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I’m a CEO and serial entrepreneur with 20+ years of experience scaling tech-enabled…
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Vikas Sharan reposted thisVikas Sharan reposted thisHere’s a sneak peek at the Plotpoint app! This is a quick look at our launch story, which will be playable at Outside Lands on Aug 8-10. To progress in the story, players will have to find waypoints to unlock challenges, solve real-world puzzles, and work together as a team. Check it out at plotpoint.io
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Vikas Sharan reposted thisVikas Sharan reposted thisMy first article is actually a love story about how I built a fake business to propose to my girlfriend, and how I'm now taking that idea and running with it for real. Oh, and I'm committing to launching in two weeks, at Outside Lands, in front of over 200,000 people. I guess I should start building. 🫡
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Vikas Sharan reposted thisVikas Sharan reposted thisHumans, we’ve been storytellers before anything else. Long before we wrote laws or built cities, we gathered around fires, passing down wisdom, history, and identity through our stories. Our stories weren’t just entertainment; they were how we made sense of the world. And they still are. Our brains are wired for narrative. When we hear a compelling story, we don’t just listen—we experience it. Our mirror neurons fire, making us feel what the person in the story feels. Our brain releases oxytocin, deepening our sense of connection. It transforms an abstract issue into something deeply personal. Think about it. If I told you that 821 million people around the world go hungry every day, it’s overwhelming. You might feel bad, but what can you really do with that information? But if I share with you a real story from a real person — that’s different. That’s real. That’s something you won’t forget. This is why fundraising campaigns that lead with stories—*real* human stories—resonate more than numbers ever could. P.S. Tell me about a nonprofit story that stuck with you—one that made you fully commit to their cause! I’ll go first 👇🏾💬
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Vikas Sharan reposted thisVikas Sharan reposted thisThey say if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. But what they don’t say is that even when doing what you love, eventually, challenges will come, and there’s no ‘perfect guidebook to success’ to follow. There are 2 main myths I had to unlearn and rewire my brain around as a nonprofit founder: Myth #1: Nonprofits shouldn’t make money + people should work for free There’s a common expectation in the nonprofit space that if you’re in this sector, you shouldn’t make money. That financial sustainability should come purely from donors and that people should work for passion alone. But that’s simply not viable. If you want to see the best results, you have to invest in the best people, build lasting infrastructure, and create real impact—just like any for-profit organization would. Myth #2: Everything is hard and will take 2x, 3x time as long as you think When people imagine startup life, they often think of Aaron Sorkin in the Social Network movie, where everybody’s smart, they talk really fast, and there's no downtime at all. But that's not true. The early days of a business (nonprofit or for-profit) are actually full of downtime. You’ll often find yourself just sitting around waiting for something to get built or to hear back from potential users. You're trying everything, but nothing's sticking quite yet. Anyone who has been at a very early age startup can probably relate to that. Personally, my remedy to these slow and stagnant days is to: - remind myself why I started - stay engaged and motivated - have faith that one day something will click and everything will bloom from there Would love to hear from others navigating this space—how do you balance mission and money in your work?
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Vikas Sharan reposted thisVikas Sharan reposted thisEvery dollar counts in philanthropy. But what happens when millions are misallocated? Back in 2022, in just six months, San Francisco mistakenly funneled over $25 million into delinquent or suspended nonprofits. In a city where over 7,000 people were homeless at the time (a number that has now surpassed 8,000), that money could have provided temporary housing, essential services, and financial assistance to those in need. Nonprofits play a crucial role in addressing societal challenges, but not all operate with transparency and efficiency. When mismanagement occurs, it doesn’t just waste resources—it also erodes public trust in the entire sector. That’s why we set out to change the narrative. When we founded Impact Labs, transparency and impact were at the core of what we did. We wanted to take the guesswork out of giving—helping donors support the most effective nonprofits without spending hours researching where their money would have the greatest impact. We analyzed program operations and outcome data using a combination of public records, such as IRS filings, and direct reports from nonprofits themselves. This allowed us to assess the breadth, depth, and evidence of each organization's impact. Now, we’ve taken the same data-driven approach to create tools for nonprofits that let them showcase their impact to their own donors. A rigorous process like this isn’t easy—it takes time, effort, and overcoming challenges along the way. But the result? Trust. When donors see the solid foundation we’ve built and the data-backed decisions we make, they can give with confidence, knowing their contributions will drive real impact. What’s one thing you wished NGOs could do more?
