Mahesh Guruswamy

Yeah, sure, sure. So my name is Mahesh Guruswamy. I'm currently the CTO of Kickstarter. Been in the software development space for about 20 some years. First 10 years was individual contributor, middle level management. Last 10 years have been in executive roles. So work for pre-IPO companies, IPO companies, early stage startups and everything in the middle.

Yeah, sure, sure. So my name is Mahesh Guruswamy. I'm currently the CTO of Kickstarter. Been in the software development space for about 20 some years. First 10 years was individual contributor, middle level management. Last 10 years have been in executive roles. So work for pre-IPO companies, IPO companies, early stage startups and everything in the middle.

Yeah, sure, sure. So my name is Mahesh Guruswamy. I'm currently the CTO of Kickstarter. Been in the software development space for about 20 some years. First 10 years was individual contributor, middle level management. Last 10 years have been in executive roles. So work for pre-IPO companies, IPO companies, early stage startups and everything in the middle.

I think the single biggest lesson that I've learned is don't start with the no.

I think the single biggest lesson that I've learned is don't start with the no.

I think the single biggest lesson that I've learned is don't start with the no.

right that that's exactly right this is exactly right and you know the the most successful companies that i work for amazon kajabi kickstarter have all been you know slightly crazy right he had to be a little bit crazy to believe that he can do the things that these companies pulled off really have to be crazy i sound delusional because i believe in my ideas so much it's a borderline insane

right that that's exactly right this is exactly right and you know the the most successful companies that i work for amazon kajabi kickstarter have all been you know slightly crazy right he had to be a little bit crazy to believe that he can do the things that these companies pulled off really have to be crazy i sound delusional because i believe in my ideas so much it's a borderline insane

right that that's exactly right this is exactly right and you know the the most successful companies that i work for amazon kajabi kickstarter have all been you know slightly crazy right he had to be a little bit crazy to believe that he can do the things that these companies pulled off really have to be crazy i sound delusional because i believe in my ideas so much it's a borderline insane

That's what I tell up-and-coming leaders, up-and-coming executives. Don't start with the no, especially if you have aspirations to get into the executive C-suite. You cannot tell a founder no. You cannot tell a successful CEO no, you can't do this. With enough money and time, I can move the planet, right? And that's the attitude you should have.

That's what I tell up-and-coming leaders, up-and-coming executives. Don't start with the no, especially if you have aspirations to get into the executive C-suite. You cannot tell a founder no. You cannot tell a successful CEO no, you can't do this. With enough money and time, I can move the planet, right? And that's the attitude you should have.

That's what I tell up-and-coming leaders, up-and-coming executives. Don't start with the no, especially if you have aspirations to get into the executive C-suite. You cannot tell a founder no. You cannot tell a successful CEO no, you can't do this. With enough money and time, I can move the planet, right? And that's the attitude you should have.

It's so funny. Yeah, it's so funny because I've used the exact same analogy with my teams too. You said, if somebody tells me, this takes me six months or nine months, Elon has spent rockets to space in that time. So why can't we get this thing done sooner? So I'm with you.

It's so funny. Yeah, it's so funny because I've used the exact same analogy with my teams too. You said, if somebody tells me, this takes me six months or nine months, Elon has spent rockets to space in that time. So why can't we get this thing done sooner? So I'm with you.

It's so funny. Yeah, it's so funny because I've used the exact same analogy with my teams too. You said, if somebody tells me, this takes me six months or nine months, Elon has spent rockets to space in that time. So why can't we get this thing done sooner? So I'm with you.

That's right. That's right. I think Archimedes said this, right? The long enough lever, you can move the earth. So I believe in it.

That's right. That's right. I think Archimedes said this, right? The long enough lever, you can move the earth. So I believe in it.

That's right. That's right. I think Archimedes said this, right? The long enough lever, you can move the earth. So I believe in it.

Well, I think my usual MO is doing a little bit of research upfront with customers because, you know, I have a thousand ideas and like 90% of them could be garbage. Right. That's the thing. That's the thing. So I don't like mobilize my team to go build something. until I have some level of conviction that this is going to work for our customers. So I talk to customers.

Well, I think my usual MO is doing a little bit of research upfront with customers because, you know, I have a thousand ideas and like 90% of them could be garbage. Right. That's the thing. That's the thing. So I don't like mobilize my team to go build something. until I have some level of conviction that this is going to work for our customers. So I talk to customers.