DealMakers Jesse Zhang On Raising $231 Million To Build A Conversational AI Platform That Empowers Enterprises To Provide An AI-Driven Concierge Customer Experience
Jun 24, 2025
Jesse Zhang, founder of Decagon and a former tech entrepreneur, shares his journey from Harvard computer science to AI innovation. He discusses raising $231 million for his AI-driven customer service platform, emphasizing the importance of market adaptability and customer feedback. Jesse delves into the challenges of rapid growth and maintaining company culture while building a cohesive team. He also reveals how Decagon transforms customer experiences with AI agents, aiming to revolutionize contact centers into strategic assets.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Learning by Customer Feedback
- Jesse Zhang shared his startup journey, highlighting how ideas changed rapidly based on customer feedback.
- He emphasized learning by doing and pivoting rather than sticking to preconceived notions.
Validate Ideas Early
- Avoid overthinking and relying on intuition without customer validation in early startup stages.
- Focus on gathering real customer signals to know if your idea resonates with the market.
Timing Matters in Acquisitions
- Jesse recounted Loki's acquisition by Niantic in 2021 as a lucky, timely result.
- He emphasized the role of timing and market conditions in successful exit outcomes.