I Made $975 Million Selling My Startup – But I Don’t Know What to Do With My Life: Loom Co-Founder
- ByStartupStory | January 6, 2025
Vinay Hiremath, the Indian-origin co-founder of the video-sharing platform Loom, recently sold his startup to Atlassian for an impressive $975 million. However, in a candid blog post titled “I am rich and I have no idea what to do with my life,” Hiremath revealed that life after a massive financial windfall is not as idyllic as it might seem.
Hiremath shared his feelings of confusion and uncertainty following the sale. Despite being offered a $60 million compensation package to stay on as CTO at Atlassian, he ultimately turned it down. His decision was influenced by a reflective moment in the redwoods, where he realized, “What is the point of money if it is not for freedom? What is your most scarce resource if not time?”
A Series of Side Quests
Post-sale, Hiremath embarked on various endeavors to find purpose. He explored the field of robotics, meeting with over 70 investors and founders within two weeks. However, he admitted, “I didn’t want to start a robotics company. The only thing that seemed interesting to me was humanoids. It started to dawn on me that what I actually wanted was to look like Elon, and that is incredibly cringe.”
Hiremath also chronicled his attempt to find fulfillment through travel with his girlfriend, only to end their two-year relationship due to his insecurities. He apologized to her in the blog, saying, “Thank you for everything. I am sorry I couldn’t be what you needed me to be.”
Rediscovering the Importance of Hard Things
Determined to challenge himself, Hiremath climbed a 6,800-meter Himalayan peak despite having no prior mountaineering experience. The grueling experience reminded him of his resilience: “It is the heart beat of my life, and I don’t 100% understand why, but it probably has something to do with me having not the best childhood.”
Hiremath then briefly joined a project referred to as “DOGE,” where he worked on critical missions with some of the sharpest minds he had ever encountered. While the work was fulfilling, he realized it wasn’t aligned with his personal journey. “I needed to get back to ambiguity, focus on my insecurities, and be ok with that for a while. DOGE wasn’t going to fix that.”
A New Chapter in Hawaii
Hiremath now resides in Hawaii, studying physics and reflecting on his future. He admitted: “The reason I tell myself is to build up my first principles foundation so I can start a company that manufactures real world things. It seems plausible, but I’m learning to just accept that I am happy learning physics. That’s the goal in and of itself.”
His blog post concluded with a series of vulnerable questions about his motivations and struggles:
“Why did I need to do the absolute most to reach this point? Why couldn’t I just leave Loom and say ‘I don’t know what I want to do next’? Why do I feel the need to only be on a journey if it’s grand? What is wrong with being insignificant? Why is letting people down so hard? I don’t know. But I’m going to find out.”
Reflecting on Success and Purpose
Vinay Hiremath’s journey highlights the complexities of life post-success. His candid reflections offer a rare glimpse into the emotional and psychological challenges that can accompany great financial achievement. For Hiremath, the next step isn’t about building another company or chasing fame—it’s about rediscovering himself and finding fulfillment in the present.
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