team
A tight-knit team of computer scientists and AI researchers, united by a passion for pushing the boundaries of audio technology. Each of us brings specialized expertise in machine learning, signal processing, and software engineering.
Ryan Reszetnik
Co-FounderMcGill University · B.Eng Computer Engineering
Ryan graduated top of his class from McGill University with a B.Eng in Computer Engineering, specializing in artificial intelligence. As a founding engineer, he brings deep expertise in signal processing and full-stack development to the Kova team. Ryan currently leads the development of Kova's advanced text-to-speech (TTS) models, driving innovation in voice technology and generative AI. Beyond his professional endeavors, he maintains his strategic thinking and agility through his passion for badminton.
Carl Machaalani
Co-FounderMcGill University · Double Major in CS & Statistics
Carl Machaalani is Kova's founding engineer and first employee. Graduating at the top of his class from McGill University with a double major in Computer Science and Statistics, Carl brings exceptional analytical and mathematical expertise to the team. As a full-stack developer, he drives Kova's mobile app development across both frontend and backend initiatives. Off the clock, Carl channels his competitive spirit into his passion for tennis.
Henri-Charles Machalani
Co-Founder + Executive ChairmanEx-Microsoft · Founded & Exited Mistplay ($300M+ ARR) · McGill University CS
Henri-Charles Machalani is a technical founder passionate about AI, product and design excellence. He founded Mistplay, a platform for mobile gamers, scaled it to over $300M annual revenue, and remains an active board member. With a computer science degree from McGill University, he previously led product initiatives at Microsoft. He enjoys rock climbing, snowboarding, and cycling.
Olivier Déry-Prévost
AI ResearcherMILA · Double Major in CS & Math
Olivier Déry-Prévost is an AI researcher at Kova, currently completing a Master's degree in Artificial Intelligence at Mila. He holds a bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from University of Montreal, providing a strong foundation in both theoretical and applied machine learning. At Kova, Olivier leads AI research and model training focused on voice models, advancing innovation at the heart of our product. Outside of his professional work, he pursues endurance sports, competing in marathons and Ironman events, reflecting the discipline and perseverance he brings to his work.
advisory board
World-class expertise in AI, voice technology, and entrepreneurship — helping shape our vision and strategy.
Kundan Kumar
Advisor + InvestorLead Audio at Character.ai · Former student of Yoshua Bengio · Co-founder of Lyrebird · Lead author of MelGAN
A distinguished voice technology expert who studied under Yoshua Bengio, Kundan is the co-founder of Lyrebird (acquired by Descript) and lead author of the influential MelGAN paper. His groundbreaking work in voice synthesis and deep learning has shaped the industry. Currently leading audio as Lead Audio at Character.ai in San Francisco, he brings invaluable expertise to Evalabs' technical strategy and product development as an investor and advisor.
