TechCrunch Startup News How 2 UC Berkeley dropouts raised $28 million for their AI marketing automation startup
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Aug 1, 2025 Two UC Berkeley dropouts turned the tech world upside down by raising $28 million for their AI marketing automation startup, Conversation. Their journey is a thrilling tale of entrepreneurial spirit and innovation. From identifying market gaps to developing a cutting-edge product, they navigate the challenges of the highly competitive landscape. The vibe is reminiscent of a Silicon Valley comedy, but their success story is anything but fictional!
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Startup Origin Story
- Neil Tiwari got caught watching TechCrunch Disrupt in class and was sent to the principal's office.
- This incident led to a connection with a family friend who later became their first investor.
Building Product for Themselves
- Neil Tiwari and James Chiao built extra automation features on top of HubSpot for their own marketing needs.
- They found such success that they considered selling the product and started customer interviews.
Customer Discovery Importance
- Conduct extensive customer interviews to validate your product idea.
- Target marketing executives to understand real pain points and test your solution's reception.