A man who left an ₹50 LPA corporate job behind to pursue theentrepreneurial route recently opened up about reasons that forcedhim to wind up his two-year old startup. In an honest and candid social media post, the entrepreneur admits to being a “failed founder”. Hehas had seed money of ₹8.44 crore in place and seen operational profitability.
Writing under the pseudonym “GrizzledTrillion“ within the “Indian Startups“ community on Grapevine, the ex-founder revealed that his entrepreneurial journey started way back in 2021. Feeling unfulfilled by his stable job as a Vice President of Operations, he was inspired to start building “the next big thing” after the success stories of LinkedIn posts and podcast interviews.
The founder recounted how his startup gained traction, attracted funding, and even turned a profit. Yet, beneath the surface, he struggled to find fulfillment. While his team was enthusiastic about solving real-world problems, he admitted he lacked the same passion.
“Every morning, I woke up wondering, ‘Is this it?’ The constant grind and weight of decisions drained me,” he revealed. Despite the outward success, the mounting stress culminated in panic attacks, sleepless nights, and strained personal relationships.
The entrepreneur ultimately concluded that he wasn’t cut out for the intense demands of startup life. “I wasn’t obsessed with solving the problem; I was obsessed with the idea of being a founder,” he admitted. With his mental health deteriorating, he decided to shut down the venture and move on.
His post serves as a reflection on the glamorisation of entrepreneurship and a reminder that success requires more than funding or operational wins. Passion, resilience, and alignment with personal values are critical to enduring the challenges of building a startup.
As he steps away from his entrepreneurial dream, his story offers valuable lessons to others considering the same path: not every dream is meant to be pursued, and it’s okay to prioritise well-being over ambition.
