The Bigger Offer · Debug Season · Pulse Beat
Karthik called again in October, with a different tone. "I've been thinking about what you said. I want to try something. Fifty lakhs, no board seat, no analytics. I'll take a small stake and write…
Karthik called again in October, with a different tone.
"I've been thinking about what you said. I want to try something. Fifty lakhs, no board seat, no analytics. I'll take a small stake and write it down that you decide the product." He paused. "I don't understand why you said no. But I've watched what's happened since, and I think maybe I understand what I was buying."
Vikram stared at the sticky note on the monitor, curling at its edges. Honesty isn't a cost. It's the product.
"Can I think about it?" he said.
"Of course." And then, awkwardly: "You were right about the analytics. A friend of mine runs a notes company that was breached last year. They lost half their users in a week."
When the call ended, he went to find Neha, who was grading in the kitchen. "I might take the money," he said.
"Do you want to?"
"I think I want a team." He sat down. "I think I'm tired of being the only safeguard."
She smiled without looking up from the red pen. "That's the first sensible thing you've said all year."