What happens when you tell Jensen Huang you're quitting Nvidia

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is known for his direct and honest feedback to departing employees. When David Hoeller and Nikita Rudin, who had worked on robotics at Nvidia, decided to leave in 2024 to found Flexion Robotics, Huang gave them tough love advice. He criticized their startup's name, Checkpoint, stating it sounded like it belonged in a different industry.

Rudin said they had already heard others comment on the name's suitability, leading them to change it. Huang also warned the founders about the challenging journey ahead, emphasizing the tough road they were about to embark on. Flexion Robotics has since raised over $57 million and expanded into the US. Huang's approach extends beyond just criticism; he also provides encouragement, as seen with Bing Xu, who joined Nvidia after his first startup was acquired by the company.

When Xu decided to leave for INT21, Huang spent two hours discussing his work and, after hearing about his communication struggles, encouraged Xu to take time off and work on his communication skills. Xu acknowledged that this feedback was the most honest he'd received in a decade, leading him to make the necessary improvements.