In 2019, Harsh Pokharna, an IIT Kanpur graduate and co-founder of OkCredit, raised ₹120 crore in Series A funding for his startup. But despite this success, he was struggling financially. He had no savings, lived paycheck to paycheck, and even worried about paying his rent in Bengaluru.
Harsh shared this experience in a LinkedIn post, explaining that many startup founders face the same issue. Even after raising huge amounts of money for their companies, they continue to live like broke students. The problem, he says, is not high rent or landlords—but the startup funding system itself.
According to Harsh, venture capitalists (VCs) often prefer founders to remain financially stressed. Why? Because when founders are struggling, they are easier to control. They are more likely to follow instructions, stay “hungry,” and not challenge investor decisions.
On the other hand, a financially stable founder has more confidence, freedom to say no, and the ability to take independent decisions. That independence can feel threatening to some investors who want to control every move.
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Harsh added that when founders ask for a small personal payout—just enough to pay debts or gain peace of mind—they are often denied. The common belief is that money might make them lazy. But ironically, the same investors have no issue funding already-rich entrepreneurs who own fancy homes and have comfortable lives.
Harsh believes this mindset is flawed. He says money doesn’t kill ambition—in fact, it strengthens it. Founders who don’t have to worry about basic needs can take bigger risks and focus better on building great products.
He criticized the startup culture that romanticizes struggle and sacrifice. Founders deserve both a chance to follow their vision and take care of their personal needs. Money doesn’t make them weak, he says—it makes them fearless.
What People Are Saying
Many people online connected deeply with Harsh’s message. They shared how startup success can often hide the real struggles behind the scenes.
Some agreed that financial freedom is not a luxury but a must for founders to think clearly and grow their business. Others criticized the pressure on founders to take very small salaries, even when their startups are doing well.
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Harsh was praised for speaking out about an issue that’s rarely talked about. Some entrepreneurs even shared their own painful stories of building startups while dealing with financial stress.
This post also started a wider conversation—about when to approach investors and how the funding system needs to change to support founder well-being and independence.
