'A stable job is a better choice': IIT grad loses lakhs after quitting Rs 28 LPA job for startup

A high-paying job, a respected degree and the courage to take a risk, for many, that sounds like the perfect recipe for startup success. But is leaving a secure salary really the smartest route to building a business?

That question is now being widely discussed after an IIT graduate shared how they quit a Rs 28 lakh per annum job to launch a startup, only to end up disappointed by what they described as a “deeply broken” system. Their Reddit post has gone viral, with many people stepping forward to share similar struggles.

The post, titled “I Quit a Rs 28 LPA Job for doing a Startup. Here’s What Actually Happened,” gave a detailed account of the costs, pressure and setbacks the user faced during nearly a year in the startup world.

“After almost a year in the Indian startup ecosystem, I feel people should hear the other side. The whole ‘startup ecosystem’ in India feels deeply broken. It’s marketed as this meritocratic, innovation-driven space, but in reality, it often runs on connections, optics, and gatekeeping,” the user wrote.

The user went on to explain, “I left a Rs 28 LPA job to build something I genuinely believed in. Over the last 11 months, I’ve spent around Rs 10–12 lakh on product development, salaries, and trying to raise funds. On top of that, I paid lakhs in total to pitch deck reviewing firms, fundraising consultants, and a few bootcamps. I won’t name them, but most delivered little to no real value.”

Instead of support, the IIT grad said they were met with long discussions and little progress. They said that in return, they mostly received endless mentorship calls, vague promises, networking events that led nowhere, and people who seemed more interested in sounding smart than actually building anything.

The user also criticised the fundraising culture, saying many founders are made to spend money and time before receiving any meaningful backing. They explained, “Fundraising here often feels like a parallel industry designed to extract from founders rather than support them. Pitch decks, accelerators, paid programs, introductions, everything comes with a cost, directly or indirectly. And unless you already have the right network, you’re mostly invisible.”

According to the IIT graduate, strong personal networks still decide who gets noticed and who does not. They added that while their IIT background gave them a safety net and fresh job offers, many others would not be in the same position.

They said people could also build wealth through salaries by investing in strong businesses through the stock market. They added that while innovation is discussed often, there are few original tech breakthroughs. They questioned the lack of chip firms and major AI players, saying much of the activity is focused on copied ideas or service-based businesses.

India remains one of the world’s largest startup hubs, but funding conditions have become tighter in recent years, especially for early-stage companies.

Despite their experience, the user said they had not given up on entrepreneurship. Instead, they are now thinking of building in a more mature startup market. They expressed, “At this point, I genuinely feel a stable job is a better choice for most people in India than chasing the startup dream blindly. At least you build financial security and optionality. As for me, I’m not done building. But I’m reconsidering where I build from. I’ll probably try to move into a more mature ecosystem like Silicon Valley to raise funds and continue. If you’re thinking of quitting your job for a startup, just be very, very sure. This path is not what it’s sold as.”

The post quickly drew responses from many netizens who said they had faced the same reality after leaving well-paid careers.

“A huge +1 to the OP. I have very similar experience, went to top colleges in India + US. Left 1Cr+ job last year to do startup, got into one of the best accelerators here didn't get funded even after product + customers. Indian startup ecosystem is not for you if you already don't have strong VC connections. Go to Silicon Valley if you want to innovate, innovation isn't respected in India, VCs here only copy other VCs..no risk appetite,” one user wrote.

Another user added, “Cannot agree more. I am in the same boat. I am an IIT grad just like you and left a job that paid 80 lpa. The product i work on is a core tech product.”

One user said, “Thanks for sharing this. I wanted to do the same but it seems going out of India is best option to fulfill my dream of starting my own company. I am 22M, from tier 3 college. I will have issues, I know. ( Even though I believe I have a good exposure to production grade systems.)”

Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content shared on social media. Moneycontrol has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.