The Peel with Turner Novak Inside Serval: Building the System of Intelligence for IT | Jake Stauch
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Feb 27, 2026 Jake Stauch, Co-founder and CEO of Serval, builds an AI platform that automates IT and employee support. He discusses taking on incumbents with an AI-native product. He recounts an early work-trial crisis that reshaped security. He explains vibe-coding (natural language to TypeScript), why IT automation lagged, and how making implementation part of the product helps land customers.
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AI Platform That Solves Employee Support Immediately
- Serval is an AI platform that automates employee support so users get help immediately rather than waiting on tickets.
- Jake explains it starts with IT use cases like password resets and expands to HR, payroll, and legal requests through the same automation layer.
Natural Language Vibe Coding Eliminates Automation Friction
- Traditional workflow builders create friction because building and maintaining automations is time consuming and often not worth the ROI for 5–30 minute tasks.
- Serval 'vibe codes' automations: admins write natural language and the system generates TypeScript automation behind the scenes for one-click publish.
Work Trial Accident Locked Founders Out
- During an early work trial a designer accidentally ran a production offboarding workflow and locked Jake and his co-founder out of all systems.
- They recovered only because Serval itself was still logged in and used to restore access, teaching them hard segmentation and safety lessons.