The startup journey in Mumbai has long been seen as an uphill climb and especially when compared to the thriving ecosystem in Bengaluru. The entrepreneurial community of Mumbai has often felt fragmented and disconnected even though the city the financial hub of India. Founders often struggled to find a space where they could connect, collaborate and seek guidance. The isolation has made their journey more challenging. Many believe making a move to Bengaluru may pave the path of success. However, the Bombay Founders Club (BFC) is now changing the narrative.
The Bombay Founders Club started modestly and with just six founders. They used to meet in a small conference room on one Saturday evening. Short gathering gradually stretched into the night as the founders realized they needed a space to open up about their struggles. Today, more than 200 founders meet regularly. No business cards and no formalities are required.
The Bombay Founders Club focuses on community and there is no transactional atmosphere and no jockeying for investment or exposure as well. It is about creating a space where founders can drop their guard and speak honestly about highs and lows of startup life.
Law Yantra (legal tech startup) founder Devarsh Saraf said he returned to Mumbai from New York to build his business and quickly realized the vastness of Mumbai feels to be isolated. However, he joined the Bombay Founders Club and found that it is the community that he needed.
The Bombay Founders Club is a testament to the fact that Mumbai doesn’t need to take a back seat to Bengaluru when it comes to fostering innovation. The narrative that founders must relocate to find success is being rewritten.
