Back in 2015 when I first started SaaSBoomi (formerly called SaaSx), it was with a single goal in mind – Help transform India into a product nation. That sent me on a quest to work with the finest minds in the country and bring together a community that can deliver impact. Because product nations are not built in a day. It takes collective elbow grease, collaborative spirit, and round-the-clock outreach.
The work began in earnest. The community has been pushing hard towards our goal and I believe the results, after nine-plus years, have started to show. Time for a quick list. We’ve hosted over 500 events so far, more than 2,500 companies have participated in the events and over 6,000 people have attended these events. In the process, SaaSBoomi has made inroads into three countries, exchanged knowledge through 200+ blogs, and touched the lives of SaaS companies across the globe.
And as the cliche goes, we’ve just scratched the surface.
But none of this would have been possible without the unrelenting effort of our volunteers. They are the lifeblood of SaaSBoomi. Over the years, we’ve had 150 volunteers — operators and founders, investors, and professionals on a career break. Irrespective of seniority, they have pitched in with an almost bee-like work ethic, putting in hours of labor, dividing tasks, bringing their unique skills, and producing sweet success.
While the dedication of our volunteers is undeniably fulfilling, it’s the profound sense of camaraderie that truly steers us forward. Our volunteers love talking. They have animated conversations during events, and as soon as the event ends, I see them being pulled away into corners for deeper discussions. Some even go out for drinks or coffee to keep the conversation going. It is these spontaneous and authentic human bonds, sparked and nurtured by SaaSBoomi, that constitute the heart and soul of our community’s success.
People wear the volunteer tag as a badge of honour and this post — and this series — is my attempt at acknowledging the people behind this movement.
I want to start with Sangeeta Bavi.
I first encountered Sangeeta at a SaaSBoomi event in 2019. A newcomer to the scene, she looked excited but also overwhelmed by the scale of the event. But Sangeeta isn’t one of those who let social anxiety take over. Instead, she assumed a posture of keen listening and observation — her key strengths — and asked very interesting questions. When she and I found a moment to talk, she wanted to volunteer almost immediately.
But at SaaSBoomi, we pick and choose our volunteers. The ambition is to curate a mix of people who are passionate about giving back to the community. There are benefits to being a volunteer but the primary emotion has to be of seva (service). Funnily enough, Sangeeta and I both lived in Delhi NCR but both of our earliest meetings were in Bangalore. It was during our second meeting at the Accel LaunchPad roof when I realized I wanted her to be part of our tight-knit tribe. So, I asked her to help me find a sponsor for an upcoming event. And I was amazed at how she went above and beyond the task.
Sangeeta was an early volunteer, whatever task we gave her, she executed. She could not only execute but she could take abstract instructions and create something beautiful from it.
Her work in curating and executing SaaSBoomi Build in 2022-23 is discussed even today. Here’s one peek behind the scenes. We had hosted a closed-door event during the pandemic and she managed to put on a creative skit, where one person portrayed the product team, another the tech department, and a third the sales folks. The idea was to show how each team perceived and solved the same problem. Simple and ingenious.
Over the years, Sangeeta has taken on various roles at SaaSBoomi. She’s been a mentor to young founders and a sounding board for experienced operators. Her ability to cut straight through to the problem makes her a formidable force. Her network is astounding, in fact, Satya Nadela spoke to her before he made his last visit to India. Such was her dedication to SaaSBoomi at the time that she managed to get us in the same room with Nadela.
But this is Sangeeta the professional. Who is Sangeeta the person? If you ask everyone who has worked with her for feedback, they all come back with two words: humor and insight. And that’s what stands out about Sangeeta. She has true joy in her heart. A strength so evident when you see her laugh. Her laugh has a child-like ring to it and her solid advice has a lingering effect.
Sangeeta may not be as visible at our events as she used to be but I know she wears her volunteer badge with honour and humility and we’re happy to find a supporter and a reliable champion of our cause in her.
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 with the impact they continue to create.
