logo
IITian couldn't afford Bengaluru rent even after raising Rs 120 crore. Reason: Not rent price or landlord

IITian couldn't afford Bengaluru rent even after raising Rs 120 crore. Reason: Not rent price or landlord

Time of India01-05-2025

What netizens said
In 2019, despite securing ₹120 crore in Series A funding for OkCredit , Harsh Pokharna—founder and CEO, and an IIT Kanpur graduate—was still broke. He had no savings, lived paycheck to paycheck, and worried about rent in Bangalore. His story isn't unique. Many startup founders raise crores but continue to live like struggling students, constantly anxious about basic survival, the IITian said in a LinkedIn post.The reason behind this paradox is systemic, he said. Venture capitalists often prefer founders to remain financially strained as a founder with no money is easier to control—more likely to comply, stay hungry, and stick to the investor's script, Harsh Pokharna said.In contrast, financial stability gives a founder the confidence to say no, the freedom to walk away, and the power to build on their own terms, he said, adding that independence can feel threatening to those who want influence over every move.When a founder dares to ask for modest personal liquidity—perhaps to pay off debt or gain breathing space—they're met with resistance, he said. The narrative is that personal wealth might dull their drive. Ironically, the same investors willingly fund serial entrepreneurs who are already financially comfortable, owning beach houses and retirement portfolios, Harsh Pokharna said.This contradiction, he said, highlights a deeper truth: ambition isn't killed by money—it's often strengthened by stability. Founders who aren't consumed by survival can think more clearly, take bolder risks, and build fearlessly.The startup world romanticizes sacrifice, but it shouldn't glorify financial insecurity, he said. Founders deserve the right to chase their vision and secure their well-being. Money doesn't make them weak—it makes them unafraid, he added.Netizens strongly resonated with Harsh Pokharna's candid post about the harsh realities founders face despite raising large amounts of funding. Many acknowledged how startup success often masks the personal financial struggles entrepreneurs endure.Several users emphasized that financial freedom is essential—not a luxury—for fearless innovation and sustainable growth. One comment highlighted the stigma around founders taking a fair salary, criticizing the pressure VCs place on how much they should earn.Others praised Harsh for shedding light on a rarely discussed issue and thanked him for being a source of inspiration during tough entrepreneurial journeys. Some users shared their own struggles as founders, relating deeply to the emotional and financial toll of building a startup while barely making ends meet.The conversation also sparked questions about when to approach VCs and how early-stage investments are shaping founder expectations. Overall, the post opened up an important dialogue around founder well-being and financial autonomy.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Did Apple fire Jon Yongfook, designer behind Liquid Glass UI? Here's the truth behind viral claim
Did Apple fire Jon Yongfook, designer behind Liquid Glass UI? Here's the truth behind viral claim

Hindustan Times

time4 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

Did Apple fire Jon Yongfook, designer behind Liquid Glass UI? Here's the truth behind viral claim

Claims about Apple firing a Jon Yongfook, allegedly the lead designer of the Liquid Glass UI unveiled at WWDC 2025, surfaced on social media on Monday. Yongfook, an influencer on social media, posted about being fired. However, now several social media users are saying that Yongfook never worked with Apple. 'I was fired by Apple today. Me and my design team have spent the last 18 months tirelessly testing different levels of gaussian blur on backgrounds when foreground elements are in focus. If you are looking for experts in the blur, glass liquid, grass or fur UI space, lmk,' Yongfook said on X, platform formerly known as Twitter. Read More: Russia fines Apple for violating 'LGBT propaganda' law, TASS reports His followers were quick to note that Yongfook never worked at Apple, and his tweet seemed satirical. 'Media has picked up this tweet and reported that Apple has fired their lead designer Jon Yong Fook for Liquid Glass design. Jon is an entrepreneur that runs SaaS products, and did not work at Apple's design. It's their in his bio Media did not even bother to check his bio...' one person tweeted. Yongfook is a serial entrepreneur, not a documented Apple employee. He founded Bannerbear, a SaaS for automated image generation, and previously worked at Aviva. His website and LinkedIn focus on startups, with no mention of Apple. Read More: 'Steve Jobs would have fired everyone': Apple's Liquid Glass design triggers online backlash 'Senior Digital leader with over 15 years of global technology and business experience at both multinational organizations and startups. Seasoned entrepreneur and technology innovator with two successful exits. Experience in industries such as Financial Services, Ecommerce and Consumer Internet. Working experience in markets including Japan, China, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore,' his bio on LinkedIn states. Apple unveiled Liquid Glass, a translucent, dynamic UI for iOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, and other platforms, led by Craig Federighi and Alan Dye. It features Gaussian blur, rounded controls, and adaptive navigation. Apple's Human Interface Design team, under Dye, developed Liquid Glass, with no mention of Yongfook.

