Founder Spotlight: Sruti Bharat, Campground

A Founder’s Mission: Shaping the Future of Tech for Communities

After time in both private and public sectors, Sruti found herself asking an important question: Why are organizations spending millions on tech, yet struggling to deliver effectively?

Sruti has worked in both consulting and community health — and saw firsthand how the lack of good operational tools was holding teams back. What began as a reflection turned into a bold vision: build technology that helps these teams do their work better.

But it wasn’t just about building a product. For Sruti, it was about building something that mattered — something that gave communities better tools to do their work.

And now? That “something” is Campground — a platform that helps public-serving organizations build custom data apps that make things like compliance, service delivery, and program management way easier.

“This is my life’s work,” she said. “Not just a company.”

With deep empathy from her own hands-on experience, she designed Campground to be intuitive, impactful, and built with public benefit in mind. A powerful experience came when she spotted Campground QR codes everywhere at an event — it was a tangible sign that the product was reaching real communities and making a difference.

Building Campground: Growth Rooted in Community

Today, Campground is powering nearly forty active customers across multiple states. What started as a vision for better tools has grown into a platform that enables public sector teams to build their own custom systems — and even share them with others.

As Campground re-architects with AI at the forefront, the product is evolving to feel even more tailored to each organization’s unique context. In the next 12–18 months, Sruti envisions customers using the platform not just to build — but to earn revenue from the systems they create.

With a community-led marketplace on the horizon, Campground is doubling down on its mission: empower users to build, share, and scale solutions rooted in real-world experience. Their loyal customer base and deep partnerships are proof that this isn’t just tech — it’s trusted infrastructure for change.

With strong traction and a clear vision, Campground is on a path of sustainable, community-driven growth. Sruti’s goal is simple: help public sector teams build tools that actually serve them — and make sure those tools can grow, scale, and be shared. She’s building not just for impact, but for transformation.

“We’re shaping a future where tech supports communities,” Sruti states.

 Founders Supporting Founders: The Role of IGNITE

For Sruti, joining IGNITE wasn’t just about resources — it was about finding community. The Friday founder circles became a favorite ritual, offering space for accountability, reflection, and real connection.

“Being a founder is lonely,” she shared. “IGNITE made it feel less so.”

She appreciated how the program invited founders to bring their whole selves — as humans, not just as builders. As a parent, partner, and community leader, she found healing in being seen fully, and in connecting with others on similar journeys.

Sruti also credits key mentorship moments, including one where a mentor supported her through hiring and personal challenges — all in a single, focused 30-minute meeting. “That’s the magic of ‘Who Not How’ — if you ask, people show up.”

‍