Ethan Kiran Dsouzaethan
gtm engineer. founder. mangalore.

still figuring out what I'll be when I grow up.

(building anyway.) I'm Ethan, a GTM engineering consultant funding a company of my own, writing for founders, future founders, and people who think like them.

Grey metallic flower shaped object
Portrait of Ethan Kiran Dsouza
about

the short version

My first company took four months and twice the money just to register (it should've taken one). That was the first of many things nobody warns you about: cofounders fall out, deals die at the proposal stage, payments show up late, and you can feel alone in a room full of people who work with you.

I kept going anyway.

Now I do GTM engineering for founders (the systems and automations that get a product in front of the right people), and I use that to fund the company I'm building on the side. I work out of Mangalore, because I don't think you need the right city, a big cheque, a mentor, or even a registered business to start. You just need to start.

I read a lot (psychology, mostly), I ship before things are perfect, and I write for founders. If that sounds like you, we'll get along.

  • GTM Engineering
  • Outbound Systems
  • Marketing Automation
  • Cold Email & DMs
  • Affiliate & Growth Ops
  • Pitch Decks
  • Go-to-Market Strategy
the work

what I've actually done

Fractional GTM

Mar - Jun 2026

Fractional go-to-market for a team that had a product but no pipeline. I audited the stack they were paying for, cut it down to something leaner and cheaper, and stood up an automated sales pipeline in its place. Then tightened their positioning across platforms, reworked the website UX, and rebuilt the funnel so it actually converted. I'm leaving the company name out; the work was good, the people less so.

Head of GTM Engineering, Oriv

2026 - now

I build go-to-market systems for the team: the outbound, automations, and data plumbing that actually move numbers. This is what funds the company I'm building.

Founder, Evlogia Labs

2025 - now

My own company. Still early, still building. This is the thing everything else pays for.

Co-Founder, fade

2023 - 2025

My first real company. We grew it, got picked for the SUPER 25 startup accelerator (featured in News Karnataka and Daijiworld), then rejoined and acquired two Mangalore agencies, Kickstart Media and Cliqbait. Also where I learned every hard lesson, mostly the expensive way.

Growth Ops Specialist, Paul Street

2024

Three remote months with a high-growth New York agency. Got inside their ops stack: affiliate tooling, automations, and how a serious org actually defines and runs on success.

initiatives

beyond the work

Founder, EVL Startup Social

2025 - now

A founder community I run in Mangalore for people actually building companies. Events are open; the inner circle is by referral. 200+ founders and counting, curated not crowded, local-first for coastal Karnataka.

Member, Kanara Entrepreneurs

2025 - now

A non-profit network for entrepreneurs and professionals from the Kanara region. Networking, mentoring, and business development with people building at every stage.

Member, TiE Mangaluru

2025 - now

Part of the local TiE chapter, plugged into coastal Karnataka's 'Silicon Beach': 225+ tech companies, 25+ engineering colleges, and a startup scene most people outside it have never heard of.

President, CIPHER SJEC

2023 - 2025

Ran my college's tech community. Rebranded it, gave it real structure, and put on events to show students there are paths beyond degree, job, ladder. Started as a member, ended as president.

Education Volunteer, U&I Trust

2023 - 2024

Volunteered teaching underprivileged kids over a year, remote. A good reminder of why any of this matters.

contact

building something? let's talk.

Book a call, or just email me. Whatever's easier for you.

Or email ethandsouzaftw@gmail.com