Back in 2013-14, during my iSPIRT days, the startup ecosystem and I were both still finding our feet.
Every single founder I grabbed coffee with would drop the same name: Karthik Reddy of Blume Ventures. Every amazing SaaS or consumer startup seemed to orbit around Blume’s star. I knew at the time, I needed to meet Karthik. So, I started to reach out to people to check if they knew Karthik. And everyone I asked said they had a personal, more than a professional relationship with Karthik. Even his portfolio founders!
How? I asked myself. How do so many people claim to know Karthik on a personal AND professional level?
When I met Karthik, everything fell into place.
You see, Karthik operates with a unique philosophy. While other VCs chased unicorns and multiples, Karthik was building something more enduring: a community.
I remember those early meetups on terraces, beautifully frugal affairs where founders would literally crowd around Karthik, hanging onto every word.
Watching Karthik effortlessly move between conversations was like watching Reid Hoffman’s playbook live. The LinkedIn founder famously treated networking not as transactional relationships but as genuine community building. Like Hoffman, Karthik believes that ecosystems are built on connections, not just capital.
What struck me most was Karthik’s approach to founders. He wasn’t just there to write cheques; he was interested in hearing their ideas and feeling their energy. When Blume opened their villa instead of a traditional office, you could see that they were trying to create a family.
Karthik never stayed in hotels when he could stay at the villa. Why? Because he prioritised meeting founders over comfort. He and Sanjay built an incredible community of over 200 founders, creating what I can only describe as a “founder family.”
When I was transitioning from iSPIRT, uncertain about my next steps, Karthik was present not as an investor, but as a friend. I would call on him often. He would encourage and challenge my ideas. When I joined Accel, his heartwarming message welcoming me into the VC fold, even though it was not his firm, filled my heart with gratitude.
It’s the secret sauce to Karthik’s recipe of success. He wanted everyone to believe in a larger purpose. Everyone was one unit: founders, partners, the entire ecosystem.
I adopted a large part of that philosophy when I took on my current role at SaaSBoomi.
I’ll never forget the day when Karthik attended our Bangalore office launch party. He had promised to make it, and despite a delayed flight, he showed up at the event around 10. By then, most of the guests had left. A few lingered on. To those who were still around, Karthik went around, from table to table, chatting with founders and senior operators, making jokes and laughing. We couldn’t offer food because, well, we had run out. But it didn’t faze him. Even during the dying embers of the event, Karthik carried himself with the dignity of a host rather than a guest. His warmth spread to everyone who was present.
Often, people ask me what the key is to being a successful community builder. I point them in the direction of Karthik.
Even with an incredibly busy schedule, Karthik is responsive on WhatsApp and email. He makes connections not just between founders and investors, but between founders and key hires. His WhatsApp groups buzz with discussions where everyone, including partners, gets their opinions challenged.
But what Karthik taught me is that building a community isn’t about making grand gestures; it is about the simple acts of care. Sometimes it is about showing up.
Thank you for showing up for us, Karthik. We promise to do the same.
From the Author:
SaaSBoomi began in 2015 as a small gathering of ~50 founders, and today, with over 500 events across three countries and countless lives touched, we’ve only just scratched the surface.
None of this would have been possible without the unrelenting passion of our 125+ volunteers — the lifeblood of SaaSBoomi.
Their contributions go beyond effort; they’ve built a community bound by camaraderie, empathy, and a shared vision for a Product Nation.
Pay it FWD is my tribute to every pay-it-forward champion I’ve encountered on this incredible journey.
Their contributions to SaaSBoomi and the broader ecosystem have been immeasurable, yet there remains a story left to be told — one that echoes the impact they continue to create.
