From a Stable Job to Startup Success: Harsh Pokharna’s Inspiring Journey

From a Stable Job to Startup Success: Harsh Pokharna’s Inspiring Journey
Many people stay in jobs they don’t enjoy because they feel pressured by society or fear stepping out of their comfort zones. But some take the risk to follow their true passion. One such person is Harsh Pokharna, a former Flipkart employee who left his secure job to become an entrepreneur.
Harsh, now a CEO based in Bengaluru, recently shared his experiences on social media, reflecting on his journey. He recalled the moment he decided to quit Flipkart to start his own business, hoping to make money quickly like other startup founders who were raising millions.
However, success didn’t come easily. Harsh experimented with three different startup ideas in the first two years, but all of them failed. He lost his savings and had to do freelance work to support himself.
Finally, in 2017, he co-founded OkCredit and has been working on it for the past eight years. Through this journey, he learned a valuable lesson: Startups are not a shortcut to quick wealth. He advised that one should only start a business if they truly want to solve a problem, or else they might feel disappointed.
People React to His Story
Many people related to Harsh’s struggles and shared their thoughts:
🔹 One person mentioned how mentorship often comes at a cost, making it difficult for new entrepreneurs to get help.
🔹 Another said they were inspired by Harsh’s experience and wanted to share their own ideas with him.
🔹 A third person appreciated his honesty, saying it’s rare for people to openly talk about their struggles.
🔹 Others praised his resilience, calling his story inspiring and valuable.
Who is Harsh Pokharna?
According to LinkedIn, Harsh worked as a graduate trainee at Flipkart for eight months before co-founding OkCredit in 2017. He is currently the CEO of the company. He holds a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Kanpur.
His 10-year journey has been full of challenges, but it shows the courage needed to take risks. Harsh’s story reminds us that true success often lies beyond our comfort zones.