Bored IIT graduate becomes a 'little shameless' on Instagram. He has life-changing experiences and conversations

Economic Times

5 hours ago

Who is Harsh Pokharna?
Not every founder story needs to be about pitch decks and product pivots. Sometimes, it's just about being human. Harsh Pokharna , CEO of Bengaluru-based fintech startup OkCredit and an IIT Kanpur graduate, recently gave the internet something refreshingly real. During a 1.5-month break at home in Jaipur, Harsh found himself slipping into a familiar lull—parents were thrilled to have him home, but he was, by his own admission, kind of bored. So, he decided to shake things up in the most Gen-Z way possible: by posting an Instagram story inviting people in Jaipur to meet up.What followed was a low-key social experiment that turned into a deeply enriching experience. Harsh found himself going out almost daily—catching up with old friends, connecting with strangers from DMs, and indulging in conversations that ranged from the silly to the soul-stirring. Some chats were about food and therapy, others about breakups, startups, or dating apps. There were no rules, no agendas—just organic human connection in a world that's often too curated.While he didn't label the experience beyond 'wholesome,' the message was clear: sometimes all it takes to break out of a rut is a little shamelessness on Instagram and an open mind. His spontaneous 'Bumble for friends' in his hometown reminds us that meaningful interactions don't always come from planned networking or structured meetups—they can happen over coffee with a stranger or a walk with someone you haven't seen in years.In the photos, he can be seen hanging out and relaxing with different people. One image shows him playing badminton, while another captures a moment from his pickleball session. Other pictures feature him enjoying a car ride, dining at a restaurant, and sipping coffee, offering a glimpse into his laid-back, people-filled days in Jaipur.Harsh Pokharna completed his B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Kanpur in 2014. After graduation, he gained valuable experience working with leading companies such as Intel Corporation, Flipkart, and Reliance Payment Solutions (JioMoney). In 2015, he ventured into entrepreneurship alongside his IIT Kanpur batchmates Gaurav Kumar and Aditya Prasad, co-founding ClanOut—a social discovery platform aimed at helping people connect and explore shared interests. Later, they co-founded the app OkCredit, where Pokharna is the CEO.