keyvan Mohajer helped transform a Stanford University dorm project into a multibillion-dollar artificial intelligence voice technology company. A Chance Meeting Sparks Mentorship Nearly 10 years ago, Mohajer crossed paths with Huang, a meeting that grew into a close professional relationship. Huang's passion for breakthrough ideas led him to take a keen interest in SoundHound AI, which Mohajer originally launched from his Stanford dorm room in 2004. "It's been one of the good things in my life to cross paths with Jensen and Nvidia," Mohajer told Fortune. "He's an amazing person, engineer and leader. Our relationship with him has been great." Huang's hands-on guidance included sending Mohajer research papers on Sunday mornings and asking for feedback, a routine that shaped the entrepreneur's leadership style and approach to innovation. See Also: Wall Street Braces For Tech Carnage: 'Disaster' QQQ Options Tell The Story Nvidia's Investment And SoundHound's Surge SoundHound went public in 2022 and Nvidia later became an investor, purchasing 1.73 million shares in the company. As of now, SoundHound's market cap has soared to about $5.81 billion. In August, SoundHound reported second-quarter sales of $42.68 million, up 217% year-over-year and beating estimates. The company also narrowed its adjusted loss to 3 cents per share, ahead of forecasts. CEO Mohajer called it the company's "all-time strongest quarter" and raised its full-year revenue outlook to $160 million-$178 million. So far this year, the stock has fallen 29.27%, though it remains up 227.82% overall, according to Benzinga Pro data. Inspiration From Huang And Chaplin Beyond Huang, Mohajer said he draws inspiration from Charlie Chaplin, particularly Modern Times (1936). "What really inspired me was that Charlie Chaplin, he directed it, he produced it, he was the main actor, he wrote the story, and he made the music," Mohajer said. "It's just an example of something being so hands-on -- and they're all amazing." Mohajer said he wants to emulate that approach by learning every aspect of his company -- from technology to recruitment to business strategy -- expanding his skills with each challenge. Analysts Turn Bullish On Aug. 11, Ladenburg Thalmann upgraded the stock to Buy, raising its price target from $9 to $16, following a similar move from Wedbush Securities. SoundHound holds a consensus price target of $11.75 based on ratings from eight analysts. The three latest updates came from Ladenburg Thalmann, Wedbush and Piper Sandler, setting an average target of $14.67, suggesting a potential 3.80% upside from their latest projections. Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings indicate that SOUN is maintaining a solid upward trajectory across short, medium and long-term periods. Additional performance insights are available here. Read Next: Apple May See Fewer Searches In Safari, But Google CEO Sundar Pichai Insists AI Is Fueling Overall Query Growth: 'Far From A Zero-Sum Game' Photo Courtesy: Tigarto/Shutterstock Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. NVDANVIDIA Corp$166.09-3.24%Stock Score Locked: Want to See it? Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Reveal Full ScoreEdge RankingsMomentum88.69Growth97.82Quality93.45Value7.67Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewSOUNSoundHound AI Inc$14.136.32%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs