Latest news with #HarshPokharna
Economic Times
19 hours ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Bored IIT graduate becomes a 'little shameless' on Instagram. He has life-changing experiences and conversations
Who is Harsh Pokharna? Not every founder story needs to be about pitch decks and product pivots. Sometimes, it's just about being human. Harsh Pokharna , CEO of Bengaluru-based fintech startup OkCredit and an IIT Kanpur graduate, recently gave the internet something refreshingly real. During a 1.5-month break at home in Jaipur, Harsh found himself slipping into a familiar lull—parents were thrilled to have him home, but he was, by his own admission, kind of bored. So, he decided to shake things up in the most Gen-Z way possible: by posting an Instagram story inviting people in Jaipur to meet followed was a low-key social experiment that turned into a deeply enriching experience. Harsh found himself going out almost daily—catching up with old friends, connecting with strangers from DMs, and indulging in conversations that ranged from the silly to the soul-stirring. Some chats were about food and therapy, others about breakups, startups, or dating apps. There were no rules, no agendas—just organic human connection in a world that's often too he didn't label the experience beyond 'wholesome,' the message was clear: sometimes all it takes to break out of a rut is a little shamelessness on Instagram and an open mind. His spontaneous 'Bumble for friends' in his hometown reminds us that meaningful interactions don't always come from planned networking or structured meetups—they can happen over coffee with a stranger or a walk with someone you haven't seen in the photos, he can be seen hanging out and relaxing with different people. One image shows him playing badminton, while another captures a moment from his pickleball session. Other pictures feature him enjoying a car ride, dining at a restaurant, and sipping coffee, offering a glimpse into his laid-back, people-filled days in Pokharna completed his in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Kanpur in 2014. After graduation, he gained valuable experience working with leading companies such as Intel Corporation, Flipkart, and Reliance Payment Solutions (JioMoney). In 2015, he ventured into entrepreneurship alongside his IIT Kanpur batchmates Gaurav Kumar and Aditya Prasad, co-founding ClanOut—a social discovery platform aimed at helping people connect and explore shared interests. Later, they co-founded the app OkCredit, where Pokharna is the CEO.
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Harvard doctor's experiment can boost your happiness in one minute. A startup CEO is already practicing it
Dr. Trisha Pasricha, a Harvard physician, stepped outside the clinic to test if talking to strangers boosts happiness—and science backed her up. Her playful public experiment mirrors IITian entrepreneur Harsh Pokharna's Jaipur meetups, revealing that heartfelt conversations, not just data or design, might be the next big wellness hack in our increasingly disconnected world. Harvard doctor Trisha Pasricha proved that one-minute chats with strangers can boost happiness, echoing a University of Chicago study. In a parallel tale, startup CEO Harsh Pokharna found the same truth during spontaneous meetups in Jaipur, reinforcing that real connection starts offline. (Representational image: iStock) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Startup CEO Who Tried Something Similar Without Meaning To Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads More Than Just Small Talk, A Public Health Tool? It wasn't a research lab or a stethoscope that Harvard doctor Trisha Pasricha turned to recently—it was the simple, brave act of chatting with strangers while waiting in line. A physician, an instructor at Harvard Medical School , and the Ask a Doctor columnist for The Washington Post, Dr. Pasricha tested a charming scientific theory on the bustling platforms of Boston's Green Line: that one-minute conversations with strangers can actually make you happier.'It is scientifically proven that you can boost your happiness in one minute by talking to a stranger,' she began in a video she shared on Instagram, proceeding to engage unsuspecting commuters in playful and warm exchanges. Whether she was joking about being a Celtics fan or asking if someone wanted to be a pediatrician, the result was almost always the same—people smiled, talked, and lingered in conversations they hadn't planned experiment wasn't just a cute social video. It was rooted in evidence. According to, several studies, including one from the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business in 2014, showed that people who spoke to strangers during their daily commute felt more positive afterward—even though they originally assumed their fellow travelers wouldn't be interested.'I had a great time,' Dr. Pasricha said, visibly moved by the simplicity of connection. 'Most people were down to just keep talking for minutes and minutes on end.'Interestingly, this scientific truth found a surprising echo in the world of tech entrepreneurship. Harsh Pokharna, the CEO of Bengaluru-based fintech startup OkCredit and an IIT Kanpur alumnus, unintentionally embarked on a social experiment of his own. During a break in his hometown Jaipur, Pokharna posted a casual Instagram story inviting people to hang out. What began as boredom soon turned into an unexpectedly fulfilling journey of human connection From random DMs to heartfelt discussions about therapy, dating, and dreams, Pokharna's days became filled with spontaneous meetups that mirrored the spirit of Pasricha's scientific adventure. 