Jaswanth Space

This was even before starting Picapool. I got a message from my friend that changed the trajectory of my life.

"Bro, U up for some freelance work? It's two webpages ka rework"

I said yes without hesitation. He introduced me to Viv, and we quickly met for a discussion. This simple conversation would mark the beginning of one of the most important relationships in my professional journey.

The First Project: Toonsutra

We worked on Toonsutra, a nascent startup bringing comics and graphic novels in Indian languages. What started as a simple website rework evolved into a deeper collaboration.

Viv wasn't just a client - he became a mentor, a friend, and eventually a business partner. He taught me the importance of understanding user needs, iterating quickly, and building products that matter.

Growing Together: Pinksabha

Over time, we worked on multiple projects together. Most notably, we built Pinklist's Pinksabha - an interactive platform empowering users to explore stances of 161 Lok Sabha MPs on LGBTQIA+ issues.

At the EMC Glocal Pitch Competition by Musashino University and IIT Hyderabad

The Entrepreneurial Spark

We participated in the EMC Glocal Pitch Competition by Musashino University and IIT Hyderabad, where we became finalists showcasing a privacy-first note-taking app with on-device AI. This experience gave me a taste of building my own products.

What's remarkable is that despite never meeting in person during those early days, our friendship and professional relationship grew stronger. We communicated through countless video calls, messages, and code reviews.

"It was during this time that my entrepreneurial passion ignited, leading us to explore sustainability and eventually birth Carbon Earth."

Key Lessons

→Say yes to opportunities: That one message led to a life-changing partnership
→Find the right mentor: Viv showed me what it means to build products with purpose
→Remote can work: Distance doesn't matter when you have shared vision and trust
→Learn by doing: Each project taught me something new about tech and business

Meeting Viv taught me that the most valuable relationships often start with a simple "yes" to an opportunity. Our journey from that first freelance gig to building Carbon Earth together shows the power of finding the right people to build with.