SoundHound AI Stock Surges 200 Percent Amid 217 Percent Revenue Growth

Keyvan Mohajer, founder and CEO of SoundHound AI, built his $6.5 billion voice-communication technology company from a Stanford University dorm room. Before completing his studies, he had already founded three software startups, each of which became profitable and laid the foundation for the AI innovations that followed [1]. His early ventures, driven by a relentless pursuit of big ideas and a willingness to embrace risk, offer a compelling model for Gen Z entrepreneurs seeking to launch their own businesses.

Mohajer’s philosophy is straightforward: embrace uncertainty and experiment freely. He tells Fortune that young founders should adopt the mindset of “throwing darts randomly,” as one of those attempts may hit the bullseye [2]. This approach reflects his own entrepreneurial journey, which was marked by trial, error, and rapid pivots. From his early days of developing voice recognition software inspired by Star Trek, to building query-by-humming technology that could identify songs from hums, Mohajer’s path was one of persistent curiosity and bold execution.

His success with SoundHound AI is rooted in a vision he articulated early on: voice-driven AI would become a fundamental part of human-computer interaction. “In 20 years we will talk to computers and they will talk back to us and that will change computing,” he told investors. That vision has now materialized, with SoundHound securing partnerships with major players including Nvidia, Snapchat, and Mercedes-Benz.

Mohajer’s story is not just one of technical innovation, but of personal drive. As an immigrant from Iran who arrived in the U.S. at 17 with little English, he faced early challenges but never wavered in his ambition. “I really wanted to be excellent,” he said. “I wanted to push boundaries and go to places others haven’t gone before.”

SoundHound’s recent financial performance underscores the value of Mohajer’s long-term vision. In the past year, the stock price has surged by more than 200 percent, fueled in part by a strong earnings report that showed a 217 percent year-over-year increase in revenue [1]. The company’s market capitalization now exceeds $6.5 billion, affirming the success of its voice-based AI platform.

Mohajer’s journey also aligns with a broader trend: many of today’s most successful tech companies were born in college dorms. Alongside SoundHound, companies like Google, Facebook, and Databricks were launched by students who, like Mohajer, saw no limits to what they could achieve. His message to young entrepreneurs is clear: do not be deterred by the fear of failure. Instead, pursue what excites you, and trust that persistence and creativity will lead to opportunity.

[1] Fortune

https://fortune.com/2025/08/16/soundhound-ai-ceo-keyvan-mohajer-founder-stanford-dorm-room-entrepreneuer-gen-z-throw-darts-randomly-key-to-success/

[2] Press

https://eng.pressbee.net/show4141364.html?title=public-prosecution-releases-creator-of-ai-generated-unofficial-pr