Kundan Kumar

Yo, have you heard about Kundan Kumar? The dude’s a straight-up tech wizard and one of those founders you gotta respect. He’s been around the block, jumping into crazy AI stuff since way back.

So, Kundan’s from IIT Kanpur, then he’s been all over the place, MILA in Montreal, UMass Amherst, and even Prayas. Dude’s got legit academic creds and a deep research background. But here’s where it gets wild: he co-founded Lyrebird, a company that basically made voice cloning a thing. Like, you talk, and their tech could mimic your voice with insane accuracy. That’s some sci-fi shit, no cap. They did this in Montreal, coming outta the MILA lab, which is a big deal in the AI world.

Lyrebird wasn’t just some startup; it was the real deal. They crushed it in Y Combinator’s Summer batch of 2017, big move. And honestly, that’s where the story gets even more interesting. After Lyrebird blew up, they got snapped up by Descript. Kundan then led all their AI stuff for five years, pushing out mad features that changed how people do audio editing. Think about that, building tech that’s changing how creators and companies make content.

He didn’t bounce after the acquisition. Nah, he stayed on the board, kept involved through funding rounds, even past Series C. That shows he’s got the vision and the hustle, he’s all about building something that lasts, not just chasing quick wins.

What I love about Kundan is that his process screams passion for AI and innovation. Dude’s been in the trenches, from research at top universities to building modern tech that’s rewriting the rules. You can tell he’s motivated by a real desire to push boundaries, not just chase shiny VC dollars. He’s about creating tools that actually matter and make a difference.

Long story short, Kundan Kumar is one of those rare founders who’s got the brains, the hustle, and the vision. Started from rock-solid research, crushed YC, built a new company, then helped it evolve into something huge. He’s a legit connector of academia and industry, always pushing forward. No Cap, this guy’s just getting started, and I’d bet we’ll see way more wild shit from him in the future.