From DJ booths to soundproof booths: How Akhit Honawar is redefining focus with QuietCubes

Akhit Honawar swapped the DJ booth for soundproof booths when he founded QuietCubes – a premium soundproof office pod company that’s now operating in over 30 countries. 

After years of igniting dance floors and hosting one of Australia’s most iconic radio shows, DJ Horizon – known off-stage as Akhit Honawar – has swapped nightclubs for noise control. Today, he’s the founder behind QuietCubes, a premium soundproof office pod company that’s turning heads in boardrooms and universities across the globe. 

What began as a spontaneous idea quickly became a global venture. “When inspiration strikes, I move fast,” says Honawar. Within days of conceiving the concept, he was sourcing timber from Bunnings, designing acoustic prototypes, and flying to China to explore mass production. The brand’s name, QuietCubes, came to him instantly. “It just flipped off the tongue,” he says.  

Now, less than two years later, QuietCubes is operating in over 30 countries and counts the U.S. Government, Duke University, and Bunnings Warehouse as early adopters.  

Speed, focus and a touch of ADHD

Honawar credits his relentless momentum to something many would see as a challenge: ADHD. “Ideas come quickly and go even faster. ADHD has given me this tunnel-vision focus when something excites me,” he says. That same drive propelled his entertainment career, where he co-hosted RnB Fridays alongside Bow Wow and toured nationally with icons like Usher, Janet Jackson, and Jason Derulo.  

The transition from DJ to design innovator may seem surprising, but Honawar says it was intuitive. “I spent years in sound studios. I understand acoustics. QuietCubes isn’t just furniture, it’s an experience.”  

From the beginning, Honawar set a bold creative direction: minimalist, luxurious, and unmistakably high-end.  

“We didn’t want to blend in with boring beige office furniture,” he says. “We wanted to stand out. High-end and luxurious, like McLaren and Porsche. “ 

The result is a visually immersive pod line that elevates the workspace, not just functionally, but emotionally. “When people step inside, they’re not just escaping noise. They’re stepping into calm, focus, and clarity.” 

Marketing mindset. Global recognition.

QuietCubes aren’t mass-market. Instead, they’re premium solutions built for institutions that understand the value of well-designed silence. “At Duke University, one of the deans walked into our pod and said, ‘Oh my God, I can’t hear anything.’ That’s the kind of reaction we aim for,” Honawar says.  

For Honawar, branding isn’t optional — it’s the foundation. “You can have the best product in the world, but if no one knows about it, it doesn’t matter,” he says. This philosophy, honed through years in entertainment, is now a core pillar of QuietCubes.  

“It’s not just about pods,” he adds. “It’s about presence. Identity. Making people feel something the moment they see our name.”  

Like many founders, Honawar built QuietCubes to solve a personal challenge. “With ADHD, I’m constantly overstimulated. Even subtle background noise throws off my concentration. I knew there had to be a better way.”  

That insight became the basis for a product now helping teams, universities, and government organisations rethink productivity and privacy in the modern workplace.  

For anyone struggling to fit into conventional moulds, Honawar offers this advice: “The best ideas often come from outsiders – people who see the world differently. Don’t wait for permission. Chase the problem you can solve and let obsession guide you.”  

QuietCubes is more than a business. It’s a movement toward focus in a world of noise, built by someone who understands both better than most.  

Learn more at quietcubes.co