It was June 2012, and I was attending an entrepreneurship event, Forum Impulsa.

It was mid-morning and so far the speeches were really inspiring, but then David Karp took the stage.

David talked very quietly, like he was telling a story, the story of his life and Tumblr.

I was deeply touched by his talk, I felt like I had a strong connection with him. You know, empathy. I started coding at age 11, started my first project at 12, and my first company at 15, so I was able to feel exactly the same emotions he felt throughout his life. 

He ended his talk, and everybody applauded.

I was carefully observing him after he got down the stage so I could guess where he would go after, to catch him later. But after some seconds he went out the room. I really wanted to share a few words with him.

It was lunch time, and I was very surprised to see him there, talking with a group of people. Jorge, a friend of mine, and I walked next to him and stood there till the other people talking with him were done.

Then we started introducing us to him.

He listened us, and while we were talking to him we always had eye contact. He cared about us. At that time I was 16 and Jorge was 15, so maybe he was surprised by that.

I pitched him about my last company at that time (that failed some months after) and he made me a couple questions.

Lunch time was almost over but David didn’t manage to eat anything, so the staff separated David from us and got him some food. It was such a pity.

When the event was almost finished, I saw David and his girlfriend Rachel. I quickly reached David to say him that I would email him so he could try out my cool app. We both smiled and he parted.

He didn’t reply my email, but it doesn’t matter.

What matters is that I had a strong connection and felt totally touched by him.

You know, there is something that makes people different. A force like goodness, but not exactly. It’s something you can see in the eyes of some persons. And he has it.

Congrats David, but I’m sure this is only the beginning.