In a recent LinkedIn post, Karishma Mehta, the founder of Humans of Bombay, reflects on the 12-year journey of her storytelling platform, sharing key lessons learned each year since its inception. Mehta, who started Humans of Bombay at 21 with a passion for storytelling, details the evolution of the organization from its humble beginnings to its current scale.
Mehta highlights the foundational importance of passion in the early stages, noting the power of a “fire in the belly.” She recounts:
“Year 1 – I started out as a 21 year old, no job, just a passion to tell stories. Shooting on the streets, talking to strangers, writing, editing, uploading! Six months into starting, a TEDx Talk Happened! This year taught me how powerful the ‘fire in the belly’ is. Passion > Plan”
The Evolution of Purpose and Identity
As Humans of Bombay grew, Mehta emphasizes the shift from focusing on perfection to understanding purpose. She recounts a pivotal moment in Year 2 when the platform crowd-funded ₹6 Lakh for girls at Kranti, an organization dedicated to empowering daughters of sex workers. This experience, according to Mehta, underscored the principle of “Purpose > perfection.” This theme of purpose continued to shape the organization’s trajectory, leading to the publication of a book and recognition in Forbes Asia by Year 3. Mehta realized that the ability to dream big was accessible to everyone, framing this as “Delusion-ally practical > Practical.”
Scaling and Building a Team
The monetization phase, beginning in Year 4, marked a significant step in scaling the operation. From a small, four-member team, Humans of Bombay has grown to a team of 40. This growth, as Mehta points out, was driven by a focus on people. She states:
“Year 4 – Monetisation year one: a 4-member team, a Juhu beach space, and the dream of taking HOB beyond Bombay. (We are a team of 40 today) People >>”
Further solidifying the organization’s identity, Year 5 brought the Devi award, which reinforced Mehta’s self-perception as a storyteller above all else. She articulates this insight as “Identity > Titles.” The platform’s visibility and credibility were further amplified in Year 6 when Mehta interviewed the Prime Minister of India, an event that garnered both acclaim and criticism, teaching her about the importance of “Consistency > Peaks.”
Navigating Challenges and Sustaining Growth
Mehta also touches upon the inevitable challenges, including a difficult Year 10, which she describes as “The dip.” This period, though hard, reinforced the transient nature of online fame and the enduring importance of genuine relationships, encapsulated by her lesson “Life > Business.” Year 11 was dedicated to “sustenance,” focusing on the operational aspects of running a business and the constant question of “what next, how do we disrupt, how do we scale?” This led to the philosophy of “Slowing down > Going Fast without Direction.”
Embracing Bold Moves for Transformation
Reflecting on the most recent year, Year 12, Mehta describes it as “the year of bold moves.” This involved bringing in new leadership to transform storytelling and resulted in a company that felt “unrecognizable – the speed, the scale, the momentum!” Mehta concludes this reflection with a powerful statement about strategic risk-taking:
“Risk at the Right Time > Consistent Safety”
Throughout her post, Mehta expresses gratitude for the journey, the lessons, and the community that has supported Humans of Bombay over the past 12 years.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Karishma Mehta on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on January 28, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →