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Most startup events happen in conference halls, co-working spaces, or over endless cups of coffee. But this time, we at IGS India decided to change the setting. No mics, no slides, no “please put yourself on mute.” Just sneakers, a jogging track, and an open invitation to founders, dreamers, and doers.
And so, on the morning of 31st August 2025, when the city was still rubbing its eyes awake, a group of us gathered for our first ever Startup Founder Run.
At first, I wasn’t sure how many people would come. After all, it was a Sunday. Sundays are for sleeping in, not running. But slowly, one by one, people started arriving.
A founder in running shorts, a student clutching a notebook, a designer who looked more ready for a brainstorm than a jog. And before we knew it, the empty track turned into a buzzing crowd.
What struck me was not just the number of people who came, it was the energy they brought. Everyone had something in common: not just the will to run, but the will to build.
We started running.
The first few minutes were quiet, just footsteps, breaths, and the occasional laugh. But soon, conversations sparked. Someone was sharing a crazy app idea. Someone else was talking about how they got their first 10 customers. A group behind us was discussing how difficult it is to raise funds without a network.
It didn’t feel like networking. It felt like friends catching up, even though many were meeting for the first time.
Halfway through, I remember hearing a pitch, yes, an actual pitch between two people jogging side by side. One was describing a prototype; the other was already suggesting improvements. Where else could you find that?
There was a moment I’ll never forget. I slowed down, turned around, and saw the crowd of people, running, talking, smiling, sweating. And I thought:
“I can’t believe this many people showed up on a Sunday morning.”
That’s when it hit me: something is changing
People are choosing health, energy, and community over comfort. Founders are realizing that taking care of themselves isn’t separate from building their companies it’s part of it. And maybe, just maybe, the startup ecosystem is ready for a new kind of culture. One where we don’t just grind 24/7, but also run, breathe, and share openly.
By the time we finished, it wasn’t just a run anymore. It was a morning of connections, ideas, and friendships.
Yes, funding is still hard. Yes, products still need work. Yes, the journey ahead is still uncertain. But today proved that if we keep showing up together, we can build something far bigger than any one of us.
To everyone who came: thank you. You turned an experiment into an experience.
And to everyone who missed it: don’t worry. This is just the first chapter. We’ll run again. And again. Until this becomes not just an event, but a tradition.
Because startups, like running, are not about reaching the finish line. They’re about showing up, taking one step at a time, and building the right company along the way.
Here’s to more runs. More ideas. More community.
Let’s make it happen.
