Notion’s CEO recently revealed that 10% of their profits now go towards AI bills. That’s a significant shift for a SaaS company—and a warning sign for founders.
AI was supposed to get cheaper. Instead, it’s becoming a major expense. The latest models are smarter, yes, but they also consume far more tokens. Especially when used for…
Every senior leader I speak with shares a common concern: the leadership pipeline is thinning. The first line is solid, but the second line is not so much. Gen Z is stepping up. They are fast and curious, but as digital natives, they learn and train differently. Traditional training and leadership grooming don’t match their…
In a fast-changing field like software, especially in 2025, there are hardly any “trade secrets” in the traditional sense. People move freely, and knowledge flows with them. So when two of India’s top IT services firms are locked in a legal fight over this, it signals something deeper—rising pressure in the sector.
The post-pandemic boom is…
A year ago, when Chris Miller, the author of the acclaimed book "Chip War," visited India and shared an important observation. He emphasized the urgent necessity for India to build a robust talent pool specifically focused on chip design and manufacturing. Critically, Miller pointed out that India shouldn't delay or wait for the ideal talent…
Effective communication with stakeholders — whether they are investors, customers, or employees — is critical for any founder’s success. To illustrate this, let’s journey back 54 years to an IBM manufacturing research facility in East Fishkill, New York. Back then, IBM was a leading manufacturer of integrated circuits (ICs), the backbone of modern computing. The…
In the 1950s, Japan witnessed a quiet revolution that transformed kitchens and inspired product innovation for generations to come. The story of Toshiba's automatic rice cooker is not just about a product—it’s about collaboration, persistence, and listening to the voice of the user.
As a Founder Catalyst, I’ve always sought to understand what it takes to…
On July 19, 2024, a significant software failure sent shockwaves through global enterprises: a massive crash of over 8.5 million enterprise Windows PCs worldwide, triggered by a defective update from Crowdstrike's Falcon Sensor security software. Thankfully, this incident, though severe, did not involve any malicious activity or data compromise. The problem wasn’t an isolated one.…
In the business world, many terms get tossed around, but one word holds immense power and that is: trust. If you are surrounded by friends and family who are into business ventures, you would’ve heard them repeat this word, trust, often. But, for new founders, understanding the true weight of trust can be a revelation.
A…
In the early stages of my career, fresh out of engineering college, I found myself lacking formal business knowledge. Seeking guidance, I turned to the wisdom of some of America's most prominent business figures. I devoured books by Bill Gates, found inspiration in Jim Collins' "Good to Great," learned invaluable lessons from Louis Gerstner's "Who…
Despite the rise of advanced productivity tools, AI, and people-centric workplaces, project failures remain a stark reality. New products often underperform in the marketplace, fail to meet customer expectations, or overlook safety in design and manufacturing stages. The recent door panel blowout in Boeing 737-9 MAX and the devastating implosion of the Titan deep-sea submersible…
In my role as a Founder Catalyst and technology strategy consultant, I have witnessed the evolving landscape of businesses, especially in the context of a diverse, multigenerational workforce. To effectively navigate these waters, I propose the "Anchor & Sail Approach," a strategy that not only addresses the core values and adaptability of an organization but…
In the dynamic landscape of business, the path of an entrepreneur is both challenging and rewarding. The journey of entrepreneurship is not just about starting a business; it's about crafting a story of perseverance, innovation, and vision. Here are key insights shared by Venkatarangan Thirumalai, CEO, Founder Catalyst on a recent presentation titled "Startup Journey"…

