Imagine walking away from a business that generates ₹2 crore in monthly sales. Sounds crazy, right? But that’s exactly what one IIT Kanpur graduate did, leaving behind his thriving shoe brand to join a startup as an engineer. This jaw-dropping story, shared by Pranshi Chaturvedi, founder and CEO of Bellish Group, has sparked a wave of curiosity and debate online. Here’s the full scoop—and trust me, it’s not what you’d expect.
Chaturvedi recently recounted her encounter with this IITian during a trip, where she learned about his remarkable journey. He had built a direct-to-consumer (D2C) shoe brand from the ground up, achieving an impressive ₹2 crore in monthly revenue. But here’s where it gets controversial: despite this success, he grew disillusioned with the operational side of entrepreneurship, particularly his experiences with manufacturers in Surat. Frustrated by persistent supply chain issues, he decided to step down and take on a role as a Lead Engineer at a Gurgaon-based startup that had recently secured Series A funding.
And this is the part most people miss: It wasn’t about the money or prestige. According to Chaturvedi, the IITian simply wanted to leverage his engineering expertise in a less stressful environment. “He got tired of dealing with supply issues and decided to use his engineering mind elsewhere,” she explained. She also debunked rumors that caste or community issues played a role, emphasizing that it was purely a matter of risk tolerance and personal preference.
The internet, as expected, had a lot to say. Many were baffled by his decision, with one X user, Advik Jain, commenting, “Curious what specifically about the manufacturers made him walk. That’s a big decision and there’s probably a story there worth hearing.” Another user poignantly noted, “Sometimes walking away from your own success takes more courage than building it in the first place.”
Others shed light on the challenges of the manufacturing sector. Gaurav Sharma summed it up perfectly: “Manufacturing is not a Raja Babu job. You deal with labor issues, supplier pressures, client negotiations, and constant follow-ups for payments. It’s a high-pressure environment that demands discipline and resilience.”
Here’s a thought-provoking question for you: Would you ever walk away from a successful business if the operational stress became too much? Or do you think this IITian made a mistake by giving up his entrepreneurial dream? Let’s debate this in the comments—I’m all ears!
