Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently offered blunt career advice and direct critiques to employees leaving the chipmaking giant to launch their own startups, according to reports detailed by Business Insider US. The departures highlight a trend of artificial intelligence and robotics talent exiting major tech firms to found independent ventures, even as they leave behind substantial stock options.
Flexion Robotics Name Change Triggered by Jensen Huang
When David Hoeller and Nikita Rudin prepared to leave Nvidia, they placed a late-night phone call to Jensen Huang to announce their departure. Having spent years advancing robotics simulations—including a high-profile stage demonstration where Huang stood alongside humanoid robots—the pair wanted to build technology for the real world through their Zurich-based startup, now known as Flexion Robotics.
According to Nikita Rudin, Huang did not try to stop them from leaving. Instead, the Nvidia CEO took issue with their original company name, “Checkpoint.” Rudin stated that Huang told them the name was poor and required changing. That executive critique prompted the founders to rebrand their enterprise to Flexion Robotics. Since leaving, the startup has secured more than $57 million USD (approximately 49 million euros) in funding, opened an office in San Francisco, and hired researchers from Meta, according to Business Insider US.
INT21 Founder Bing Xu Receives Direct Communication Critique
In contrast to his handling of the Flexion Robotics team, Huang attempted to persuade departing employee Bing Xu to stay. Xu joined Nvidia in 2024 following the acquisition of his first startup, but decided earlier this year to exit and launch INT21, a new venture developing artificial intelligence software for the semiconductor industry. By leaving, Xu walked away from Nvidia shares that could have generated life-changing wealth.
According to Business Insider US, Huang convened a two-hour meeting with Xu and other company leaders to discuss his work and reasons for remaining at Nvidia. During the discussion, Huang delivered pointed personal feedback, identifying communication as Xu’s primary professional weakness. Huang noted that Xu’s technical depth often led him to assume listeners shared his level of knowledge, making his explanations difficult to follow. Xu described the assessment as the most honest feedback he received in a decade, prompting him to hire a public relations agency to improve his communication skills. Alongside the critique, Huang advised Xu to take a medical break to address blood pressure and related health issues.
Financial Stakes and Investor Ties
Both departures involved financial trade-offs. Bing Xu relinquished equity packages in one of the world’s most powerful technology corporations to pursue entrepreneurship. However, corporate ties did not sever completely. Nvidia later participated as an investor in Flexion Robotics, maintaining a financial stake in the former employees’ new venture as the company expands its operations into the United States.
