How 1,000+ customer calls shaped a breakout enterprise AI startup
Source: TechCrunch
Build Mode – Episode Summary
David Park – veteran founder, TechCrunch Startup Battlefield alumnus, and CEO of Narada – joins host Isabelle Johannessen to discuss how the team is intentionally iterating, fundraising, and scaling their enterprise‑AI solution. Narada uses large‑action models to automate complex, multistep workflows across enterprise systems.
At face value, Narada has everything that would likely have investors banging down its door: a dream founding team of experienced researchers and operators from Stanford and Berkeley, big‑name enterprise customers, and a product that works. So in 2024, when Narada applied for Startup Battlefield, it surprised the team how little fundraising they’d done. That choice was by design.
“We wanted to not waste too much money,” said Park when asked why they waited to fundraise. “Because I do believe that when, again, when you have too much money in the bank and you are not near product‑market fit, you’re tempted to just spend money on things that actually don’t help you evolve the company in the right way. It removes the friction to do a lot of wrong things.”
Park previously founded and exited Coverity. That experience taught him one crucial lesson that he’s taken with him to Narada: talk to your customers before you do anything else. In the early days, he and his co‑founders made over 1,000 customer calls to deeply understand pain points. Once the problem was crystal‑clear, the solution emerged: an AI product that teams could speak to like a person and trust to take on multiple steps at once.
“If you want to build a real business, ask the hard questions, right? Spend time with customers, and not just in selling, because when you have that contract and that purchase order, that’s just the beginning, right?” Park advises viewing those early conversations as more than sales calls. “Some of those customers that we bootstrapped with ultimately turned into multimillion‑dollar deals, right? And it’s always easier to sell more to a company that has already chosen you and has some level of trust in you.”
As a veteran founder, Park believes the customer must be centered in every decision. No matter how trendy or well‑received a product is, if people won’t pay for it, it won’t be a winner.
Loading the player…
TechCrunch Event Details
| Event | Location | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 | San Francisco, CA | October 13‑15, 2026 |
Call‑to‑Action Links
-
Apply to Startup Battlefield – We are looking for early‑stage companies that have an MVP. Nominate a founder (or yourself) and mention that you heard about Startup Battlefield from the Build Mode podcast.
-
Founder Summit 2026 – Join us in person on June 9 in Boston for a full day focused on founders, builders, and the conversations that actually move startups forward. A great way to sharpen your story!
-
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 – Cheer on the Startup Battlefield 200, network with thousands of founders, VCs, and tech enthusiasts. Grab your tickets now!
Credits
Isabelle Johannessen is our host. Build Mode is produced and edited by Maggie Nye. Audience Development is led by Morgan Little. Special thanks to the Foundry and Cheddar video teams.
Maggie Nye – Podcast Producer
Maggie is a Podcast Producer for TechCrunch based in Denver, Colorado. Previously, she was Brand and Content Manager for BUILT BY GIRLS, where she developed an interest in tech and a passion for creating equitable, welcoming professional tech spaces. She holds a B.A. in Journalism with a minor in English from Hofstra University (NY).
- Email: maggie@techcrunch.com
- View Bio
Isabelle Johannessen – Head of Startup Battlefield
Isabelle leads Startup Battlefield, TechCrunch’s iconic launchpad and competition for the world’s most promising early‑stage startups. She scouts top founders across 99+ countries and prepares them to pitch on the Disrupt stage in front of tier‑one investors and global media. Before TechCrunch, she designed and led international startup acceleration programs across Japan, Korea, Italy, and Spain—connecting global founders with VCs and helping them successfully enter the U.S. market. She holds a Master’s in Entrepreneurship & Disruptive Innovation and was once a professional singer.
lend of strategic rigor and stage presence to help founders craft compelling stories and stand out in crowded markets.
[View Bio](https://techcrunch.com/author/isabelle-johannessen/)