IITian Who Quit Flipkart for a Startup Warns: ‘I Learned the Hard Way After 10 Years’

Harsh Pokharna, an IIT Kanpur graduate, left his high-paying job at Flipkart with dreams of building a successful startup and making quick money. However, the reality was far from what he expected. He spent two years working on three different business ideas, all of which failed, depleting his savings and forcing him to take up freelancing to sustain himself. In 2017, he co-founded OkCredit, a digital ledger platform for small businesses, and has been building it for the last eight years.

His journey taught him that startups are not a shortcut to wealth but a long-term commitment that requires perseverance, problem-solving, and patience. Sharing his experience on social media, he warned aspiring entrepreneurs that success doesn’t come easy and urged them to enter the startup world only if they are truly passionate about solving real problems.

CONTENTS:

• “Only Play If You’re Ready”: Bengaluru Entrepreneur Reveals Startup Struggles
• IITian Who Left Flipkart to Launch Startup Shares Hard Truths After a Decade of Struggles

IITian Who Quit Flipkart for a Startup Warns: ‘I Learned the Hard Way After 10 Years’

Harsh Pokharna, an IIT Kanpur graduate and co-founder of Bengaluru-based OkCredit, recently opened up about his decade-long entrepreneurial journey, highlighting the challenges of leaving a well-paying job to build a startup. His experience serves as a cautionary tale for those who believe entrepreneurship is a quick path to wealth.

Pokharna left his position at Flipkart with high hopes of making money rapidly, inspired by the surge of startup founders securing large investments. However, the reality was far more difficult than he had imagined. Despite trying three different business ideas, none gained traction, leaving him in financial distress. As his savings ran out, he turned to freelancing to support himself while continuing to explore new business opportunities.

After two years of setbacks, he co-founded OkCredit, a digital ledger platform for small businesses, which eventually gained momentum. However, his journey reinforced a critical lesson—success in the startup world takes time, perseverance, and strategic planning. Pokharna emphasized that entrepreneurship is not a shortcut to wealth but a long-term commitment driven by the desire to solve real problems.

His honest reflections resonated with many aspiring entrepreneurs, sparking discussions about the realities of starting a business. While some found his perseverance inspiring, others shared their own struggles in securing mentorship and funding. The overwhelming consensus was clear—building a startup requires relentless effort, careful planning, and, most importantly, patience.

“Only Play If You’re Ready”: Bengaluru Entrepreneur Reveals Startup Struggles

Harsh Pokharna, co-founder and CEO of Bengaluru-based OkCredit, recently took to social media to share his journey of building his company—a venture he believes still has a long road ahead. In an Instagram post, he reflected on the moment he left his job at Flipkart, motivated by the prospect of making money quickly. At the time, he saw founders around him raising millions in funding, making success seem easily attainable.

However, the reality was far different. Pokharna admitted that the first two years were marked by failures as he pursued three different business ideas, none of which succeeded. As his savings dwindled, he turned to freelancing to make ends meet.

Eventually, he co-founded OkCredit and has been working on it for the past eight years. Through this journey, he learned a crucial lesson: startups are not a shortcut to wealth. “It’s a long-term game, not a get-rich-quick scheme. Play it only if you’re genuinely passionate about solving a problem—otherwise, disappointment is inevitable,” he cautioned.

His post resonated deeply with social media users, many of whom shared similar experiences. Some praised his persistence, while others echoed the harsh realities of entrepreneurship.

One commenter related their own struggles in the startup space, emphasizing that success requires persistence, resilience, and a genuine love for the work. Another user pointed out that entrepreneurship isn’t for those seeking quick wealth—it demands problem-solving and a sustainable monetization strategy.

A third comment highlighted an often-overlooked truth: “The startup journey is filled with failure, uncertainty, and years of effort before real progress is seen. Too many chase funding rather than real solutions. VC money doesn’t build businesses—relentless execution does.”

Another entrepreneur shared their personal insight, saying, “The startup path is anything but a shortcut. It tests patience, persistence, and problem-solving. My experience building TravBudee reinforced that playing the long game is what truly counts.”

Pokharna’s story serves as a stark reminder that entrepreneurship is a challenging yet rewarding path, requiring unwavering dedication and a focus on real-world problems.

IITian Who Left Flipkart to Launch Startup Shares Hard Truths After a Decade of Struggles

Bengaluru-based entrepreneur Harsh Pokharna recently took to social media to reflect on his journey of building a startup—one that he believes still has a “long way to go.” In his post, the IIT Kanpur graduate and CEO of OkCredit shared how his life changed after quitting his job at Flipkart to pursue entrepreneurship.

Pokharna revealed that when he left Flipkart, he was motivated by the prospect of making money quickly. “Founders around me were raising millions in funding. It seemed easy,” he admitted. However, the reality was far from what he had imagined.

For the first two years, he experimented with three different startup ideas, all of which failed. With his savings depleted, he turned to freelancing to sustain himself while continuing to work toward his goal.

Eventually, he co-founded OkCredit in 2017 and has been working on it for the past eight years. His journey reinforced an important lesson: building a startup is not an instant path to success. “It’s a long-term game, not a get-rich-quick scheme. Play it only if you genuinely want to solve a problem—otherwise, you’ll end up disappointed,” he cautioned.

His candid insights resonated with many, sparking discussions about the struggles of entrepreneurship. One user shared a similar experience, noting that seeking mentorship and financial support often comes at a cost that many aspiring founders cannot afford. Others praised Pokharna’s resilience, with one commenter emphasizing that failure is a part of the entrepreneurial journey and persistence is key.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Pokharna holds a B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Kanpur. He briefly worked as a graduate trainee at Flipkart for eight months before co-founding OkCredit, where he currently serves as CEO. His story serves as a reminder that success in the startup world demands patience, perseverance, and a true commitment to solving real problems.