Bengaluru: Harsh Pokharna, co-founder and CEO of Bengaluru-based startup OKCredit, sparked a viral conversation with his candid revelation: despite raising Rs 120 crore, he was financially broke in 2019, struggling to pay rent and live paycheck to paycheck.
In a deeply personal LinkedIn post, the IIT alumnus said his experience is not an isolated case. He alleged that venture capitalists (VCs) prefer founders to remain financially strained, arguing that “a founder with no money is easier to control.”
Pokharna warned that VCs discourage personal liquidity, often claiming it dulls a founder’s drive. “Ask for a little money to pay off loans, and you’re told you’ll lose your hunger,” he wrote. Yet, VCs readily fund serial entrepreneurs with beach houses and safety nets, he added. “Apparently, money only kills ambition when it’s in your hands — not theirs,” he remarked sharply.
He encouraged fellow founders to shed the guilt of seeking financial security, asserting that peace of mind fuels better innovation, not less. “Don’t let anyone shame you into staying poor. Build your dream, but build your freedom too,” he urged.
His post resonated with entrepreneurs across the country, sparking support from founders and professionals alike. Many agreed that the glorification of the “broke founder” myth needs to end.
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