OkCredit Founder Harsh Pokharna Reveals Why He Started The App
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In a LinkedIn post, Harsh Pokharna, co-founder and CEO of OkCredit, shared how he grew up as the kind of kid no one noticed.
'I didn't build OkCredit to help shopkeepers. I built it because I wanted the world to clap for me." That's how Harsh Pokharna, co-founder and CEO of OkCredit, begins one of the most honest posts you will read from a founder. Instead of sugar-coating his journey, Harsh chose to open up about the real reason he started a company. It wasn't for the mission or the market, it was to feel 'seen."
In a LinkedIn post, the Bengaluru-based CEO shared how he grew up as the kind of kid no one noticed.
'Not the funny one. Not the charming one. Not even the nerdy topper. Other kids were cooler – Better English, better clothes, better hair, more confidence," Harsh wrote.
And that left a mark. So, he made a promise to himself: 'Build something so big, they have to notice you."
His journey wasn't driven by some big noble purpose in the beginning. 'I didn't give a s*** about ledger books or UPI adoption in tier 2 towns. That all came later."
The need for recognition drove him. 'I wanted to be seen. To feel like I mattered. To prove that I wasn't a nobody," the entrepreneur said.
Harsh admitted that even today, part of him still craves that spotlight.
'The funding announcements. The spotlight. The validation. It feeds that broken part of me that still thinks he's not enough," he stated.
'People think startups are built on great ideas. But more often than not, they're built on childhood wounds," he continued.
Harsh's post struck a chord with many. People praised him for his honesty and vulnerability.
One user commented, 'Finally, someone said it and it's the naked truth. Thanks for sharing and making LinkedIn a bit authentic."
Another added, 'Takes a lot to realise this and courage to speak these words. Inspiring."
'Sometimes what drives us isn't the product, but the human need to be seen and valued. Real leadership starts when we face that," someone else noted.
A person remarked, 'Not many will dare to be candid but this is so true & raw. No stories needed."
Harsh Pokharna, an IIT graduate, co-founded OkCredit in 2017 along with Aditya Prasad. OkCredit is a digital bookkeeping platform aimed at simplifying financial transactions for small businesses.
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