'There were no rules, no agendas—just organic human connection,' Pokharna noted, as he sipped coffee, played badminton, and took walks with strangers who soon felt like old Pasricha and Pokharna's experiences—one rooted in medical science, the other in lived curiosity—prove the same point: in an era dominated by curated lives and digital walls, the art of spontaneous conversation is a quiet rebellion. It's free, it's freeing, and it might just be the one-minute happiness hack we all dare at the end of her video is more than an Instagram caption—'I dare you to try this with a stranger today'—it's an invitation to revive something ancient and humane: unfiltered, real-world connection. For a society struggling with loneliness, digital fatigue, and emotional burnout, it may be time to treat these micro-interactions not as throwaway moments, but as therapeutic the doctor and the startup CEO, from Harvard labs to Jaipur streets, remind us that wellness isn't always found in a prescription bottle or a productivity app. Sometimes, it's waiting in line with a stranger, ready to say hello.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Time of India
Bored IIT graduate becomes a 'little shameless' on Instagram. He has life-changing experiences and conversations
Not every founder story needs to be about pitch decks and product pivots. Sometimes, it's just about being human. Harsh Pokharna , CEO of Bengaluru-based fintech startup OkCredit and an IIT Kanpur graduate, recently gave the internet something refreshingly real. During a 1.5-month break at home in Jaipur, Harsh found himself slipping into a familiar lull—parents were thrilled to have him home, but he was, by his own admission, kind of bored. So, he decided to shake things up in the most Gen-Z way possible: by posting an Instagram story inviting people in Jaipur to meet followed was a low-key social experiment that turned into a deeply enriching experience. Harsh found himself going out almost daily—catching up with old friends, connecting with strangers from DMs, and indulging in conversations that ranged from the silly to the soul-stirring. Some chats were about food and therapy, others about breakups, startups, or dating apps. There were no rules, no agendas—just organic human connection in a world that's often too he didn't label the experience beyond 'wholesome,' the message was clear: sometimes all it takes to break out of a rut is a little shamelessness on Instagram and an open mind. His spontaneous 'Bumble for friends' in his hometown reminds us that meaningful interactions don't always come from planned networking or structured meetups—they can happen over coffee with a stranger or a walk with someone you haven't seen in the photos, he can be seen hanging out and relaxing with different people. One image shows him playing badminton, while another captures a moment from his pickleball session. Other pictures feature him enjoying a car ride, dining at a restaurant, and sipping coffee, offering a glimpse into his laid-back, people-filled days in Jaipur.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
3 IIT Kanpur graduates put their brains but it did not work. Their honest confession wins over netizens
Internet reacts About OkCredit In the high-stakes world of startups, where founders often scramble to project perfection, a rare moment of vulnerability has captured the internet's attention. Harsh Pokharna, co-founder and CEO of OkCredit , recently took to Instagram to share a refreshingly honest confession: launching their fintech app in 14 Indian languages was a costly mistake. Instead of hiding the misstep, he broke down why it failed and what others can learn from a digital ledger app designed to simplify receivables and payables for small businesses, was built by three IIT Kanpur alumni—Harsh Pokharna, Gaurav Kunwar (CPO), and Aditya Prasad (CTO). To scale quickly, the team decided to go vernacular, translating the app into 14 Indian languages, including Tamil, Marathi, Bengali, and Punjabi. But in a candid post, Pokharna revealed that the effort didn't pay to him, only English and Hindi have remained active. The rest were shut down after the team realised that most smartphone users understood at least basic English or Hindi, and the ones who didn't were rarely the paying customers. The result? Months of effort, hiring regional support teams, customizing user flows, and burning resources, without a significant impact on wrapped up the post with a hard-earned insight: unless you're in the entertainment space, vernacular content might not be worth the hype. For most consumer apps, focusing on two or three widely understood languages is more than lauded the post for its clarity, humility, and relevance. Many entrepreneurs commented that the insight was timely and echoed their internal debates about whether to offer regional language options. Others praised the courage it took to publicly share a failure and turn it into a lesson for the startup ecosystem OkCredit, as listed on the Google Play Store, allows users to manage collections, send payment reminders via SMS and WhatsApp, and access reports across devices. Though the app scaled rapidly in its early days, this linguistic reset proves the team isn't afraid to pivot—and own up to what didn't work.
