Technology

AI Startup Founder Shares Name with Nvidia CEO, Faces Unexpected Scrutiny

By Kanishka Singharia

A 24‑year‑old software engineer and founder of AI startup Lycana has found himself entangled in the extramarital scandal of Nvidia’s former chief executive, Jensen Huang, because they share the same name. The founder, who has known Huang since school, recalled admiring him as a child for his long‑standing interest in computers and technology.

According to a Business Insider report, the founder began noticing people remarking on his name as AI gained prominence. He recalled hearing comments such as, “Oh! Your name is exactly like that guy,” or, “Hey, give me Nvidia stock.” He believed that sharing the name helped him stand out, making it easier for people outside his network to remember him. He said that even after meeting someone once, they would often recognize him and say, “It’s you! The Nvidia CEO!”.

The name association also appeared during job interviews over the past four years. Interviewers would greet him with, “Oh yeah, you’re the Nvidia CEO,” and recruiters would jokingly ask, “Got any extra GPUs?”.

The situation changed after reports surfaced of Jensen Huang’s extramarital affairs, including one with a woman accused of spying for China. The founder was stunned, saying, “Holy crap, my name’s going to be dragged through the mud.” He struggled to process the developments, remarking, “I don’t even know how to react to that.”

He said the reports altered his view of the Nvidia CEO. While he still acknowledges Huang’s professional achievements and considers his work visionary, he believes those accomplishments should not shield anyone from criticism over personal conduct. He added that his admiration for Huang had diminished and that professional success does not justify such behavior.

Friends have teased him about the controversy, asking, “Yo, what are you doing to my stock?” and “How many girls is it this time?” Although he does not find all jokes amusing, he says he does not take them personally.

Initially, he tried to turn the unusual situation into a marketing opportunity by publishing humorous posts on LinkedIn, believing that there is no such thing as bad publicity. The posts went viral, but the response was mixed. Some users understood the humor, while others thought the posts came from the actual Nvidia CEO. Some even asked him, “Why did you cheat?”

His biggest concern is that people who do not know him personally could mistake him for the Nvidia chief. He said friends had shared discussions about him on Reddit and RedNote, a Chinese social media platform. In one instance, someone took a screenshot of his LinkedIn post and shared it on RedNote, bringing his comments into discussions about Nvidia. He described this as a significant development because people unfamiliar with him had begun associating him directly with the controversy.