David Park is no stranger to the startup world. In this episode of Build Mode, he sits down with Isabelle Johannessen to share how his team is deliberately refining, raising funds, and growing Narada. Their enterprise AI platform leverages large action models to automate intricate, multi-stage workflows across corporate systems.

On the surface, Narada appears to have everything investors typically seek: an ideal founding team of seasoned researchers and operators from Stanford and Berkeley, prominent enterprise clients, and a functional product. So when the company applied for Startup Battlefield in 2024, it was surprising how little fundraising they had pursued. That approach was intentional. "We wanted to not waste too much money," Park explained regarding their decision to delay fundraising. "Because I do believe that 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 successfully exited Coverity. That experience taught him a vital lesson he has carried into Narada: prioritize conversations with customers before anything else. He noted that early on, he and his co-founders avoided reaching out to venture capitalists. Instead, the trio made over 1,000 customer calls to thoroughly grasp the pain points. Once the problem was crystal clear, the solution emerged. These teams required an AI tool they could communicate with like a person and trust to handle multiple steps simultaneously. "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," Park emphasized. He recommends viewing those initial discussions as more than sales opportunities: "And 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 an experienced founder, Park holds a core conviction: to build a company properly, the customer must be at the heart of every decision. Ultimately, no matter how trendy, intriguing, or well-regarded a product may be within the industry, if people aren't willing to pay for it, it won't succeed.

Apply to Startup Battlefield: We are seeking early-stage companies with a minimum viable product. Nominate a founder or yourself, and be sure to mention you learned about Startup Battlefield from the Build Mode podcast. Apply here. This event brings Build Mode to life, offering a full day dedicated to founders, builders, and the discussions that genuinely propel startups forward. It's also an excellent opportunity to refine your narrative. Secure your tickets. Whether you want to support the participants or connect with thousands of founders, investors, and tech enthusiasts, grab your tickets now.

Isabelle Johannessen hosts Build Mode. The show is produced and edited by Maggie Nye, with Audience Development led by Morgan Little. Special thanks go to the Foundry and Cheddar video teams.