Databricks Co-Founder on Why Enterprise AI Deals Fail at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026
At the upcoming TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, happening from October 13 to 15 at Moscone West in San Francisco, Arsalan Tavakoli-Shiraji, the co-founder and SVP of field engineering at Databricks, will discuss why many enterprise AI projects stumble. He believes these issues stem from operational instability rather than technical flaws. His talk, titled “The Enterprise Isn’t Broken. Your Assumptions About It Are,” will explore how businesses evaluate risks in areas like implementation and governance. Tavakoli-Shiraji highlights the importance for AI startups to focus on sustainable operations instead of just excitement. He holds a PhD in computer science from UC Berkeley and has worked as an associate principal at McKinsey. Google Cloud sponsors the AI Stage, and discounted tickets are available until May 29 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Key facts
- TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 takes place October 13–15 at Moscone West in San Francisco.
- Arsalan Tavakoli-Shiraji is co-founder and SVP of field engineering at Databricks.
- His session is titled 'The Enterprise Isn’t Broken. Your Assumptions About It Are.'
- Enterprise AI deals fail due to operational instability, not technology.
- Enterprises evaluate implementation risk, governance complexity, workflow disruption, infrastructure strain, compliance exposure, and organizational trust.
- Tavakoli-Shiraji holds a PhD in computer science from UC Berkeley.
- He was an associate principal at McKinsey & Company.
- Ticket savings of up to $410 end May 29 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Entities
Institutions
- Databricks
- TechCrunch
- McKinsey & Company
- UC Berkeley
- Google Cloud
Locations
- San Francisco
- Moscone West