
IITian founder on his first failed startup: 'We got scared...and we failed'
Published on: Sept. 24, 2025, 9:30 p.m. | Source: The Economic Times
Harsh Pokharna, an IIT Kanpur alumnus, faced an early startup failure. His initial app idea was promising. Fear led him to join established players. The partnership faltered due to product quality and team incompatibility. The original project was abandoned. Harsh learned self-belief is crucial for startup success. He realized believing in oneself is paramount for entrepreneurs.