{
  "id": 13138785,
  "title": "TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Gamma’s Grant Lee, Engine’s Elia Wallen, and GV’s Crystal Huang on landing your first 1,000 customers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/techcrunch-disrupt-2026-gammas-grant-lee-engines-elia-wallen-and-gvs",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-09T14:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechCrunch",
    "slug": "techcrunch",
    "url": "https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/09/techcrunch-disrupt-2026-gammas-grant-lee-engines-elia-wallen-and-gvs-crystal-huang-on-landing-your-first-1000-customers/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, industry leaders Grant Lee, Elia Wallen, and Crystal Huang shared insights on how to acquire the first 1,000 customers despite lacking a marketing budget, brand, or sales team. Lee, CEO of Gamma, discussed how the company, which has grown to over 100 million users and $100 million in annual recurring revenue, found its initial customers through community building, product-led growth, founder-led sales, and word of mouth. Wallen, founder of Engine, explained how he started his corporate housing company from scratch and later grew Engine into a successful company serving 30,000 businesses and one million travelers. Huang, a partner at GV, provided an investor's perspective on early-stage product-led adoption and growth strategies. Disrupt attendees can learn more about these strategies and network with founders, investors, and other tech leaders at the event in San Francisco from October 13-15.",
  "summary": "Leaders from Gamma, Engine, and Google Ventures join TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 to talk how to get your first customers. Register now to save up to $100. Grab a second pass at 50% off.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "TechCrunch",
        "title": "TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 starts in 4 days — lock in your pass savings of up to $100 before prices rise",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/techcrunch-disrupt-2026-starts-in-4-days-lock-in-your-pass-savings-of",
        "published": "2026-10-09T14:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}