Satwik Hebbar
Co-Founder at strivelabs.ai
Building platforms focused on bridging legacy SaaS with agentic automation.
Intro
I am Satwik Hebbar, Co-Founder at strivelabs.ai. My career has been defined by scaling engineering platforms and building high-performance teams, from my early days at Pravritt Solutions and IBM to leading large-scale engineering organizations at Freshworks and Mesh. Currently, I am focused on the intersection of legacy SaaS and agentic automation, exploring how we can bridge these worlds to drive real innovation. I am passionate about developer experience, platform engineering, and fostering cultures that value both rapid iteration and enterprise-grade quality. Throughout my journey, I’ve learned that the best results come from a balanced 'build vs. buy' approach and a commitment to recruiting driven talent. I’m always interested in connecting with others in the tech space to discuss the evolution of SaaS, AI, and the future of engineering leadership. I look forward to exploring potential synergies and sharing insights.
Networking
What I can offer
- ›Strategic product roadmap development
- ›Enterprise-grade scaling advice
- ›Engineering leadership and team building
- ›Technical debt management
What I'm looking for
- ›expanding my professional network
- ›exploring mutual opportunities in the SaaS and AI industry
Best fit for
Focus
Current interests
Core competencies
Background
Career
Started as Partner at Pravritt Solutions, moved to IBM as Software Architect and Manager, then Lead Software Engineer. Transitioned to Freshworks as Engineering Manager, rising to Senior Director of Engineering. Served as Head of Engineering at Mesh before co-founding strivelabs.ai.
Education
Master of Technology (M.Tech) in Computer Science, IIT Bombay (2002–2004); Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) in Computer Science, University of Mumbai (1998–2002).
Achievements
- ›Managed platform growth with 200X increase in traffic at Freshworks
- ›Reached 1,000 apps on the Freshworks Marketplace
- ›Built the first IBM Software Lab team in Chennai post-acquisition
- ›Published research in ICVGIP (2004)
Opinions
- Advocates for a build vs. buy balance in engineering
- Believes in the importance of prototyping and show-and-tell cultures to drive innovation
Personality
Communication style
Professional, articulate, and highly structured with a focus on business outcomes and strategic impact.
Formality — 8/10
Vocabulary