Bewakoof CEO Prabhkiran Singh marked his company’s 13th anniversary with a heartfelt LinkedIn post on April 1. In the post, which resonated with many, he reflected on the company’s humble beginnings – starting out in a tin-shed office in a Mumbai slum. After the post went viral, the 34-year-old CEO, basking in the praise he received online, got a timely reality check in the form of a to-do list over WhatsApp from his wife. He shared the list in a separate post on the professional networking platform, humorously adding that this is why, in his view, all founders should get married.
“In the morning, I shared a personal story on LinkedIn. It received 10k likes and 700+ comments,” Singh wrote on LinkedIn.
He added, “I got pings from many friends and people in my professional circle. Some people who’ve known me since day zero even got emotional, remembering the humble beginnings of Bewakoof. A very fulfilling day indeed, reminding you of the higher purpose you need to stick to.”
He also posed the question, “Why must founders get married?” explaining that it helps keep them grounded in reality and focused on what truly matters in life.
Singh also shared a screengrab of the WhatsApp text he received from his wife. “Great work. As you’re taking an off, please finish these long due things today: Winter coats dry cleaning, car’s audio system reboot, add everyone to Air India family pool for points, book papa’s eye checkup and unpack your last trip’s suitcase and keep it on the top shelf,” his wife said, ending the message with “that’s all” and heart emoticons.
He ended his post with the words, “Likes and reposts don’t unpack suitcases.”
Singh’s viral LinkedIn post
In his LinkedIn post, Singh recalled renting his first office in a Mumbai slum for Rs 6,000 a month. The space had plastic chairs, makeshift tables, and no air conditioning. The place didn’t have an AC, but his “will to build” was “unshakeable”.
Singh said that “equity funding in 2011 was a rare dream”, and he started his D2C company right after college using a few thousand bucks from home.
Two years later, they moved into a new office in Ghatkopar, which, unlike their first workspace, had rotating chairs and an air conditioner.
Singh also revealed a tradition he follows every April 1, the day Bewakoof was founded. “But thankfully, and maybe even intentionally, we launched on April 1st. A date that demanded we celebrate. With our customers. And with ourselves. So, every year, I make it a ritual: April 1st is my reset day. My day to breathe,” he shared, adding that he walks in his office with no agenda on this day.