It was almost a case of missed connections. A few years ago, I was supposed to meet Priya Ramachandran in San Francisco. However, the day we organised our meeting coincided with the Pride March, and the roads were closed.
I had to fly back to India, and Priya, like every other VC I knew, had a packed schedule. But, as luck would have it, a slot opened up in our calendars, and we finally met.
The moment Priya sat across from me, the energy in the room shifted. It felt like a whirlwind had hit the table. She was enthusiastic, engaged, and funny. Priya had her finger on the pulse of everything happening in the Bay Area, the Middle East, and even India; no piece of news, published or unpublished, escaped her notice. She firmly believed that knowledge is an asset everyone should procure, and it astonished her that more people didn’t prioritise this goal.
Her eagerness to support the founder community meant she would be a fantastic addition to SaaSBoomi. I recognised her potential immediately, but I wanted to see how she would handle the more hands-on aspects of volunteering. She did not disappoint.
We were planning a founders’ hike in San Francisco, and I asked her to help organise this trek. I envisioned her as our guide, sharing insights about the trail and its significance.
True to her nature, Priya exceeded expectations. She wasn’t just the guide; she arranged everyone’s food, water, and sunglasses. But she didn’t stop there. She engaged with each participant, forging connections. By the end of the hike, Priya knew what each founder did, their ambitions, and personal stories.
Soon after, she became a volunteer at SaaSBoomi.
That’s the essence of Priya. You could label her a networker extraordinaire, and you wouldn’t be wrong, but there’s so much more to her. When she spoke to the founders, her tone and mannerisms shifted. She remained the high-energy Priya we adore, yet she radiated warmth. Through the years I have worked with her, I’ve tried to find an answer to this question: “What changes when you meet founders?”
I found the answer during the last edition of Caravan. Entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey; founders often face their struggles alone. The moments of self-doubt are private and cannot always be shared. Additionally, many founders are making long journeys to the US, which compounds their feelings of isolation. “I don’t want others to feel the way I did when I started my fund in the US,” she told me.
That day, I discovered Priya’s true superpower—empathy. This quality has been her driving force as a volunteer at SaaSBoomi and as a VC.
I’ve saved the best for last. I hold immense respect and affection for Priya. Our flagship event, Caravan, has two parents: Priya and Vinod. Together, they’ve crafted this event, brick by brick, from finding the perfect venue for founders and volunteers to arranging insightful speakers. They’ve been equal partners in this journey, and she has helped our community discover a new horizon. Priya, I cannot thank you enough for your support.
We have many more adventures ahead and countless founders to support. Let’s go, Priya—the world’s founders await us.
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.
