Initiatives

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Pay it FWD: The unassuming generosity of Shashank Kumar

“I am in,” said Shashank Kumar, co-founder of Razorpay, leaning back on his chair. I hadn’t completed my pitch, but Shashank’s mind was made up. There wasn’t much to say, so I pocketed my iPhone, stood up, thanked him, and left. He had just agreed to sign a not-insignificant cheque for our efforts. 

Avinash Raghava
Blog Community

Pay it FWD: The legend of Ashwini Asokan

Her Twitter persona was fierce, fearless, and formidable. She pulled no punches. I had found a line to connect with her. But I wasn’t convinced. I wanted to know more. So, I reached further into the ecosystem.

Avinash Raghava
Blog Chapters - United States

AI Era Company building: why Caravan 2025 is a founder’s blueprint for what’s next

Caravan 2025, a founder-first event packed with actionable insights, peer connections, and candid, hard-won wisdom you won’t find anywhere else. If you’re building or pivoting an AI-first company, you’ll feel right at home here.

Kalyan Varma
Blog Initiatives

From concept to concrete: Why Vertical AI is a real VIBE

It’s easy to get excited about ideas. We’ve all been there, heady with the thrill of a brilliant concept that sounds great on paper. However, there’s a certain satisfaction that comes from transforming those concepts into tangible realities. That’s the true test – the moment an abstract vision takes on a life of its own.

Neha Arya
Blog Community

Pay it FWD: Mayank Nagpal, the quiet giver

Before I move on, I want to introduce you to Mayank, founder of EPYC and one of the brightest minds I’ve met. Deeply rooted in the open-source and no-code world, Mayank brings a rare mix of hustle, heart, and humility.

Avinash Raghava
Blog Initiatives

Founding isn’t always brave: what we heard from 100+ entrepreneurs

Building something of your own is deeply personal. The Jagah study gently uncovers what founders often find hard to share.

Pavitra Jayaraman
Blog Community

Pay it FWD: Kalyan Varma’s art of quiet excellence

It’s not often that I stumble across someone who is a natural giver. During these sessions, he would never hold back — that honesty and transparency hooked founders, who would speak about moments from the session for days. At that moment, I saw a genius in Kalyan… He reminds me of the famous Hindi proverb, ‘A tree laden with fruit bends low.’ Despite being a successful founder, Kalyan’s humility and empathy are visible

Avinash Raghava
Blog Initiatives

SaaSBoomi Sangam: Where India’s AI dreams get real

Sometimes the most important conversations happen in the most unexpected ways. Ashwin from Moative and I were talking a few weeks ago about India’s AI moment when we realized something profound: we’re sitting on a $100 billion opportunity that could reshape how the world thinks about enterprise software.

Aastha Sharma & Avinash Raghava
Blog Community

Pay it FWD: The relentless optimism of Raj Sheth

“There is nothing he believes in more than India and her founders.” Raj Sheth’s journey has been one of relentless optimism, quiet generosity, and unwavering belief in India’s startup community, always giving, always returning, always paying it forward.

Avinash Raghava
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