"Startups are not a shortcut to success": Bengaluru entrepreneur shares hard lessons

Bengaluru-based entrepreneur Harsh Pokharna, co-founder and CEO of OkCredit, recently shared his eye-opening journey of building a startup, emphasising the harsh realities of entrepreneurship.

In a candid Instagram post, Pokharna reflected on the challenges, failures, and perseverance that shaped his path over the past eight years.

Pokharna revealed that he left his secure job at Flipkart with the dream of making quick money by launching his own startup. Inspired by the success stories of founders raising millions in funding, he assumed that the process would be straightforward. However, reality proved to be far different.

For the first two years, he worked on three different ideas, all of which failed. During this time, he burned through his savings and had to freelance just to survive. Despite these setbacks, he kept pushing forward. Eventually, he co-founded OkCredit, a digital bookkeeping platform, which he has now been building for the last eight years.

Through his experiences, Pokharna realised that startups are not a shortcut to wealth or success. Instead, they require long-term commitment, problem-solving, and resilience.

"It's a long-term game, not a get-rich-quick scheme. Play it only if you truly want to solve a problem, or you'll end up disappointed," he shared.

His honest insights resonated with many on social media, sparking a wave of responses from fellow entrepreneurs who could relate to his struggles.

Pokharna’s post received overwhelming support, with many users sharing their own startup journeys and lessons.

One commenter wrote: "I completely resonate with this! Whether it's building a startup or pursuing a passion like teaching, success takes persistence, resilience, and a genuine love for what you do. Your story is a great reminder that meaningful work is a marathon, not a sprint."

Another added: "Entrepreneurship is not for the faint-hearted. Too many people chase funding instead of solving real problems. The truth? VC money doesn’t build businesses - relentless execution does."

Others echoed the sentiment, highlighting that failure, uncertainty, and years of grinding are part of the often unseen side of startup life.

For those dreaming of launching their own ventures, his advice is clear: "Start a company only if you’re passionate about solving a real problem. If you're in it just for quick success, you’re in for a tough reality check."