Hey Rodinhoods! Can you please share one or more incident(s) in your entrepreneurial journey when someone helped you without any expectation in return?
I’m doing some experiments with generosity in the entrepreneurial context and would appreciate your inputs. Preferably, share the story about someone who didn’t know you very well and was not obligated to help (should not be an employee or parent/sibling/friend) but still helped selflessly and it made an impact on you.
Do take a look at some stories on: https://startupkindness.org/?page_id=24 and we also welcome your feedback and ideas. Also see this amazing talk on Designing for Generosity.Thanks!
Deven Shah
Hi folks, while we see examples of Startup Kindness on the rodinhoods forum almost everyday, if you have some personal experience that will help/inspire others, then do share here.
In case you are more comfortable first sharing over email, then feel free to write on deven@startupkindness.org . Later I can share it publicly only if you are comfortable.
Take a look at a few email responses where the senders were fine sharing it publicly.
Email from Deven, asking to share incidents of Startup Kindness
Hi ,
Trust you are doing well. I’m doing a short study on start-up kindness and need your help.
Request you to please share one or more incident(s) in your entrepreneurial journey when someone helped you without any expectation in return. Someone who didn’t know you very closely and was not obligated to help (e.g. shouldn’t be an employee or parent/sibling/friend) but still helped selflessly. Small help or big, it doesn’t matter.
You may share specific details (e.g. name of the person/organization) or keep it generic. I will not share it in public forum without your permission.
Thanks,
Deven
From Sahil Parikh, Founder of DeskAway.com
Hey Deven,
I can think of the following:
Indus Khaitan – 3 years back we has some issues with our setup and Indus was instrumental in helping us learn about what went wrong and where can improve. Till date, I can ping him on Twitter or via email and he is always available to answer my questions related to app architecture, server stuff etc. I am putting all of his advice into our new product that we are launching soon.
– Sahil
From Unmesh Mayekar, Co-Founder of InTouchRewards.com
Hi Deven,
In the early days of my first startup (sadakmap.com) I had applied to and got selected as a finalist at the IITB Alumnus operated India Innovations. 16 startups were selected and we got to present in front of a wide audience and also got to setup booths where the attendees came by. Of the hundreds of people who stopped by the booth on that day 4 years ago, there was one person who struck up a conversation. He too had moved back from the US and showed genuine interest in my startup. We exchanged cards and decided to keep in touch. Soon enough he was setting up meetings with fellow entrepreneurs, investors, inviting me to events, etc. He came along with me to pitch at the ESummit held at IITB. We became good friends and when I was looking for a co-founder for my next venture (intouchrewards.com) he actively sought out suitors and soon enough I met my co-founder all thanks to this person whom I had never met before that day at the booth 4 years ago.
Sure – I dont mind sharing details – his name is Amit Paranjape – if you are on twitter – you probably already know him. You can read more about him here:
https://in.linkedin.com/in/aparanjape
Regards,
Unmesh.
From Ronak Hindocha, Founder of Futurewise.co.in
Hi Deven,
The one that immediately comes to mind is when Robin asked us if he could help us create a better online presence. Specifically, he helped us get the hygiene level things as far as blog was concerned. It was a nice gesture on his end to help us voluntarily.
Second was when an experienced techie offered to help us on the tech platform. when we said we can afford to pay 15-20K per month for his time and effort, he said he would charge 5k. The reason he said was that he liked what we were doing and wanted to be an end user some day.
These two immediately come to mind. Of course there have been many more friends who have unconditionally helped (including you) us. That has kept us going so far.
Regards
Ronak