Sakunia previously worked as a Community Manager at Google between 2013 and 2015, a role that gave him professional stability, financial comfort and a strong sense of identity. Like many professionals inspired by India’s startup success stories, he eventually chose to leave corporate life to build something of his own.
He went on to found ArtE Mediatech and later co-founded InViz AI. However, the journey did not unfold as expected. The startup failed, and with it came a profound emotional reckoning.
‘My Ego Didn’t Survive the Shift’
In an Instagram post shared earlier this month, Sakunia wrote that the transition from being a “Google guy with a great job” to an unemployed founder happened faster than he could emotionally process. The loss of his professional title, he said, dismantled the ego he had unknowingly built around his career.
“My ego didn’t survive,” he admitted, explaining that without the external validation of a prestigious role, he struggled to recognise himself. The collapse was not dramatic or public, but deeply internal.
A Silent Loss of Confidence
Sakunia described how confidence faded quietly during this period. Each day began with an attempt to act normal, even as uncertainty loomed large. Without the structure of a job or a successful venture, mornings were spent in his living room, caring for his three-month-old child while grappling with unanswered questions about the future.
Rock bottom, he explained, was not marked by a single crisis. It was defined by repeatedly checking his bank balance and opening multiple browser tabs in search of ways to start again.
Fatherhood Amid Financial Uncertainty
At the same time, Sakunia was navigating the responsibilities of new fatherhood. With no steady income and a failed startup behind him, he found himself under pressure to provide stability for his family.
Although he often told friends and acquaintances that he was “figuring it out,” he acknowledged that those closest to him could sense the strain without him needing to explain it. The emotional weight of responsibility grew heavier with each passing day.
A Child as Both Anchor and Fuel
Becoming a father, Sakunia said, fundamentally changed how he viewed his circumstances. Holding his infant son brought clarity alongside pressure. The child became both an anchor, grounding him during moments of despair, and a source of motivation to rebuild.
The experience forced him to confront uncomfortable truths about ambition, ego and resilience. Rather than chasing external validation, he began focusing on long-term stability and emotional presence.
Failure as a Quiet Teacher
Reflecting on the journey, Sakunia said failure reshaped him in ways success never had. It instilled humility, patience and a sharper understanding of what truly matters. “It stripped my ego and quietly rebuilt me into someone more grounded,” he wrote.
He added that the experience clarified what he never wants his family to endure again — prolonged uncertainty and emotional strain masked by optimism.
A Broader Conversation on Startup Culture
Sakunia’s story has struck a chord at a time when India’s startup ecosystem is celebrated for rapid growth but rarely discusses emotional setbacks. Industry observers note that behind every success story are countless entrepreneurs dealing with failure in silence.
As more professionals reconsider career risks, his reflections serve as a reminder that entrepreneurship is as much an emotional journey as it is a professional one.