Bengaluru founder quit ₹75 LPA job, went broke a year later but says he has ‘zero regrets’

Leaving a high-paying corporate job is something a lot of people dream about during stressful office days, but very few actually take the leap. One Bengaluru startup founder has now shared what happened after he gave up a ₹75 lakh per annum job to build his own company - and why he still believes it was the right decision, despite struggling financially afterward.

Aksht Jain, founder of AI startup Eklyai, recently opened up on X about walking away from his well-paying Bengaluru corporate role a year ago to fully focus on entrepreneurship. His brutally honest post quickly caught attention online and sparked conversations around startup life, money, work culture and whether peace of mind is really worth the financial risk.

In the now-viral post, Jain wrote, “I left my 75LPA job in BLR 1 year ago to pursue entrepreneurship. Right now I am kinda broke, but I would still say that it was the best thing I could have done.”

While admitting that his finances took a hit after leaving the stability of a corporate salary, Jain said the trade-off brought him something he personally values much more - freedom, constant learning and a stronger sense of purpose.

He explained that startup life helped him escape what he described as “zero sum office politics,” adding that every day now feels different because he’s constantly solving new problems and learning on the go while building his company.

In another post, Jain reflected on how corporate culture often started feeling “performative” to him, especially when it came to workplace behaviour, meetings and office dynamics. According to him, entrepreneurship comes with uncertainty and pressure, but the excitement of creating something from scratch still makes the journey feel meaningful.

As his post spread online, many users began sharing their own experiences about quitting stable jobs or thinking about taking similar risks.

One user wrote, “I just quit my job as well 1 month back, now the honeymoon phase has ended and it’s hitting me properly. Any tips for someone starting out from your experience?”

Another commented, “It takes real courage to take such steps. I never did a single job in my life and today I’m running three companies and an NGO while still living in my hometown with my parents. Never chased big-city money, but I’m genuinely happy.”

Several others called the decision both “scary” and “brave,” while some said entrepreneurship can feel addictive because of the freedom and ownership it brings.

One comment that stood out read, “This is scary as well as courageous. But time is on your side, and that’s the biggest advantage.”

The post has now become part of a much bigger online discussion around burnout, toxic work culture and whether younger professionals are slowly valuing independence and fulfilment more than fancy job titles and big salaries.