Meet the Founder: Thomas (Tom) Vellaringattu

Entrepreneur. Community builder. Advocate for kindness, compassion and civic responsibility.

Thomas (Tom) Vellaringattu is an Indian-American entrepreneur and the founder of CivicPulse, part of the SocialPulse Network. He believes meaningful social progress begins with how we treat one another—and with the everyday actions we choose to take.

CivicPulse brings that belief into community life: a place to raise local concerns constructively, recognise kindness, share knowledge and connect people who need help with people willing to offer it.

From entrepreneurship to community building

Tom began his entrepreneurial journey in 2000 with Spice n Flavor, sharing Indian spices and culinary traditions with a wider audience. In 2016, he expanded into the restaurant business with Spice n Flavor in San Jose, California.

Working in food, hospitality and customer service deepened his appreciation for the relationships that connect people across cultures. His interests grew to include technology, tourism, education, family heritage and community participation.

Those experiences helped shape the SocialPulse Network: a vision for connected digital platforms that help people discover places, share knowledge, preserve memories and build relationships. CivicPulse is its community and civic participation initiative.

Why CivicPulse?

Having experienced life in India and the United States, Tom has seen how small social behaviours affect everyday life. A sincere thank-you, respect for a queue, consideration for pedestrians and care for shared spaces all help build trust and dignity.

He believes civic improvement is a shared responsibility. Public institutions have essential duties, and residents can also contribute by identifying problems, suggesting practical solutions and working together respectfully.

CivicPulse aims to make room for that participation without hostility, blame or political division. Its focus is on useful action and mutual respect—not on claiming that one country or culture has all the answers.

Growing kind hearts, from childhood onward

CivicPulse Kids reflects one of Tom’s central priorities: helping children practise kindness, courtesy, empathy, honesty and responsibility from kindergarten through high school.

Its 60 illustrated lessons invite students, teachers and families to turn values into everyday habits:

• Say ‘please’, ‘thank you’ and ‘sorry’ sincerely, and treat everyone with dignity.
• Include others, stand against bullying and resolve disagreements peacefully.
• Offer help respectfully, recognising each person’s independence and abilities.
• Care for classrooms, streets and public spaces; follow road-safety rules.
• Show compassion towards animals, protect nature and use technology responsibly.
• Share these lessons with parents, siblings, relatives and friends through good examples.

The aim is encouragement, not comparison or shame. Through colourful printable boards, activities and real-life examples, children can make kindness a lasting habit—with guidance from trusted adults.

Connecting needs with a helping hand

Through Kindness Pulse, members can share needs, offer useful items or skills, and discover ways to volunteer. A contribution might be helping an older neighbour with a task, sharing books, reducing food waste or joining a local clean-up.

Tom’s hope is that asking for help becomes easier and responding becomes a natural part of community life. Support should always respect privacy, consent and personal safety. CivicPulse is not an emergency service, and members should confirm arrangements before taking part.

Technology with a human purpose

Tom sees digital technology and artificial intelligence as tools to support people, not replace human relationships. Multilingual information, local profiles and community resources can help more people participate, wherever they live.

Technology is useful when it makes a real difference: helping neighbours connect, making educational materials accessible or bringing attention to a positive local initiative. Human judgement, accurate information and respect for privacy remain essential.

Rooted in Kerala - Keralam, open to the world

India, and especially Kerala - Keralam, is an important starting point for Tom’s vision. CivicPulse welcomes participation across countries, cultures, religions and backgrounds, recognising that every community has strengths to share and room to grow.

Its invitation is simple: respect everyone, help where you can, care for shared spaces and leave your community better than you found it.

A message from the founder

“I believe that building a better society does not always require great wealth, political power, or extraordinary achievements. Sometimes, it begins with a smile, a sincere thank-you, holding a door for someone, respecting a person waiting in line, helping an elderly neighbor, or picking up a piece of litter.”

“I especially believe we should teach these values to our children—not simply through textbooks, but through everyday actions and examples.”

“We may not be able to change the entire world overnight. But we can improve the little part of the world around us, one thoughtful action at a time. That is where meaningful change begins.”

— Thomas (Tom) Vellaringattu, Founder, CivicPulse & SocialPulse Network

Our invitation

Be kind. Be responsible. Be the change. Whether you share a local story, offer a helping hand or teach a child a thoughtful habit, you can contribute to a more caring community.

CivicPulse — Building Better Communities, One Kind Act at a Time.