Economic Times
11-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
'Will date myself again': IIT graduate CEO falls in love with himself after an evening by the lake
Harsh Pokharna, CEO and Co-founder of OkCredit, shared an Instagram post about spending a peaceful solo evening at Chandlai Lake, where he listened to music, met locals, and reflected quietly. Captioning it with "Will date myself again," the post highlighted the importance of self-love and mindfulness. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with many appreciating his simple approach to self-care. His lifestyle choices, including clean living and remote work, reflect a growing trend of embracing solitude and prioritizing mental well-being. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Social Media Reactions Celebrate His Simplicity Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A Life Reimagined in Mysore Dating Yourself: A Growing Trend In Self-Love In a world where professional milestones often take precedence, Harsh Pokharna—Co-Founder and CEO of OkCredit and an IIT Kanpur graduate—reminded his followers of something far more personal: the power of solitude and self-appreciation. A recent Instagram post by Harsh has garnered widespread attention, not for a startup achievement or investment update, but for a deeply reflective moment of his solo outing to Chandlai Lake near Jaipur, Harsh shared a carousel of images along with a short, yet meaningful note. 'Yesterday I decided to take myself out,' the caption began, unfolding the quiet details of his day—music on loop, conversations with locals, stillness by the water, a return with dusty shoes and a light heart. He concluded with a line that struck a chord with many: '10/10. Will date myself again.'The post received an overwhelmingly warm response. Comments poured in with emojis, hearts, and short notes appreciating the post's simplicity. Some followers shared that they've also made a habit of doing similar solo activities and recommended it wholeheartedly. Others pointed out the inspiring nature of Harsh's minimal lifestyle, calling it 'great feeling' and '100% recommended.'Harsh's Instagram bio mirrors the philosophy captured in the post—it reads: 'Wild, minimalist, nomad (Currently in Jaipur).'This isn't the first time Harsh has documented his personal growth through solo experiences. In an earlier post from Mysore, where he spent a month living alone, he outlined a slow-paced lifestyle filled with clean eating, dance classes, gym routines, and occasional weekend drives to Bangalore. That period also included moments of reconnecting with old hobbies like programming and trying jackfruit for the first time—despite being over 30 years summed up the experience by expressing deep gratitude for the flexibility remote work offers, allowing him to explore new cities while maintaining a productive rhythm. 'It's a privilege I'm truly grateful for, every day,' he per As per Verywell Mind, psychologists and mental health professionals often encourage the idea of 'dating yourself' as a way to cultivate self-love and inner stability. The concept is built around intentionally spending quality time with oneself, learning what brings personal joy, and creating space for reflection. Experts say it enhances emotional well-being, builds self-esteem, and can improve future mindfulness , and gratitude are key aspects of this practice. Taking oneself on outings—like dining solo, visiting a museum, or walking in nature—can deepen self-awareness. The aim is not indulgence but connection, a way to listen to one's own needs without distractions or societal a fast-paced culture often focused on productivity and social validation, Pokharna's quiet lakeside evening serves as a reminder of the value of solitude. His post wasn't about loneliness but about intentional alone time — the kind that clears the mind and lightens the heart.
