When David Park first set out to make his entrepreneurial dreams a reality, he was working from his parents’ house, cold-calling potential clients day and night, and barely making ends meet. After years of failed ventures and endless hustle, he built an AI-powered app that skyrocketed to a $25 million valuation in just two years. This is the story of how David went from rejection after rejection to leading a multi-million-dollar startup, capturing success through grit, persistence, and one incredible stroke of luck. Let’s dive into David’s journey, from his humble beginnings to the heights of startup success.
Jenni AI – https://jenni.ai/
Jenni AI (X) – https://x.com/whoisjenniai
David Park (LinkedIn) – @davidjpark96
David Park (X) – https://x.com/Davidjpark96
Early Dreams and Humble Beginnings
Interviewer: “So, David, where did it all start for you?”
David: “I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs. We didn’t have much, but I always had this big dream to build something impactful. Back in seventh grade, I remember thinking, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool to be a founder?’ That’s when the idea really stuck.”
David’s first venture began when he was only 16, with a clothing brand that didn’t go anywhere. But, instead of being discouraged by failure, he realized early that entrepreneurship was a challenging path—and he was ready to take it on. Despite failing time and time again, David believed he would find success one day.
The Pressure of Expectations: Balancing College and Dreams
After high school, David’s family pooled their resources and sent him to college with a generous $20,000 to start his journey on a more stable path. But David soon discovered that college life wasn’t where he belonged.
David: “I didn’t feel like I fit in. I tried to make friends and get involved, but it just didn’t click. Deep down, I still had this desire to do my own thing, to build something.”
Feeling out of place, David ultimately made a life-altering choice—he dropped out of college to chase his dreams. It was risky, but he knew he couldn’t ignore his passion for building a business.
Finding His “Weird and Passionate” Co-Founder
The next step for David was finding someone who shared his determination and enthusiasm. That’s when he met Henry, a tech enthusiast who had a passion for AI.
David: “Meeting Henry was a game-changer. We connected immediately. I was into writing, and he was a coding genius. We tried everything—at least 10 different startups together that all flopped. But then, we discovered GPT-2.”
After playing around with GPT-2, an AI model that generated text, they were stunned by its unique responses. One bizarre but strangely memorable line it generated—”Nothing is darker than a butthole”—stuck with them.
David: “That line convinced us two buttholes that we had to build something with this tech.”
The Birth of Jenni AI
With this epiphany, Jenni AI was born. The idea was simple: create an AI-driven writing assistant to help agencies and businesses create better content. David handled the business side, tirelessly pitching Jenni AI to agencies and cold-calling potential customers while Henry continued to develop the app.
David: “It was exhausting. I was in my parents’ house, calling agencies non-stop. Rejection was constant, but I had to keep going.”
David recalls his mom’s quiet support during those difficult days. No matter how many hours he spent working, she always had a meal ready and encouraged him to keep trying. Her belief in him helped him push through the constant rejection.
The Turning Point: A Podcast and a Big Break
In 2020, GPT-3 was released, offering more powerful AI capabilities, and David started to see traction. Despite reaching $2,000 in monthly revenue, he hit a plateau. At that point, he was exhausted and almost out of resources. Desperate, he agreed to be interviewed on a small podcast about his startup journey. What he didn’t know was that a scout for Jason Calacanis, a renowned investor, would be listening.
David: “It felt like a miracle. I got a $100,000 investment check from Jason Calacanis, and that changed everything.”
With the new funding, David and Henry booked a one-way ticket to Malaysia to cut their burn rate by a quarter. The low-cost environment allowed them to maximize every dollar and extend their runway significantly.
Facing the Roller Coaster of Success and Setbacks
After months of continuous improvement and user feedback, Jenni AI experienced its first big growth wave when it was featured in a viral Twitter thread by Zaid Khan. This boost took them from $2,000 to $10,000 in monthly revenue almost overnight.
David: “That was when I first felt the taste of success. But I knew viral growth wouldn’t last forever, so we focused on expanding our presence on social media. That strategy kept us growing.”
Jenni AI’s momentum continued, and they soon hit an impressive $80,000 in monthly revenue. But just as David thought things were stabilizing, he received devastating news: a thyroid cancer diagnosis.
A Life-Altering Challenge and a Miraculous Sign
During surgery preparation, David’s mother mentioned a comforting Bible verse that she thought would give him strength. Moments later, as he was being wheeled into surgery, he saw the same verse written on the ceiling.
David: “It was surreal. My mom had stepped out, and I was nervous, but seeing that verse felt like a sign that everything would be okay.”
Thankfully, David’s surgery went well, and he quickly returned to work with renewed energy. The experience made him realize how much he was sacrificing for his startup, often at the expense of family time. He even considered selling Jenni AI to spend more time with loved ones. But despite the hardships, he chose to double down on his vision.
Pivoting and Scaling: Finding True Product-Market Fit
To truly scale Jenni AI, David knew they needed better product-market fit. He hired a team to focus on marketing and growth, setting up multiple TikTok accounts, collaborating with creators, and capitalizing on viral content formats. Through rigorous testing and investment in high-impact channels, Jenni AI’s revenue exploded, surpassing $3 million annually and positioning the company with a valuation in the tens of millions.
David: “It’s been a long journey—nearly a decade of trial and error. But now, we’re finally here. It wasn’t one big break; it was thousands of small, hard decisions that got us here.”
Lessons from David Park’s Entrepreneurial Journey
David’s story is one of resilience, sacrifice, and a relentless pursuit of his dreams. Here are a few lessons from his journey:
- Don’t Expect Overnight Success: David spent almost a decade trying different business ideas, failing repeatedly, and learning from each setback.
- Seek Out a Like-Minded Co-Founder: A compatible, passionate partner can make a huge difference. Henry and David’s complementary skills and dedication were key to Jenni AI’s success.
- Stay Persistent, Even When Things Look Bleak: Between cold calls, failed launches, and a cancer diagnosis, David faced numerous low points. But his persistence carried him through.
- Adapt and Improve Continuously: Finding product-market fit required continuous feedback from users and a willingness to make tough decisions to pivot and improve Jenni AI’s offerings.
- Balance Work with Life Priorities: Success came at a personal cost, but David’s experience with illness reminded him to keep family and health in focus.
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