# Karthik Chidambaram

> Karthik Chidambaram is the founder and CEO of DCKAP, an ERP-first integration software company serving distributors and manufacturers. He started the bootstrapped business in a Chicago apartment in 2005 and is based in the Austin area. He also hosts Driven by DCKAP, publishes handwritten Tamil Sunday Letters, creates Chat with KC videos, and supports student entrepreneurship through the DCKAP Incubation Center at his alma mater, Government College of Technology, Coimbatore.

- **Role:** Founder and CEO at DCKAP
- **Organizations:** DCKAP
- **From:** Chennai, India
- **Education:** Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Government College of Technology, Coimbatore, Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Don Bosco, Egmore, Chennai
- **Known for:** Built DCKAP from a bootstrapped Chicago apartment startup into an integration software business with a distributed international team., Hosts the Driven by DCKAP podcast, interviewing leaders in distribution, manufacturing and technology., Published a collection of handwritten Tamil letters from 2023 as Sunday Letters.

## Career timeline

- **2001** — Graduated from Government College of Technology, Coimbatore; his personal account says a campus placement did not result in a joining call.
- **2002-2004** — Studied at Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.
- **2005** — Founded bootstrapped DCKAP from a Chicago apartment with two people, two computers and two desks.
- **2006** — Moved to the San Francisco Bay Area.
- **2013** — Faced business and personal debt; began publishing his personal blog on September 24.
- **2015** — Reading How Google Works prompted a stronger focus on company culture.
- **2017** — Reading Andrew Tobias prompted closer attention to personal finances.
- **2023** — Began experimenting with YouTube; the year’s handwritten Tamil letters were later compiled as Sunday Letters.
- **2025** — DCKAP signed an MoU with GCT Coimbatore on June 11 for an incubation initiative; he visited the campus in December.
- **2026** — Continued leading DCKAP and supporting the incubation centre; GCT and the centre hosted Porikkalam in September.

## Achievements

- Built DCKAP from a bootstrapped Chicago apartment startup into an integration software business with a distributed international team.
- Hosts the Driven by DCKAP podcast, interviewing leaders in distribution, manufacturing and technology.
- Published a collection of handwritten Tamil letters from 2023 as Sunday Letters.
- Supported the DCKAP Incubation Center at GCT Coimbatore, where the September 2026 Porikkalam event drew more than 600 students.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — Published Don’t Be an Order-Taker on October 21, arguing for colleagues who challenge requests and recommend solutions.
- **2026-10** — Published A Ride On A Private Plane on October 14, describing a flight with Thenappan Nachiappan in Texas.
- **2026-09** — Reported on Porikkalam, held September 25-26 at GCT with the DCKAP Incubation Center: more than 600 participants, 17 events and 19 student startup teams.
- **2026-07** — Published a review of Who Not How after Jason Seger mentioned the book during their podcast conversation.

## Links

- Website: https://www.karthikchidambaram.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chatwithkc/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/chatwithKC
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chatwithkc
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chatwithkc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chatwithKC

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/karthik-chidambaram
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-24