Narayana Murthy’s Shocking Fast Reply to Cold Email: A Lesson for Entrepreneurs
Bengaluru founder shares viral story of how a simple cold email got an instant meeting with Narayana Murthy.
In the world of startups, getting a meeting with a high-profile investor or industry titan usually involves months of networking, warm introductions, and endless waiting. But for one Bengaluru-based founder, the "impossible" happened in just a few hours.
The internet is buzzing after a local entrepreneur shared a
heartwarming story about Narayana Murthy. The founder took a shot in the
dark and sent a cold email to the Infosys patriarch. What happened next
shattered every stereotype about unreachable billionaires.
"Hail Mary" Email
We have all been there—staring at a draft email addressed to
a role model, wondering if hitting "send" is even worth it. Most
assume that emails to people of Murthy's stature get buried in an endless pile
of spam or filtered out by secretaries.
However, this Bengaluru founder decided to take the chance.
He crafted a concise, respectful email asking for a brief meeting to seek
guidance. He hit send, expecting nothing but silence.
"Instant" Reply
To his absolute shock, a notification pinged just hours
later. It wasn't an automated "out of office" reply. It was a
personal response from Narayana Murthy himself.
The email was short, polite, and to the point: "Yes."
Murthy not only acknowledged the email but immediately
offered a specific time slot for a meeting. There were no hurdles, no
"talk to my assistant's assistant," and no ego. Just a genuine
willingness to listen to a young builder.
Why This Matters
This story has gone viral not just because of the meeting,
but because of what it represents.
- Humility:
Despite building a $100 billion empire, Murthy remains accessible and
grounded.
- The
Power of Asking: It serves as a powerful reminder to young
professionals: You don't get what you don't ask for.
- Punctuality:
Murthy is famous for his discipline, and this rapid response is a
testament to his respect for other people's time—regardless of their
status.
The Takeaway for Founders
The lesson here is simple yet profound. Don't self-reject.
Whether you are building the next big tech unicorn or a small passion project,
the only barrier between you and a mentor might be a single, well-written
email.
As the Bengaluru founder learned, sometimes legends are just
one click away.