In today’s digital-first startup world, where relationships are often virtual and transactional, Draper Startup House (DSH) is redefining the entrepreneurial journey—one real connection at a time. At the helm is Karan Bahadur, a serial entrepreneur and community builder whose path has been anything but conventional.

In a candid interview with The Indian Startup Times, Karan opens up about how to become a startup enabler, the birth and mission of Draper Startup House, and his bold vision to empower early-stage founders beyond tech and beyond borders.

Karan Bahadur: From Psychology to Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurship

Karan’s career began in an unlikely place for a startup founder—a study in psychology followed by early work at the Holiday Inn and Le Meridien, Bangalore and later worked as  public relations at The Times of India. He later moved to Dubai, where he spent a decade in luxury retail and real estate before returning to India in 2008.

In India, he became deeply involved with The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) handling memberships and programs and then launched the Startup Festival in 2012, a disruptive, inclusive alternative to the usual tech events.

“It wasn’t about the usual suspects,” Karan recalls. “It was about democratizing access to entrepreneurship.”

The festival stood out for its community-first approach making it very inclusive for people from verticals like- artists, designers, musicians, foodpreneurs which had a festival vibe with flea markets, drum circles, live music, and a ‘Startup Crawl’ to explore real founder spaces—offering more experience than exhibition.

The Inception of Draper Startup House: Bridging a Critical Gap

While organizing startup events, Karan realized that Bangalore lacked dedicated living spaces for founders—a space where startups could not just work, but live and grow together. This led to the launch of Construkt Startup Hostels in 2016.

Though the concept gained international attention, it faced funding challenges due to the capital-heavy model. But a timely connection with Vikram from Tribe Theory, Startup Hostels, Singapore in 2018 paved the way for expansion. In 2019, the duo launched a larger hybrid space in Bangalore with co-living, coworking, and events.

The idea caught the attention of renowned investor Tim Draper, and in January 2021, Tim’s team acquired the startup—rebranding it as Draper Startup House.

DSH Today: Global Footprint and Local Impact

Now operational in 17 countries, DSH has major hubs in New York, Seoul, Latin America, Bangalore, and Hyderabad, and plans to launch 7–8 more spaces across India.

Each Draper Startup House is more than just a place to stay—it’s a community incubator where entrepreneurs can live, connect, collaborate, and grow.

“We see 600–700 founders walk through our doors every month,” says Karan. “DSH is a movement, not just a space.”

Key Initiatives: Programs, Pitch Days & Global Exposure

DSH offers several unique programs to empower early-stage startups:

• 10-day Residential Program (next in Hyderabad, May 19–30): International experts and a live-in founder cohort culminating in a pitch event.

• Scholarships worth ₹12.5 lakhs for two selected founders to attend Draper University in California.

• Investor Demo Days and pitch training for early-stage ventures.

• Plans to launch micro-funds (₹10–15 lakhs) to back promising founders.

• Success stories like Odisha-based BonV Aero, a drone-tech startup pioneering in logistic drone manufacturing that raised $1.6M via Meet the Drapers, a TV show in 2024

• Launching Kathmandu soon

Reclaiming Real Human Connection in the Startup World

At the core of DSH is Karan’s firm belief that community is not a product—it’s a mindset.

“Building a community isn’t a growth hack,” he says. “It’s a marathon. It takes resilience, passion, and a decade of showing up.”

To foster that sense of belonging, DSH goes beyond work—it integrates activities like badminton games for startup founders, board games, ice baths, and social dinners.

“It’s not just about networking. It’s about belonging,” Karan emphasizes.

Conclusion: Founders Need More Than Funding—They Need Each Other

Karan Bahadur’s journey is a compelling reminder that entrepreneurship isn’t just about raising money or building tech—it’s about creating ecosystems where people thrive. Draper Startup House offers an alternative model by imparting knowledge through conducting a founders residence program and through this Drapers offers free scholarships for eligible founders at the Draper University, in San Mateo, Silicon Valley, US. DSH also creates community rockstars by conducting community collective residence programs; it is a 10 day residence program for individuals to become community champions.

As startups look for authenticity and support in a competitive world, DSH’s human-first approach might just be the blueprint for the next wave of global entrepreneurship.