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For the last chapter, we have Sharath Kuruganty, Head of Community at Threado to summarise the essence of community building and help you build a sustainable community.

Community building is not just about getting people together for a one-time event or project. It's about creating long-lasting connections that are built on trust, shared interests, and a sense of belonging. Sustainable communities can thrive for years, even decades, and can have a profound impact on their members and the world around them. In this article, we'll explore what it takes to build a sustainable community and provide some tips on how to do it.

• The time to start a community was yesterday! Yes, you heard that right. We are in an era where it is all about Community-led growth. Organizations have moved from the sales and product-oriented growth strategies and now understand the value of community building.
• Authenticity is everything. The best way to stand out is to be true to what you are building. Trust is key in community building and being authentic helps build trust in your community and among your members
• If you have infinite patience, you’ll see immediate results. Yup, read that again. A successful community doesn’t fall into your lap - it requires undiminishing patience and persistence to kick-start a community and nurture it. Community building ain’t always sunshine and rainbows. There are days when you question everything you’re doing, and then there are days when you only wish you started earlier.
• Give give give and then ask! Community building is not about giving first. When you focus on giving to the community, one day the community will give you back tenfold. Having the patience and understanding to look at it long-term is key.
• Community building isn’t about the numbers. It’s better to have ten highly engaged members who value your community than to have a thousand who barely even interact. Don’t measure success on quantities, focus on the quality of what you’re involved with.

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A sustainable community starts with a clear purpose and shared values. This provides a foundation for members to connect around and creates a sense of belonging. Take the time to clearly define your community's purpose and values, and make sure they are communicated clearly to all members. This will help attract like-minded individuals who are passionate about the same things.

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Sharath Kuruganty is currently the Head of Community at Threado. He previously led communities at Product Hunt, On Deck, and Draftbi(YC W18). He frequently tweets and shares his lessons on building scaling communities and doing things in public. He also coaches and advises early-stage startups that were backed by YC, Hyper, and On Deck!

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