We were thrilled to have Bombay Founders’ Club (BFC) to Design POV 2025 as a Supporting Association.
Born from an intimate conversation between six founders in a single room, BFC has quickly grown into one of India’s most trusted ecosystems for early-stage entrepreneurs. With a collective of over 200 founders and counting, their gatherings are driven not by pitches or performance, but by vulnerability, trust, and shared ambition.
In just one year, BFC has hosted 50+ curated meetups and peer mentorship sessions that have helped shape ventures and minds alike. At Design POV, this energy translated into a partnership that celebrates real dialogue and the fearless spirit of building something new.
As we bring together leading architects, designers, and creative studios from across the country, this collaboration strengthens our shared vision: to create spaces (and systems) where creativity and entrepreneurship can truly thrive.
At Design POV 2025, the energy shifted gears when Bombay Founders’ Club (BFC) took the stage. What began as an intimate circle of six early-stage entrepreneurs has rapidly become one of India’s most respected founder ecosystems. The BFC session reflected this spirit: real talk, sharp insight, and a shared passion for building.
Kicking off the session, BFC founder Devarsh Sarath pushed back against the need for dividing founders by categories like D2C, B2B, or tech. “As founders, we’re solving problems. That’s our identity, not the current vertical we operate in,” he said, setting the tone for a conversation rooted in versatility and curiosity.
The keynote by Gopal Modi, whose career spans advertising, LPG, construction, VC, and more, revealed a powerful new initiative: a venture fund focused on the built environment, backed by India’s top architects and developers. “Architects influence so much of brand building but rarely participate in the wealth creation journey. This fund aims to change that,” he shared.
Unlike many small funds that simply follow the big players, Gopal emphasized a bottom-up, insight-driven approach: “We leverage industry intel, not just capital. We know which brands have product-market fit because the architects and developers are already using them.” The fund, he explained, is deeply invested in long-term value and disruption through sustainability, design, and innovation.
Diving into people strategy, Gopal offered practical, old-school advice that resonated with the room. For top hires, he said, “Don’t just interview, take them out to dinner. Get to know the person deeply.” He stressed the value of learners who execute, citing stories of long-time colleagues who rose from junior roles to leadership through sheer hunger and curiosity.
When it came to culture, he kept it simple: reward people, respect their time, and make work fun. Especially in Gen Z-dominated teams, lightness, recognition, and emotional connection are non-negotiable.
During the audience Q&A, founders dug into the mechanics of venture capital. Gopal’s advice was grounded and direct:
- On ROI: Funds aim for 30–35%+ returns, but it’s about smart, scalable execution.
- On burn vs. profitability: “Burn is okay if your unit economics work. Don’t lose money on every product sold, use capital to grow, not to survive.”
- On startup trends: Tech moats are shrinking. In physical businesses, distribution and design differentiation matter more than ever.
Closing the session, Gopal left founders with this reflection: “India is the most exciting country to build in right now. Massive opportunities lie ahead in every space. What matters is your agility and clarity in how you grow.”
The BFC panel was a playbook for entrepreneurs navigating a chaotic, promising future.
