Blog & newsletter
Founder's Diary
Honest, first-person notes on building Xena Intelligence as a solo, first-generation immigrant founder: pitching, fundraising, family, failure and the work itself.
Latest entry ·
120 Seconds on Stage, 100,000 Minutes of Practice
I have paralyzing stage fright, which is an inconvenient condition for a man who has won more than $1.65 million by standing on stages.
The route so far
Every entry
10 entries, newest first. 10 first appeared in the Founder's Diary newsletter on LinkedIn and are reproduced here in full; each links to its original.
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Choosing a Path With Basically No Guarantees. Founders deserve more credit.I have been keeping a journal for a while now. Most entries are not fit for public consumption, partly because they are boring and partly because they are… -
Some Founders Are Privileged. Some Are Not. Both Will Tell You They're Self-Made.There is a specific kind of founder I meet at every conference, and I have learned to spot him within about ninety seconds, usually somewhere between the… -
The Investor Who Thought I Wasn't Spending EnoughIndian families have a strange relationship with money. We will discuss your cousin's wedding budget in forensic detail. We will debate gold prices like… -
Founders without family supportMost of my founder peers don't have family support. -
The scariest part of building isn't building. It's telling people you built something and waiting to see if they care.Last week I launched SearchPanel . It's a tool that scores how AI platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Amazon Rufus describe and recommend products. I think… -
The Truth About VC Money, and What Actually MattersThere is something strangely addictive about numbers in the startup world, because from the moment you step into it, you are constantly surrounded by… -
From Kochi to Kentucky, my immigrant story.A few days ago, I found myself standing in a room in Kentucky, holding something I never once imagined would be associated with my name, the title of… -
I really do not understand this tensionThere is a strange emotional friction that shows up right before I hit publish on a post. It is not fear exactly. It is not doubt about the work. It is… -
Why is nothing working out?There are long stretches in a startup where it feels like the universe has decided to test your patience, your confidence, and your sanity all at once.…