9 Years of Heart, Hustle & Hope: My Wingify Foundation Journey (And What’s Next!)
I’ve never been much of a writer—preferring to let our incredible partners, teammates, and volunteers take the spotlight. But some stories demand to be told by the person who lived them. This is one of them.
Maybe it’s nostalgia kicking in (hello, midlife!), but this isn’t just a trip down memory lane. It’s a love letter to an adventure that changed me—and, I hope, left a tiny dent in the universe.
How It All Began
Let’s keep it real: The Wingify Foundation wasn’t born from some grand corporate manifesto. It started with a “Well, we have to do this… so let’s do it right.”
Back in 2009, my son Paras bootstrapped Wingify into existence. By 2010, we were officially a company—him coding, selling, and hustling; me handling the “unglamorous” but crucial back-end work (accounting, legal, ops—you get the drill). We were profitable from Day 1, which was thrilling… until our auditor dropped a bombshell: “Congrats, you’re now big enough for mandatory CSR!”
Year 1? We took the easy route—cutting a cheque to the PM’s Relief Fund (and sending our poor CA on a wild goose chase for a receipt). Year 2? We funded an NGO… and quickly realized good intentions ≠ good impact. Frustrated (and honestly, a little ashamed), we decided: If we’re going to do this, we’re doing it OUR way.
And so, in 2015, the Wingify Foundation was born.
From Rural Roots to Fighting for the Air We Breathe
Our early days were all about rural development—food, farming, skilling, even winning a national CSR award. Then COVID hit. Overnight, we pivoted to saving lives: oxygen cylinders, hospital wards, vaccination drives.
But post-pandemic, a book (Doing Good Better by William MacAskill) slapped me awake: Climate change is the fight of our lifetime. So we went all-in on Delhi’s toxic air—because if we couldn’t fix the whole planet, we could at least move the needle where we stood. Don’t take my word for it—our partners, scrappy team, and die-hard volunteers did the heavy lifting. See the magic here.
Why This Goodbye Hurts (And Excites Me)
A few months ago, I stepped down as Wingify’s trustee. It’s bittersweet—this Foundation was my heartwork, not just homework. I never took a salary, but the rewards? Immeasurable.
Now? I’m doubling down on impact—with a twist.
What’s Next: Nexus 3P Foundation
Impact investing isn’t charity. It’s betting on solutions that outlive us. That’s why we’ve launched Nexus 3P (Planet, People, and your choice of the third P—Purpose? Peace? Positive? Possible? Peace? Prosperous? Profit? You pick.).
We’re building a launchpad for sustainable agriculture, environmental tech, and public health innovation—because the future isn’t just coming; it’s ours to shape.
Join Us (If You Dare)
This isn’t for everyone. But if you’re:
- A fearless builder (founders, we need you),
- A data-obsessed truth-seeker (IQ won’t scare you),
- A relentless connector (coalitions > clout),
- A strategic fundraiser (money moves missions),
…then let’s talk.
We’re recruiting interns, dreamers, and doers—full-time, part-time, Delhi-based or remote. Want a resume that says “I played it safe”? Cool. But if you’d rather leave a legacy, drop us a line.
The world doesn’t need more followers. It needs architects of change.
Ready to build? → reachout@nexus3p.org
(And to every soul who walked this journey with me—thank you. This isn’t goodbye. It’s “See you in the trenches.”)
Let’s go.