'How will I answer if someone asks me my name? ChatGPT outage triggers internet meme fest
'How will I answer if someone asks me my name? ChatGPT outage triggers internet meme fest

Mint

time5 hours ago

  • Mint

'How will I answer if someone asks me my name? ChatGPT outage triggers internet meme fest

In a significant service disruption, OpenAI's widely-used AI chatbot, ChatGPT, experienced a global outage on Tuesday, leaving users across multiple countries unable to access its core functionalities. The issue began around 2:45 PM IST and quickly escalated, affecting both web and mobile users worldwide. This incident marks one of the most widespread and impactful outages for OpenAI in recent months. Users reliant on the platform for academic assignments, professional work, and everyday assistance expressed their frustration online, particularly as the company remained tight-lipped about the root cause of the problem. You may be interested in OpenAI has yet to issue an official explanation, and the absence of clarity has only intensified user concerns. Many turned to social media platform X to voice their grievances and poke fun at the situation. Despite the disruption, the internet wasted no time in turning the outage into a meme-fest. One user, @pathray_ri77258, shared a tongue-in-cheek tweet: 'When @ChatGPT is so overworked it can't even finish your message... Today, many users (myself included) are facing errors in the message stream. Is @OpenAI having a burnout day? The fun part? I asked #ChatGPT to write this tweet about its own crash. Self-awareness level: 🤖' Another user, @JeetN25, summed up the collective panic with a relatable meme: 'Everyone running to Twitter to check if ChatGPT is down for anyone else #chatgpt #chatgptdown,' accompanied by a clip of people sprinting in a queue. Popular meme creator @sagarcasm shared a photo of a man without hands, captioned, 'LinkedIn Content Creators when ChatGPT is down,' highlighting the heavy dependence on the tool for online content creation. In another humorous jab, a user shared an image representing the prehistoric era with the caption: 'This is how I feel when ChatGPT is down: #ChatGPT.' Meanwhile, user Altaf posted, 'ChatGPT is down—how will I answer if someone asks me my name,' encapsulating the absurdity of modern digital reliance. According to data from Downdetector, India alone logged over 800 complaints, with 88 per cent citing issues with ChatGPT's main functions. An additional eight per cent pointed to problems with the mobile application, while four per cent reported troubles with API integration. In the United States, the scale of the outage appeared even more severe. Over 1,900 users reported issues around 07:15 PM IST, with a staggering 93 per cent experiencing disruptions with ChatGPT itself. Seven per cent reported difficulties with the app, and one per cent cited login failures. While OpenAI has yet to confirm a timeline for full restoration, users are hoping for a swift resolution. In the meantime, the meme-makers of the internet have ensured that humour remains the go-to coping mechanism in the age of digital dependency.

"Zips Gone, Locks Missing": Furious IndiGo Passenger Posts About Damaged Bags, Airline Responds
"Zips Gone, Locks Missing": Furious IndiGo Passenger Posts About Damaged Bags, Airline Responds

NDTV

time6 hours ago

  • NDTV

"Zips Gone, Locks Missing": Furious IndiGo Passenger Posts About Damaged Bags, Airline Responds

A Deloitte senior analyst took to LinkedIn to express his frustration with IndiGo's alleged mishandling of his luggage and subpar customer service. In a scathing post on LinkedIn, Abhishek Kumar detailed his unpleasant experience on a recent flight from Delhi to Hyderabad, sharing photos of his damaged luggage. Upon arrival, he discovered his checked bag was severely damaged, with torn zippers, missing locks, and tampered contents. Mr Kumar also reported that several items were missing, and the bag weighed noticeably less than when he checked it in at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. "Your service quality is dropping faster than the economies of South Sudan and Burundi combined — and trust me, that's saying something. My recent flight from Delhi to Hyderabad was nothing short of a disaster. My luggage looked like it had survived a WWE match — zips gone, locks missing, contents clearly tampered with, and surprise surprise: items missing," Mr Kumar wrote on LinkedIn, along with photos of the damaged luggage. He also noted that his bag weighed over 14 kg at check-in at Delhi's IGI Airport, but by the time he received it in Hyderabad, it weighed barely 13 kg. Mr Kumar expressed his frustration with IndiGo's support team, stating that he had been pursuing them for a resolution with no response, likening it to dealing with an unresponsive party who owes him money, and described their service as pathetic. "I've been chasing your team for a resolution like it's a toxic ex who owes me money — and yet, radio silence. July is around the corner, so do let me know if I need to start a '16 Somvaar' fast to get even a decent response from you," he added. IndiGo responded to the viral complaint, asking him to share his contact details and PNR via direct message so they could better understand his experience and get in touch with him promptly. "Thank you for sharing your PNR and concern in detail, Mr Kumar. Please allow us some time while we look into it. We request your kind patience in the interim," IndiGo replied after his response. Earlier, a Goa-based woman, Vaishali Sharma, lodged a similar complaint with IndiGo after her checked baggage arrived damaged on a flight from Goa to Delhi. Despite repeated follow-ups, she claimed the airline barely responded.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store