# Harman Narula

> Harman Singh Narula is the Co-Founder and CEO of Canary Technologies, the hospitality industry's leading AI-powered guest management platform trusted by 20,000+ hotels across 100+ countries. A Cornell Hotel School and Wharton MBA graduate, Narula co-founded Canary in 2017 alongside childhood friend SJ Sawhney, tackling the hotel industry's notoriously outdated technology infrastructure one paper form at a time. What started as a solution to clunky credit card authorization forms has grown into a $600 million company backed by Y Combinator, Insight Partners, and Brighton Park Capital, with $175 million raised in total funding including an $80 million Series D in June 2025.

- **Role:** Co-Founder & CEO at Canary Technologies
- **Organizations:** Canary Technologies, Cornell University (Nolan School), Bain & Company, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Citigroup
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.S. in Hotel Administration and Real Estate Finance, Cornell University, Nolan School of Hotel Administration, MBA, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
- **Known for:** Built Canary Technologies from zero to $600M valuation in approximately 8 years, Raised $175M in total funding including $80M Series D in June 2025, Scaled platform to 20,000+ hotels across 100+ countries

## Career timeline

- **2009-2010** — Principal, M&A & Corporate Strategy, Office of the CEO at Citigroup
- **2010-2015** — Global Strategy Group, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide - focused on strategic initiatives across 10 hotel brands
- **2013-2015** — Earned MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
- **2015-2017** — Management Consultant at Bain & Company, advising hospitality, technology, and private equity clients
- **2017** — Co-founded Canary Technologies with SJ Sawhney, targeting hotel technology modernization
- **2022** — Joined Y Combinator; raised Series A and Series B ($30M) funding rounds
- **2023** — Named to Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies list
- **2024** — Raised Series C ($50M) led by Insight Partners; named to Deloitte Technology Fast 500
- **2025-02** — Launched industry-first end-to-end AI Voice Platform for hospitality
- **2025-06** — Raised $80M Series D at ~$600M valuation, led by Brighton Park Capital; reached 20,000+ hotel customers
- **2026-01** — Canary Technologies swept HotelTechAwards 2026 with 9 category wins
- **2026-02** — Acquired OpenKey, expanding mobile key capabilities

## Achievements

- Built Canary Technologies from zero to $600M valuation in approximately 8 years
- Raised $175M in total funding including $80M Series D in June 2025
- Scaled platform to 20,000+ hotels across 100+ countries
- Secured Y Combinator as early investor and ongoing backer
- Enterprise partnerships with Marriott, Four Seasons, Wyndham, IHG, and Choice Hotels
- Won 9 HotelTechAwards in 2026, sweeping key product categories
- Named to Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies 2023
- Consecutive Deloitte Technology Fast 500 recognition (2024 and 2025)
- Business Insider's 2025 list of Companies Most Likely to Become a Tech Unicorn
- American Hotel & Lodging Association Tech Acceleration Award (2025)
- Launched industry-first end-to-end AI Voice Platform for hospitality (February 2025)
- Serves as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Cornell's Nolan School of Hotel Administration

## Latest updates

- **2026-02** — Canary Technologies acquired OpenKey, expanding mobile key capabilities and creating the most advanced mobile key solution set on the market.
- **2026-01** — Canary Technologies swept HotelTechAwards 2026 with 9 wins including Best Guest Experience Platform, Best Guest Messaging, Best Digital Tipping, and first-ever Best Voice Bot & Call Center Software award.
- **2025-11** — Named to Deloitte Technology Fast 500 for the second consecutive year.
- **2025-06** — Raised $80M Series D at approximately $600M valuation, led by Brighton Park Capital with participation from Y Combinator, Insight Partners, and others.
- **2025-02** — Launched the hospitality industry's first end-to-end AI Voice Platform, featuring AI Front Desk, Concierge, Central Reservations, and Booking Agent assistants.

## Links

- Website: https://canarytechnologies.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harmansn/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/canarytechnologies

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/harman-narula
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-26