Synthesia CEO Victor Riparbelli on AI Video, Unicorn Status, and the Power of Routine
Table of Contents
The AI video platform Synthesia, valued at $4 billion, is redefining corporate content creation. On Monday, the company announced a $200 million Series E funding round led by Google Ventures, solidifying its position as a leader in the rapidly evolving generative AI landscape. Founder and CEO Victor Riparbelli shared insights into his daily routine and leadership philosophy, revealing the habits and indulgences that fuel his success.
From Startup to Unicorn: The Synthesia Story
Founded in 2017, Synthesia empowers businesses to leverage artificial intelligence for a wide range of video applications. These include reimagining employee training programs, creating AI-powered avatars of company leaders for internal and external communications, and seamlessly dubbing webinars into dozens of languages. This innovative approach has propelled the company to a $4 billion valuation in just seven years.
The Daily Rituals of a Tech Leader
Riparbelli emphasizes the importance of establishing routines to maintain focus and productivity throughout the day. “To keep myself going all day, I rely on a few daily indulgences and productivity hacks,” he explains.
His most crucial ritual is a daily bike commute. “Unless the weather is terrible, I prefer to bike to and from the office most days. That’s my most important ritual.” He also prioritizes short breaks, opting for a 15-minute walk and a coffee from Blank Street when feeling fatigued or uninspired. Beyond these practical habits, Riparbelli finds solace in music. “My biggest non-negotiable indulgence is music. I love underground music and listen to it whenever I’m not in a meeting.”
A Day in the Life: Balancing Deep Work and Global Teams
Riparbelli’s typical day begins between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. While he aspires to be a “5 a.m. person,” he acknowledges the reality of his natural rhythm. He prioritizes minimizing phone distractions before leaving home, succeeding approximately 75% of the time. He skips breakfast, arriving at the office around 9:30 a.m.
The early morning is dedicated to “deep work.” He dives into messages, emails, and overnight updates, intentionally shielding this time from meetings to foster creativity. “That’s when I feel the most creative, and it’s when I prefer to do deep work,” he says. This period, lasting until noon, is a blend of interviews, product development, and strategic thinking.
A significant portion of this time is also devoted to monitoring Slack, the company’s primary internal communication channel. “I make a real effort to read almost everything every day. I skim most of it, and I don’t react to everything, but spending half an hour going through Slack is one of the best ways for me to understand what’s actually happening across the company.” Internal communication at Synthesia is exclusively conducted on Slack, fostering a streamlined and transparent environment. For external communication, Riparbelli favors WhatsApp and instant messaging, tailoring his approach to the specific relationship.
Lunch, typically a club sandwich or salad from Joe & The Juice – a spot he frequented early in his career – is a quick affair, consumed at his desk around 12:30 p.m.
Afternoons bring a shift in focus, particularly when Riparbelli is based in London. As the US wakes up, his calendar fills with international meetings. His responsibilities remain consistent: product development, hiring, and external engagement.
He shares leadership responsibilities with cofounder Steffen Tjerrild, now Chief Operating Officer. Riparbelli oversees product, technology, and marketing, while Tjerrild manages finance, operations, and sales. He maintains a hands-on approach to product development, staying involved at the director level and above, while relying on an assistant to manage his schedule.
Riparbelli also prioritizes direct engagement with users and customers, aiming to speak with at least one each week. “Staying close to how people actually use the product is important to me.” He also conducts regular “skip-level” conversations with employees across various teams, from video production to sales development, to maintain a pulse on the company’s operations.
Unwinding and Staying Inspired
Riparbelli typically leaves the office around 7 or 8 p.m., dedicating three or four evenings a week to the gym. He often spends an additional hour or two working in the evening. Dinner is usually a simple, ordered-in meal, prioritizing healthy choices to maintain energy levels.
Outside of work, he enjoys reading, making music, and watching thought-provoking science fiction films like “Interstellar” and “Arrival,” as well as classics like Stanley Kubrick’s “A Clockwork Orange.” He previously found inspiration in business books like “Zero to One” by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters and “The Black Swan” by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, but now explores a broader range of topics, including technology, psychology, philosophy, and politics.
He combats his struggles with sleep by falling asleep to podcasts or YouTube videos, selecting content that is engaging but not overly stimulating. “I like to find ones that are interesting enough that they catch my attention — topics like physics or philosophy — but not important enough to me that I actually really want to listen to them,” he explains, setting a sleep timer for 30 minutes.
Keep reading
