A humble beginning in Iran, a long journey to the new home, and a desire to make science fiction become reality. That’s the story of SoundHound (NASDAQ:SOUN) CEO Keyvan Mohajer — the boss behind the leading voice artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
After completing the first acquisition since going public, Mohajer spoke to Benzinga about his life story, experiences, and aspirations.
A Three-Step Journey: Although metaphorical and literal seldom overlap, Mohajer’s case shows that with hunger. Growing up in Iran, he was ambitious and hungry for knowledge.
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“I developed big ambitions and there was no limit to that imagination. That first phase taught me that I can aim high, but that’s not enough to succeed,” he said, explaining that books and Sci-Fi movies played a big role in that process.
Still, it was the second phase that shaped his character. The immigration process to Canada took several months, during which the family was separated, and he experienced literal hunger.
“I was alone in Turkey for two months. I ran out of money and I didn’t eat for one week,” he admitted, noting that family hardship and sacrifices built his character. By the time he arrived in Canada, he knew that failure was not an option and that he would fight for his goals instead of expecting to get lucky.
“Being in North America and having the concept of the land of opportunities and the American dream made it possible to aim high without limits of imagination.”
Realistic Science Fiction: Moving to Canada opened many doors for Mohajer. But it was science that continued to captivate him, becoming a path he focused on early.
“I learned that you could know the temperature on the Sun just by coming up with the formula and proving it scientifically. Science so advanced, it felt like magic.”
Mohajer looked at science fiction technologies and tried dissecting what would be achievable during his lifetime.
“I remember telling my brother how I just love AI and want to be a part of it when it happens. I looked at these fantastic technologies like the replicator, teleportation and I picked voice AI because I thought it would happen within my lifetime,” he noted, clarifying that even if we removed the boundaries of…
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