Techie was fired from US job, still his parents don't know. But in 6 months set up a Rs 44 lakh venture
ET Online October 05, 2025 03:00 AM
Synopsis

Fired from his US job for a side hustle, Harshil Tomar chose entrepreneurship, transforming his struggling startup, Dreamlaunch, into a thriving SaaS venture. Despite initial low revenue and personal sacrifices, his unwavering commitment and daily effort led to Rs 44 lakh in revenue. This journey proved that perseverance can turn a setback into a significant success.

When Harshil first broke the news of being fired to his friend, it was met with disbelief. (Istock- Image used for representative purpose only)
Six months ago, Harshil Tomar’s morning started like any other—with a routine stand-up call. By the end of it, he was out of a job. His US employer let him go, citing that he was too distracted by his side hustle. What followed was a whirlwind of fear, doubt, and ultimately, a bold decision that would change his life. Today, that very side hustle has turned into a startup pulling in Rs 44 lakh in revenue.

When Harshil first broke the news of being fired to his friend, it was met with disbelief. His co-founder, Wasim, was the next to know, and the duo suddenly found themselves at a crossroads. Their startup was barely making $1,000 (Rs 88,000) a month—not nearly enough to survive on. With just nine months of runway left if he lived frugally, Harshil weighed his options: search for another safe corporate job or take the plunge into entrepreneurship.

After days of playing out every possible scenario—best case, worst case, and somewhere in between—he made his call. He’d go all in. His co-founder stood by him, even skipping his own salary so Harshil could scrape by. To his parents, he kept up the facade of working a regular job, coding “tickets” for a few hours a day, while secretly building the company of his dreams.



The months that followed weren’t glamorous. There were stretches with zero clients, moments of crushing self-doubt, and the constant pressure of living cheaply. But slowly, showing up every single day began to pay off. Sponsorships came in, retainers were signed, and revenue began to grow. Their company hit milestones that once felt impossible: $10k MRR (Rs 8.8 lakh monthly recurring revenue), $50k (Rs 44 lakh) total revenue, sponsors on X, a startup residency, and now, the expansion of their first real team.

For Harshil, the scariest leap turned into the most rewarding gamble. What started with a pink slip is now a thriving SaaS venture, proving that sometimes the universe backs you once you back yourself. And for him, it all came down to one lesson—keep showing up, keep building, and never let fear dictate your future.
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