Bengaluru: A Bengaluru-based entrepreneur has shared how a cold email he sent to Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy in 2016 unexpectedly led to a personal meeting, highlighting what he described as the business leader’s humility and responsiveness. Vinay Parameshwarappa, founder of Gully Tours, recounted the experience during a recent podcast appearance, where he spoke about reaching out without prior contact and receiving a prompt and gracious reply from the industry veteran.

According to Vinay, the exchange happened in May 2016, when he decided to directly write to Murthy expressing admiration and requesting an opportunity to meet. Despite having no introduction or connection, he said the email received a response within hours.

Cold email to a business icon

Speaking on a podcast hosted by Jimmy Xavier, Vinay said he had long admired the Infosys founders and their journey of building a global technology company from India in the 1980s.

“I really looked up to the Infosys founders and how they came together in the 80s to create something of value,” he said during the show. After returning to India from the United Kingdom, he felt motivated to try and meet Narayana Murthy personally.

Vinay described sending a simple, direct email introducing himself and expressing his wish to meet. “I wrote to Narayana Murthy saying I’m so-and-so and I’d love to meet you,” he recalled. He said he did not expect a reply, given Murthy’s stature and schedule.

Quick reply and meeting invite

To his surprise, Vinay said Murthy responded within a few hours and marked a copy to his office secretary to coordinate a meeting slot.

He recalled that the reply conveyed openness and warmth. According to Vinay, the message indicated that Murthy was happy to meet and asked his office to schedule a suitable time.

Vinay noted that the response time stood out even more to him because it came during a period when Murthy’s family was in the international spotlight due to political developments in the United Kingdom. Despite that, he said, the reply came quickly and without any hesitation.

A meeting slot was later scheduled for June or July 2016 at Murthy’s office in JP Nagar, Bengaluru.

Visit to JP Nagar office

Describing the meeting day, Vinay said he received the office location and arrived ahead of schedule. He praised the professionalism and courtesy of the staff.

“The staff was very, very polite. I was taken to a conference room by a secretary and made to sit,” he said. He added that the meeting began exactly at the scheduled time.

“At sharp 2.30 pm, he walked in and I shook his hand,” Vinay recalled. He thanked Murthy for taking the time to meet him, to which Murthy responded courteously, saying he too wanted to meet.

Conversation that left an impression

Vinay described the interaction as warm and encouraging. He said the conversation covered entrepreneurship, values and building meaningful ventures. While he did not disclose detailed business advice from the meeting, he emphasised the personal impact it had on him as a young founder.

“It was such a lovely conversation. For me, he was a hero,” Vinay said, adding that the meeting reinforced his respect for leaders who remain accessible despite their stature.

He said the experience also shaped his own approach to responding to young entrepreneurs and students who reach out for guidance.

Lesson in accessibility and mentorship

The story has since drawn attention among startup circles as an example of how senior industry leaders sometimes remain approachable to first-generation founders. Entrepreneurs often describe cold emails as low-probability outreach methods, but Vinay’s experience shows they can occasionally open doors.

Startup mentors say such stories underline two parallel lessons — that young founders should not hesitate to reach out respectfully, and that established leaders who make time for newcomers help strengthen the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Conclusion

Vinay Parameshwarappa’s recollection of his cold email to Narayana Murthy and the resulting meeting offers a glimpse into a lesser-seen side of corporate leadership — accessibility and encouragement. For many early-stage founders, the episode serves as a reminder that a simple, sincere outreach can sometimes lead to meaningful conversations and lasting inspiration.