Not long ago, I was sitting at the Sheraton with Varun and a couple of close friends. We were sipping coffee, tossing around ideas on how to grow a business—especially when things feel unpredictable, like the world’s shifting under your feet.
At some point, in the middle of all the talk, Varun looked up and said something that stuck with me:
“You don’t need more clients. You need a community.”
A real one. With people who’ve been through the fire. Who get it. Who don’t just share advice but share the journey.
That hit me.
We started sketching ideas—on napkins, on whiteboards. We dreamed up a group for CXOs and founders. A space that wasn’t just about sharing wins, but where people could show up honestly—with their struggles, doubts, and questions.
We even thought about hiring someone to manage the whole thing.
But after 30 days of planning, something felt off.
We realized: before we can bring people in, we had to walk the path ourselves. Not delegate it. Live it.
That’s when the shift happened.
We started talking to other founders, sitting with them, listening. And what we found was deeper than we expected.
People weren’t looking for more LinkedIn connections or another Slack group.
They were looking for real conversations. A place where they could admit, “I don’t have this all figured out,” without feeling judged. A place where someone would listen—not just nod and move on, but really listen.
Because being a founder can feel incredibly lonely.
You carry so much. And most days, you smile through it because who else would understand? Not everyone around you gets the weight. Or the silence that follows a tough day. Or the pressure of holding it all together when you’re barely holding on yourself.
That’s why we built TRB.
Not as a company. Not even as a community in the traditional sense. But as a home for people who are tired of pretending, they’re fine and just want to be around others who truly understand.
I didn’t hesitate when Varun asked me to be part of it. My answer was yes—without a plan, without a pitch deck. Just a gut feeling that this mattered.
It hasn’t been perfect. We’ve had our challenges. But every conversation, every story shared, has made me more certain: this is needed.
And I’m proud. Proud that we didn’t just talk about it over coffee—but actually did something about it.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not about being the smartest person in the room.
It’s about being in the right room—with the right people.
And I’m grateful to be in that room now.
About the Author
Amit Gupta, CEO of Techginia and a TRB member. With 19+ years in the software industry, he is specialized in CRM implementation, data analytics, and digital transformation, helping businesses accelerate growth and profitability through smart technology adoption.
Connect with Amit on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amitguptaone
Disclaimer from Renous
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and do not necessarily reflect the views of our publication. The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only, and should not be considered as professional advice. The reader should always conduct their own research and due diligence before taking any action based on the information provided in this article.