From Grit to Greatness: Unicorn Founders Share Visions at TiEcon 2025
At TiEcon 2025’s Grand Keynote Panel titled “From Grit to Greatness: Inside the Journey to Unicorn Status”, three powerhouse founders took the stage to share their paths to success and offer a forward-looking vision for AI. Moderated by Anita Manwani, President of TiE Silicon Valley and a seasoned entrepreneur and investor, the session featured Beerud Sheth (Gupshup), Chet Kapoor (DataStax), and Jay Vijayan (Tekion Corp), who captivated the audience with their stories of resilience, innovation, and bold predictions.
Founding Sparks and ‘Aha’ Moments
Each founder’s journey to unicorn status was distinct, rooted in adaptability and clarity of purpose. Beerud Sheth’s story began with Elance (now Upwork), which took nearly two decades to IPO. With Gupshup, he transformed business messaging in the digital era. His strength lies in anticipating tech shifts and pivoting quickly to stay ahead of the curve.
Chet Kapoor shared how a book in his youth inspired his Silicon Valley dream. A pivotal moment came during his time at NeXT under Steve Jobs, where he absorbed lessons on leadership and innovation. Kapoor described entrepreneurship as a continuous “aha” process—evolving with the world while trying to change it.
Jay Vijayan’s insight came during his time at Oracle and later while building Tesla’s internal platform. Frustrated by the fraGeneral Motorsented nature of automotive software, he founded Tekion—a unified SaaS platform for auto retail, now valued at $4 billion. His story highlighted the power of identifying gaps and seizing them with conviction.
The Power of Mentorship
Mentors played crucial roles in shaping these founders. Kapoor credited Steve Jobs for teaching him not to compromise on hiring and to inspire teams to exceed their limits. Sheth cited John Doerr and Bill Campbell as influences who instilled a mindset of building billion-dollar businesses with strong cultural DNA from day one.
Resilience Through Adversity
All three emphasized resilience. Sheth talked about staying grounded during pivots, building stamina through wellness habits, and being transparent with teams. Vijayan shared his “near-death” experience at Tesla—building a full accounting stack in three months for a billion-dollar contract. Kapoor recalled raising funds amid the 2008 crash, using transparency and optimism to lead his team.
AI in 2030: A New World Ahead
Looking to 2030, Vijayan predicted AI’s ubiquity, comparing it to the internet revolution and advocating for early AI education. Kapoor forecast that 50% of code at DataStax would be AI-generated within months and predicted voice-based autonomous systems in five years. Sheth envisioned a world where AI reduces startup costs and reshapes how companies are structured.Their insights serve as a powerful roadmap for entrepreneurs ready to harness AI, build resilient ventures, and create impact at scale.
Watch the full Grand Keynote Panel Video here.