In a city that never stops hustling, one quiet moment at a Bandra café flipped the script for Mumbai-based founder Yash Gawde.
Four days ago, Yash was deep in conversation with a VC friend at Subko Café, soaking in advice about the power of storytelling in startup pitches. The message was clear: clarity and courage can turn even the smallest opportunity into something big. That’s when fate decided to stir the pot—Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath walked in, just a few feet away.
Instead of freezing or overthinking, Yash did something refreshingly bold. He scribbled a heartfelt note introducing his AI startup, BeHooked, and asked the café staff to pass it along. No pitch deck. No flashy numbers. Just raw honesty on paper.
Nikhil read it, smiled, and waved. That was it. Or so it seemed.
But that simple gesture sparked something massive. Yash shared the story on LinkedIn, and within 72 hours, it exploded. Founders, investors, and startup enthusiasts across India were talking about it. His post struck a chord—not because it was polished, but because it was real.
“For 17 months I’ve been grinding on BeHooked,” Yash wrote. “Some days I felt like a genius, other days I wanted to shut it all down. But last week? That was the craziest high so far.”
Riding the wave, Yash launched an investor interest form, hoping to raise a modest ₹25 lakh to keep the momentum going. What happened next? The round was oversubscribed—by more than ₹6 crore.
“Now the problem is the opposite—too much money,” he joked. “And honestly? That’s the kind of problem I don’t mind. Now it’s on us to choose who brings real strategic value.”
From survival mode to strategic selection, Yash’s journey is a masterclass in startup grit. It’s a reminder that in India’s fast-moving entrepreneurial landscape, sometimes the most unconventional pitch—delivered with heart and timing—can unlock doors that no deck ever could.
