No formal trousers, borrowed shirts, student-era suits. 3 IITian startup founders still made into Forbes list

In the glossy world of startup success stories, appearances often take centerstage. But for the co-founders of Bengaluru-based fintech startup OkCredit, their defining moment on Forbes’ prestigious 30 Under 30 list came dressed in borrowed shirts, baggy suits, and faded jeans. What should have been a typical photoshoot for the celebrated list turned into an endearing reminder of where they came from—and how far they've journeyed without the so-called "startup image" the world expects.

The photoshoot moment
Taking to Instagram, Harsh Pokharna shared that in 2020, OkCredit had just been featured in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list, and co-founders Harsh Pokharna, Gaurav Kunwar, and Aditya Prasad were invited for the official photoshoot. Excited and proud, they showed up at the venue—but their outfits sparked laughter from the crew. They had no tailored formals or designer outfits, just whatever they could dig up from their college placement days. Harsh wore jeans because he didn't own formal pants. Aditya’s shirt was oversized, resembling a hand-me-down, and Gaurav had to hide the condition of his own shirt. The photographers, ironically better dressed than them, opted to only shoot their upper bodies.

Despite the awkward moment, that photo remains close to Harsh’s heart. For him, it symbolises the power of belief, friendship, and grit—more than any polished outfit ever could. His caption read, “Founders by day. Fashion disasters… always!”


Internet reacts
The internet responded with a mix of inspiration and amusement. One user found the story both hilarious and motivating. Another joked about wanting to give the photographers a second chance to laugh. Many highlighted how success changes perception, while one user quipped that next time, the photoshoot team might just show up at their doorstep.

Breaking the ‘startup image’
The story shared by Harsh Pokharna is a gentle takedown of the superficial expectations around entrepreneurship. Their journey proves that startup success isn’t about looking the part—it’s about building something real, with people who believe in a shared vision, regardless of what they’re wearing.

Who are the founders?
Harsh Pokharna is the CEO of OkCredit. He is a 2014 IIT Kanpur graduate in Mechanical Engineering. Before founding OkCredit, he worked with companies like Intel, Flipkart, and JioMoney.

Gaurav Kunwar is the CPO of OkCredit. He too graduated from IIT Kanpur in 2014 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Aditya Prasad, CTO of OkCredit, completed his B.Tech in Material Science and Engineering from IIT Kanpur in 2014. He previously co-founded Pshi Pshi and Clan Out.