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Vikas Sharan reposted thisVikas Sharan reposted thisThere’s a common belief that for-profits and nonprofits exist in completely different worlds. I don’t think that’s true. After running a nonprofit for three years, I’ve realized something: some of the best business lessons don’t come from boardrooms, they come from mission-driven organizations fighting to make a difference. Here are a few things for-profits can learn from nonprofits: 1. People connect with stories. Nonprofits don’t just sell a product; they move community into action via stories. They show people why their work matters, not just what they do. For-profits that learn to connect emotionally with their audience build stronger brands and more loyal customers. 1. Making every dollar count. Nonprofits know how to stretch a budget. They operate with lean teams, maximize resources, and focus on efficiency. In a world where businesses burn through cash for short-term growth, this mindset is a powerful advantage. 1. Community drives success. The best nonprofits don’t just have donors, they have deeply engaged communities. They listen, adapt, and create spaces where people feel connected to a larger purpose. Imagine if every business thought about customers that way. At Impact Lab, we sit at the intersection of both worlds, and I see firsthand how nonprofits and businesses can learn from each other. The best organizations, regardless of sector, are the ones that put people, purpose, and impact at the center of everything they do. What other lessons do you think for-profits can take from nonprofits?
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Vikas Sharan reposted thisVikas Sharan reposted thisWhen we ask ourselves “why do we want to help others?” The answer isn’t always easy to find. We might say things like 💬 - I want to give because I like to help others. - I feel empathy and hope to support someone in need. - I like to be of service to my community. Studies, however, suggest that generosity is more of a human trait rather than a personal one. Our human brain is wired for generosity—like in an evolutionary way! It’s been an adaptive trait that has helped us survive for millennia. And besides just survival, generosity also lights up reward pathways in our brains, the same ones triggered by sex and food, showing there’s a biological reason behind our prosocial behavior. Biology aside, though, we give because it simply makes us feel good. We're sure some of you are now thinking, “But isn’t that a bit… selfish?” Well, maybe it is. In our view, it’s still a step forward for humanity. Instead of asking whether our self-interested reasons for giving reflect real altruism, maybe we should ask, does it even matter if the outcome is that people are being helped? Julian Zlatev, Assistant Professor at Harvard Business School, offers a different perspective. He suggests that people express prosociality in various ways—some donate at local fundraisers, while others help a neighbor in need. He argues that ‘rather than asking what type of person is going to give, the more helpful question is to ask what can be done to change the structure of the ask in any particular situation.’ A 2022 study investigating the idea that spending money on others—prosocial spending—boosts personal happiness concluded that indeed, "the emotional benefits of prosocial spending are robust and replicable in large samples.” This is a profound finding. An especially interesting takeaway from this study for everyone in the nonprofit sector is understanding what are the conditions under which people experience a boost in happiness. We see 3 occasions: 🧡 People felt good during the act of giving 🤝🏾 People prefer to have a choice about helping others 📊 People want to see the results Honestly, there’s a lot to be done in the world. Wildfires, homelessness, refugees, climate change – the list goes on. In the mind of a potential donor, that’s a pretty overwhelming place to be. You might want to help but the process from finding the nonprofits up to donating is costly, both in time and money. No matter whether someone donates because they want to be of help or because it makes them feel good, one thing is certain: they want to see that their ‘giving’ has an impact, that something good comes out their act and they can see it. And if giving feels rewarding, it encourages people to continue doing it. A positive feedback loop ☀️
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Vikas Sharan reposted thisVikas Sharan reposted thisYou may not agree with me on this, but here's what I’ve learned. When I started this journey, I had what I now call 'founder’s hubris’ – the belief that I could single-handedly create the change I wanted to see in the world. But the deeper I got into the non-profit space, the more I realized something fundamental: it’s not my job to decide how change should happen. It’s my job to support those who are already driving it. At Impact Labs, we don’t claim to have all the answers. We’re not the ones on the front lines distributing aid, running shelters, or building schools. But we can help the people who do. That’s the core belief behind everything we do: we help people help people. We don’t prescribe solutions or decide which interventions are “good” or “bad.” Our role is simple: We give nonprofits the tools to tell their stories, measure their impact, and make the case for their work. Some might argue that we should take a stance, push a specific vision of change, or be more prescriptive. To me, it's simple: listen to the folks who've lived it. They’re the experts. We’re here to help them be heard. What’s a belief at the core of your work that others might not agree with?
