“Hiking, you and I? What do you say, bud?” Mohit asked. In isolation, it’s an unusual question to ask. But with context, it makes more sense. Mohit and I discussed things we could do over the New Year’s break in 2024. Mohit Bhatnagar, always the risk taker at work and leisure, devised this plan. Never one to say no to a plan, I signed up. “Let’s do it, Mohit!”
We never did it. Work and life took over, and our plans changed. We promised each other to find a way to go hiking in 2025, so I call it a New Year’s resolution.
Mohit wears many hats—he’s an investor, a mentor, and a sounding board. But the one he wears most proudly is the blue hat of India. His intense patriotism and affection for our country bind us together. Often, the conversation between us starts around emerging trends in tech—AI, in the latest conversation we had—and then inevitably veers towards how each action can influence our country’s place in this world of ours. It’s a conversation that only friends can have. And it has been the same since we met.
I first met Mohit in 2018. Freshworks had just smashed past the $100 million ARR mark, a first for an Indian SaaS company. The world watched in amazement as Girish and his team showed no signs of slowing down. To celebrate this milestone, Freshworks hosted a party and invited its champions and investors, among many others, including Mohit.
And what I would soon learn about Mohit is that he arrived early, just like me. He had an interesting companion with him—a cricket bat. Mohit, a big cricket fan, had gotten along with him a bat with 100 inscribed on it. He insisted that I present this bat to Girish just in case he had to get out before the stars of the evening arrived. While waiting for the others to filter in, Mohit and I spoke and had a quintessential Bangalore conversation. It began with startups, drifted to community building and then cricket. We exchanged numbers and promised to keep in touch.
I unexpectedly didn’t see Mohit again until I started my full-time role at SaaSBoomi. This time, when we met, he greeted me like an old friend. I could feel the warmth and humour that his close friends often talk about. At that time, I realised that I would like to meet Mohit often.
His influence on SaaSBoomi and me has been immeasurable. I could recount the countless occasions he’s opened his contact list to connect me with founders and investors. I could dive deep to illustrate how his strategic insights steer our community or the financial backing he’s offered SaaSBoomi. But honestly, all of that pales compared to the genuine care he extends to me and the SaaSBoomi team and volunteers. At an event, he’s approachable and eager to engage. While many VCs stick to broad strokes, Mohit can effortlessly zoom in and out of the details. His big-picture ideas and insights are unparalleled. His efforts to build relationships with his portfolio founders by taking them on hikes are unique.
What often gets overlooked is his capacity to embrace feedback. He and I once had an extensive conversation about the perception of Peak XV among founders and senior operators outside his circle. I’ll keep that conversation private, but he took much of the feedback gracefully and vowed to improve. That’s where Mohit’s magic lies: the ability to be humble and proud simultaneously.
A year ago, Mohit attended an event in the Bay Area. As I mentioned earlier, he likes to arrive early—this time at the airport. In his haste, he forgot his incredibly comfortable and stylish jacket. I faced two choices: I could pack it up and ask a colleague to send it to him after they landed in Bangalore or ship it to him when I returned to Delhi NCR. I opted for the latter, hoping some of that famous Mohit Bhatnagar magic would also rub off on me.
It didn’t! I’m counting on the hiking expedition to do the trick instead. I’ll see you soon on the hills, Mohit!
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.
