In this series, we sit down with our portfolio and program founders to get to know them better. What are they building? What motivates them? What do they love about New York City? This week, we're chatting with Bonside CEO Neha Govindraj, a founder in our Grand Central Tech residency fall 2022 cohort.
1. Describe what you’re building in 10 words or fewer.
Financing for brick-and-mortar businesses.
2. Let’s assume your company achieves your current, fullest ambitions for it — what about your industry and the world do you hope changes as a result?
We hope to change the way the world sees and evaluates brick-and-mortar businesses, thereby opening more doors to financing, talent and, ultimately, customers.
3. What’s your bagel order?
Whole wheat everything with cream cheese. Always.
4. What do you love about New York City, and what makes it a good place to launch a business?
The energy – and knowing that there is always someone within a 1 mile radius working harder than you are. Winning doesn’t come easy.
5. What’s your favorite ‘secret’ about New York?
Hotel lobbies during the day for meetings.
6. What motto do you live by?
Connect with the world and make people feel.
7. What piece of technology do you wish you’d invented?
QR codes! They’ve been around forever and were always (in my opinion) not well utilized / marketed until the pandemic. I think it could’ve taken off a lot faster and been far more ingrained in today’s infrastructure.
8. What’s one app on your homescreen that you can’t live without?
I hate to say it, but Instagram. It’s my daily creative stimulant.