Tanay Kothari: Building the Next Generation of Personal AI // #63
"One of the hardest parts about interacting with computers is communicating what you want. And the moment you solve that problem, computers can become a true extension of your thoughts."
What if your voice could replace your keyboard—and be smarter than Siri ever dreamed of? Meet Tanay Kothari, the CEO and co-founder of Wispr Flow, a voice-first AI company redefining how we interact with technology. From teaching himself to code at age nine to building and selling a company freshout of Stanford, Tanay’s journey is a masterclass in entrepreneurial obsession, resilience, and product-driven thinking.
In this episode, Tanay shares how his childhood dream of building Jarvis (yes, Iron Man’s assistant) led him to develop one of the most exciting voice AI tools today. We dive into the difference between good engineering and great design, why most voice assistants fail, and what it really takes to lead teams and raise capital in Silicon Valley. If you're into startups, AI, or just love hearing from product-obsessed founders, this one's a must-listen.
🔎 Find Out More About Tanay Kothari and Wispr Flow:
X: https://x.com/tankots
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tankots/
Wispr Flow: https://ref.wisprflow.ai/fopod
Key Moments
Building the Future with Your Voice: Tanay Kothari's Journey to Wispr Flow
What if you could talk to your computer like Iron Man talks to Jarvis? For Tanay Kothari, that’s not a sci-fi fantasy—it’s the life’s work of a builder who’s been obsessed with voice technology since childhood. In this episode of Forward Obsessed, co-host Pete Sena dives into the entrepreneurial journey of Tanay Kothari, founder and CEO of WisprFlow, a powerful AI voice interface aiming to reinvent the way we interact with computers.
From a coding prodigy in Delhi to a Silicon Valley founder with multiple startups under his belt (including one acquired shortly after graduation), Tanay’s path is a masterclass in discipline, vision, and execution. And at the center of it all? An unshakable belief that voice—not screens—is the future of computing.
From Code at Age Nine to Global Recognition
Tanay’s story begins in the computer lab of his elementary school, where being told he was “too young to understand” coding sparked an all-nighter of YouTube tutorials and experimentation. That moment lit the fire of a self-taught obsession that led him to build over 50 apps before finishing high school. One of those, Convert.cc, became a viral music downloader used by millions—until it was abruptly shutdown by Google.
Instead of being discouraged, Tanay leaned in. He kept building, learning how to learn faster than anyone around him, even taking 14 online college courses while still in school. His teachers, parents, and friends formed the “village” that helped him rise. This theme—surrounding himself with people who believe in the mission—has stuck with him throughout his career.
Stanford, Startups, and Selling FeatherX
With his sights set on Silicon Valley, Tanay landed at Stanford, where he soaked in everything the tech epicenter had to offer. After graduation, he co-founded FeatherX, a startup that personalized website content based on user behavior. Within a year, the product attracted acquisition offers—triggering a bidding war and ending in a successful sale to Cerebra, where Tanay became Head of Product and later Head of AI & Engineering.
The next phase of his journey tested a new skill set: leadership. Managing teams, hiring talent, and motivating people much older than him were entirely new challenges. But Tanay attacked them with the same curiosity and intensity he brought to coding, eventually becoming a leader his team admired. “I wanted to be one of the best managers they’ve everworked with,” he shares in the episode.
Wispr Flow: The Birth of a Voice-First Company
The seed for Wispr Flow was planted early—Tanay had always wanted to build “Jarvis.” But it wasn’t until a deep, values-driven conversation with his former Stanford roommate (and future co-founder) that the vision crystallized. They imagined a world without keyboards or screens—where AI could understand you well enough to think ahead for you.
Wispr Flow isn’t another transcription tool. It’s a voice-native interface designed for professionals who communicate constantly—through Slack, email, Notion, code, and more. Rather than focusing on traditional metrics like “word error rate,” Wispr Flow optimizes for zero-edit messages: outputs that require no changes before sending. That single-minded focus on trust and usability is what makes it stand out in a sea of AI tools.
It’s also why they’ve attracted serious investors, including a $12M round led by Matt Kraning and backing from NEA and the AWS Generative AI Accelerator.
Designing Products People Can’t Live Without
What sets Tanay apart isn’t just his technical ability—it’s his obsession with great product design. He draws inspiration from SteveJobs, emphasizing that design isn’t about how something looks, but how it works. Every feature at Wispr Flow starts with one question: What is the user feeling in this moment?
And it’s working. WisprFlow has earned raving superfans, hit #1 on Product Hunt, and maintained sky-high retention and paid conversion metrics—rare feats in a crowded AI space.
Lessons from a Builder Obsessed with the Future
Tanay’s story is a playbook for young founders. Here are a few key takeaways:
✅ Fall in love with learning: Mastering how to learn fast is more valuable than any single skill.
✅ Build early, often, and in public: Wispr Flow is the product of 15+ years of building.
✅ Great design is great empathy: Put the user’s emotions at the heart of product development.
✅ Leadership is personal: Tanay’s growth as a manager came from listening, humility, and relentless practice.
✅ Trust matters in AI: Users won’t adopt voice tech unless they trust what comes out of it.
Want to hear more? Check out the full episode of Forward Obsessed.
Further Reading:
The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman (Book): A foundational book on human-centered design, this classic explores how intuitive product design can make technology more usable and accessible. Norman breaks down the psychology of interaction, showing how great design is rooted in understanding human behavior.
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse (Book): This philosophical novel follows the spiritual journey of Siddhartha, a man seeking enlightenment through self-discovery rather than external teachings. It’s a timeless reflection on identity, purpose, and inner growth—one that deeply influenced Tanay’s personal mindset.
The One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard (Book): A concise and practical guide to effective leadership, this book introduces simple yet powerful techniques for managing people through clear goals, praise, and accountability. It’s a must-read for new managers looking to lead with empathy and efficiency.
DISC Personality Framework — https://www.discprofile.com/what-is-disc
