Building communities over the last 19 years, I used to be pretty convinced by one theory.
The more you give = The more you receive.
Assuming the role of a CEO has taught me that this is a fictitious one. ☝️
Don’t get me wrong! This theory truly creates magic in all interpersonal relationships within a community but doesn’t quite work the same way when you want to build a stable monetary stream.
When money is involved, there are so many external factors that might disturb the idea of giving. As a pay-it-forward community that accommodates startups from their very early stages, it’s also not just to put a number on the table.
Yes, there are partners who have been continually generous, but let’s face it! 👇
EVERY ROUND OF SPONSORSHIP LASTS ONLY 12 TO 14 MONTHS. EVERY INITIATIVE DEMANDS MUCH MORE THAN WHAT MEETS THE EYE.
This has led us to create SaaSBoomi Vanguard – a corpus fund designed to build a powerful flywheel, where founders pay it forward in a continuous virtuous cycle.
I’d like to acknowledge that 25+ founders have already pledged their allegiance to this fund. I’m also sure that this number will increase in the coming weeks. 💯
The learning?
Money is temporary. So it’s really important for us to create an influx stream that’s stable.
Alternatively, I’ve spent a considerable amount of time thinking about evaluating our initiatives.
Over the last 4+ years, we have been deeply focused on evaluating the input metrics. But that’s not enough! Output-driven evaluation will be the way forward and a passage for us to self-evaluate + question the tribe to arrive at some serious answers.
🎯 How fast has your startup scaled?
🎯 How is your customer growth?
🎯 How ready are you to manage VCs and handle acquisition opportunities?
By asking such questions, we hope to arrive at answers that will help make subsequent inputs stronger and outputs larger.
As SaaSBoomi’s DNA sinks deeper, I’m finally able to feel the pulse of being a CEO. I look forward to meeting with our VC network in a few weeks. They’ve been an abode of opportunities so far and will continue to surprise me, I’m sure.
In less than 3 weeks, SaaSBoomi will turn 5. And I cannot wait to celebrate its birthday alongside y’all, the real heroes rallying the India SaaS vision across the oceans.
In this spirit, I’m super-excited to announce our efforts to bolster relations with the GCC countries where SaaSBoomi, for the first time ever, plans to help create a market rather than thrive in one.
More details are to be unveiled at the SaaSBoomi Annual, early next year. (6-8th March ’24)
I’m sure reading that all this feels like firecrackers in the head. So let me take a pause to wish you and your family a very happy Diwali.
May the light at home and in your heart keep shining! 🪔
Sincerely,
Avinash Raghava