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Vikas Sharan reposted thisVikas Sharan reposted thisThis is why where you spend matters 💰➡️🏡 When you spend $100 at a chain business, only $13.60 stays in the community. The rest—$86.40—flows elsewhere. But when you spend that same $100 at a local business? $52.90 stays and continues to circulate, strengthening local jobs, services, and infrastructure. This isn’t just an economic statistic—it’s a reminder that every purchase is a vote for the kind of community we want to build. At Impact Labs, we believe that small choices add up to big change. Supporting local isn’t just about businesses—it’s about people, neighborhoods, and the power of community. If you usually shop at big businesses more than local ones, what influences this choice?
Vikas Sharan commented on a post
2mo
Stress is not a flaw in us; it is a side-effect of our greatest evolutionary advantage—the imagination. The same faculty that lets us plan, invent, and transcend the present moment also pulls us away from what is actually happening now. When the mind confuses imagined futures, remembered pasts, and mental stories for reality, the body reacts as if those thoughts are facts. Stress arises not from life itself, but from mistaking our wandering thoughts for truth. When reality is met directly, without the mind’s commentary, stress has nothing to feed on and quietly dissolves.
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Vikas Sharan liked thisVikas Sharan liked thisCollaboration is where innovation in healthcare truly happens. We recently partnered with Intignus Biotech, a women-led biotech startup based in Pune, India, to launch WiseMother — a digital health app designed to support women during pregnancy. WiseMother promotes health literacy, patient advocacy, and helps women understand pregnancy-related health risks, while providing trusted educational resources for a safe and healthy journey. Working with the Intignus team has been inspiring. Their passion for improving women’s health and commitment to accessible, high-quality care mirrors our own. Thank you to Disha Honwad and the Intignus team for sharing your experience in this short video, and for being such a fantastic partner. We’re excited for what’s ahead! Discover more about collaborating with Avegen here: https://lnkd.in/dz2QGwxw Dr. Nayan Kalnad Prasad Potnis Jamie Campbell Neeraj Apte Rajiv Ramaswamy #DigitalHealth #WomensHealth #HealthcareInnovation
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Vikas Sharan liked thisVikas Sharan liked thisHere’s a sneak peek at the Plotpoint app! This is a quick look at our launch story, which will be playable at Outside Lands on Aug 8-10. To progress in the story, players will have to find waypoints to unlock challenges, solve real-world puzzles, and work together as a team. Check it out at plotpoint.io
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Vikas Sharan liked thisVikas Sharan liked thisMy first article is actually a love story about how I built a fake business to propose to my girlfriend, and how I'm now taking that idea and running with it for real. Oh, and I'm committing to launching in two weeks, at Outside Lands, in front of over 200,000 people. I guess I should start building. 🫡
Experience & Education
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Kosha Lab Inc
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Publications
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A Practical Guide to Enterprise Architecture
Prentice Hall
This book demystifies enetrprise architecture and helps organizations recognize real business value through effective implemntation.
° Written by expert practitioners who have hands-on experience solving real-world problems for large corporations
° Helps enterprise architects make sense of data, systems, software, services, product lines, methodologies, and much more
° Provides explanation of theory and implementation with real-world business examples to support key pointsOther authors -
Projects
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Silicon Valley Business App Awards
- Present
A two-part business app awards program that recognizes outstanding accomplishments in the development community and also publishes a series of case studies on participating apps, highlighting creative and innovative solutions to common problems faced during the development process.
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