I had wanted to meet Hanuj Tilwani for a few months, but I couldn’t find the time. However, one day, after a lot of coordination, we met for lunch at a restaurant in Bangalore. I usually remember these meetings distinctly; however, this one remains vague. For one reason: Hanuj.
Before I met him, I had an image of him in my mind. We had spoken over the phone and had seen each other on screens, but seeing someone in the flesh is different. At the restaurant table, I was surprised by how quiet he was. He moves through a room without disturbing the air. He is THAT quiet and unassuming.
I’ll be honest, I was expecting Hanuj to be different. I’ve met so many people who are quiet and understated on screens and lions in the flesh, and people who are boisterous on screens and shy in real life.
With him, the person you hear on a call is exactly the person you meet. He is soft-spoken and gentle. He carries a delicate sense of humour that catches you off guard because his focus on work is so intense.
Walking away from that meeting, I found myself wondering how we, at AIBoomi, got so lucky. It feels like a stroke of fortune that he gravitated toward us.
A couple of years ago, a member of my team insisted we have him on board. When I get those kinds of recommendations, I don’t hesitate. He came on and got his hands dirty with VC Connect, which was to be part of Annual ‘25. As soon as we had the conversation about the Annual, he admitted he may not be able to make it to the event, but he would help organise it the best he could. And he threw himself into it. He connected VCs and founders with a relentless, quiet dedication. Many people switch off when they realise they won’t be around to receive the flowers for an event well done, but Hanuj had no such ideas. The work was his reward.
When I was younger, I was not the best at sports; I will admit it now, many decades later. My hands and legs never moved at the speed they should when you play sport. But I always noticed this quiet child, who stood in the corner and was picked last to play cricket, and when he got his opportunity, changed everyone’s mind. From going last, that child would then start opening. Next time a team is picked, everyone is scrambling to get him in their team.
As the Annual ended, Hanuj had become that quiet kid. Everyone was clamouring to have him on their team.
So we asked if he wanted to be involved in revamping SGX. He agreed without hesitation. He warned us, though, that he had limited bandwidth. The SGX team took him in, and if that’s what he could do with limited bandwidth, I wonder what Hanuj could do at full capacity!
After SGX, his role grew. Whenever we had an ambitious project, his name would be first on the sheet. Internally, we knew if Hanuj was running the project, we could sit back; it would get done. Not that he would let you relax; he makes sure the work is done, and everyone carries their load. Sometimes it is a quiet text or a gentle but firm email asking you for an update.
Also, he carries this elder brother energy, which is reminiscent of another volunteer–Tayyab. Hanuj is humble enough to admit when he lacks knowledge, and he is hungry enough to learn. When he is lost, he finds an expert, synthesises the information, and speaks with clarity.
But don’t mistake his unassuming behaviour for someone who isn’t ambitious. He wears his ambition like a soft fabric rather than armour. He manages his time in a way I cannot fathom, appearing everywhere at once despite his quiet nature. He gives his time with a generosity that makes you pause.
Thank you, Hanuj; we’re always grateful you’re here.
