Pradeep Guha's Quick Smile Was Beaten Only By A Quicker Wit: Chandralika Hazarika

Chandralika Hazarika Aug 23, 2021

Shivang & I first met PG, as he's popularly known, when he invited us to pitch Bigthinx to him as a potential investor. At the end of an hour-long Q&A session in the very first meeting, he made us an investment offer from across his broad desk. We shook on it and closed the investment within a couple of weeks.

The most amazing thing about Pradeep Guha was his foresight coupled with excitement and knowledge of technology. He was always an ardent believer in the power of technology to reshape the world we live in. His faith was so deep that he religiously made time to attend technology conferences and gatherings around the world. He saw clearly the broad crossover implications of Bigthinx's technology not only in fashion retail but also in industries like fitness, healthcare and gaming, and encouraged us to shoot for the stars.

We fondly remember strategy sessions lasting late into the night over drinks of Japanese single malt whiskeys - his favourites - and curveballs after curveballs he would throw at us to think out of the box. Even here, his curiosity for technology hungered - from Blockchain to XR. Yet ever prudent, his excitement was always tempered with caution which paved the way for successful innovation. His was the kind of encouragement that any founder really needs – a champion in their corner. Pradeep believed in us long before anybody else did, before we had customers or even a product before we were even really a business.

From an idea to winning the global market, he stood by us. It was never easy for an innovative fashion AI product. The last achievement we shared with him was just a week ago when I won the Accenture Women in Tech, 2021 award. I shared the achievement with him immediately as I always do. He was so happy, as someone who always pushed for women in technology.

To the world, he was a transformational force in media marketing and widely recognized as a giant of the global Media & Entertainment industry. But to us at Bigthinx, he was our mentor, friend, investor, partner, constant support, and partner in crime. His quick smile was beaten only by a quicker wit, sometimes catching us off guard and prompting a laugh, but always carrying deep wisdom. He was never more than a call away and happy to talk with us anytime, even though he held an entire world upon his shoulders.

The greatness of this man was that this treatment wasn't reserved only for us. His love and kindness were so vast that there are countless others who are indebted to him for having his blessings, advice and proactive help. And there is no doubt he was loved in return.

Pradeep's untimely demise is a loss felt not only by Bigthinx but deeply so by us founders who knew the person behind the legend. We stand solidly with his wife, Papia, and son, Sanket, who are equally close to us and in our thoughts always.