From ‘Thatrom Thookrom’ to Tomorrow: A Founder’s Letter on Building with Heart ??

Building a startup is often romanticized as a straight line to success. The reality? It's more like a winding path where the most important lessons come from the turns you never expected to take.

Today, I'm sharing a deeply personal chapter in Layerpath 's story: my co-founder, Saravana Kumar (Saro), is moving on to his next journey. But this isn't just an announcement—it reflects what truly matters when building a company.

The Power of "Thatrom Thookrom"

In Tamil, "Thatrom Thookrom" (??????? ?????????) literally means "Knock and Rock" It was Saro's favorite phrase during our countless late-night sessions. More than just words, it became our philosophy: keep knocking on doors with persistence until you rock the world with your impact.

I still remember when Saro first reached out after seeing my LinkedIn post in early 2023. His persistence was remarkable—he dedicated 4-5 hours every evening after his full-time job to shaping our vision. His journey from Zoho University graduate to technical architect at Freshworks to co-founder wasn't just a career progression; it was a testament to the transformative power of technology careers.

The Real Lessons of Co-Founding

This journey taught me things that no blog post or startup guide could have taught me. The most profound? While customers and investors are crucial, the people—specifically your co-founders and founding team—that matter most in a startup's early days.

You can read countless articles about co-founder dynamics, but experiencing it firsthand teaches you that success isn't just about complementary skills. It's about finding partners whose values align deeply with yours and having the humility to navigate unexpected changes together.

The Art of Difficult Decisions

The past few weeks have been some of the most challenging for our team. Deciding to part ways isn't just an emotional journey—though emotions run deep. I've learned that while you must be emotionally invested in your company, your decisions must be grounded in logic.

Why? Because a startup isn't just about its founders once it starts growing. It's about:

• The team that believes in your vision.
• The users who trust your product.
• The investors who back your dream.
• The families and friends who support the journey.

Sometimes, the most respectful decision is acknowledging when paths must diverge, even when the destination once seemed shared.

Building a People-First Company

I've always dreamed of building a people-first company, but I've learned this is about something other than grand gestures or mission statements. It's about the small decisions you make every day, especially during the tough times.

The past months have impacted our productivity, challenged our morale, and tested our team dynamics. But that's the reality of building something meaningful—behind every public update are countless invisible challenges.

The heart of Layerpath beats through its people. While this letter reflects on co-founding transitions, I would be remiss not to acknowledge the incredible team that has been integral to our journey:

Arun Pravin Selvaraj has been our rock since the beginning, bringing stability and vision to our engineering foundation.

Karnesh Kumar , our pixel perfectionist, whose design prowess ensures that every interface tells our story precisely and beautifully.

Swathika Mahalakshmi , whose marketing expertise and content leadership continue to amplify our voice and mission.

And Suki Rajendran , who, though on maternity break, left an indelible mark on our growth trajectory. We eagerly await her return and the energy she brings to our team!

These aren't just team members – they're the builders of Layerpath's culture, the guardians of our values, and the driving force behind our mission. Through every challenge and celebration, their commitment reminds me why we started this journey: to build something meaningful together.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As we move forward, Layerpath remains committed to its mission. We're actively seeking inspiring leaders to join us, who are still dedicated to creating impact and more determined than ever to build something meaningful. While unicorns might be mythical, the impact of treating people right is very real.

To Saravana Kumar : Thank you for showing me what "Thatrom Thookrom" truly means. Your persistence, technical excellence, and unwavering commitment to lifting others have left an indelible mark on Layerpath 's foundation. I know you'll continue to knock on doors and rock the world, just on a different path!

A Message to Fellow Founders

If there's one thing I hope you take from our story, it's this:

Building a startup isn't just about the product—it's about the people who believe in your vision, the values you uphold, and how you handle the tough calls with grace and wisdom.

The true measure of a founder isn't in avoiding challenges but in how we face them, learn from them, and use them to build something better.

To our community—especially those who've actively supported us through every update, every share, every comment—thank you. Your engagement reminds us why we're building publicly and sharing triumphs and challenges.

The journey continues, and somehow, I believe it's just beginning!