A fiery debate about the fundamental motivations for starting a business has ignited across social media platforms, pitting a Hyderabad-based entrepreneur against conventional investor wisdom. The controversy began when an investor advised founders to prioritize solving problems over making money, only to be sharply countered by Jitendra Emmani, Co-Founder and CEO of Cozy Farms, who defended profit-driven entrepreneurship.
The Investor's Call for Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurship
The discussion originated on platform X, where an investor shared what many consider standard guidance for aspiring founders. He explicitly warned against starting companies primarily motivated by financial gain, fame, competition, or titles. Instead, he advocated for a passion-first approach, suggesting entrepreneurs should only embark on the startup journey if they're deeply committed to solving a specific problem they care about.
His post emphasized that building a company should stem from this deeper calling rather than superficial motivations, reflecting a common perspective within venture capital and startup mentoring circles that purpose ultimately leads to sustainable success.
Jitendra Emmani's Reality Check from Experience
Jitendra Emmani offered a starkly different viewpoint grounded in his personal entrepreneurial journey. He revealed that his first venture, Picxy, was actually born from the exact problem-solving passion the investor championed.
While studying at Northern Illinois University in the United States and working on a media portal featuring South Indian stories, Emmani identified a significant gap in the market: a shortage of authentic stock images representing India. This genuine problem led him to launch Picxy, a platform specifically designed to provide relevant stock imagery for Indian businesses.
"Started my first company to solve a problem I deeply cared about. A stock photo company for India. Worked 6 years pretty hard and it didn't take off beyond a point," Emmani recounted, highlighting the limitations of passion alone.
His subsequent venture, Cozy Farms, adopted a clearer profit orientation with dramatically different results. Emmani disclosed that Cozy Farms generated equivalent revenue in just one year to what Picxy achieved over six years, providing concrete evidence supporting his revised approach to business building.
Social Media Erupts with Divided Opinions
Emmani's candid perspective resonated widely across social media, attracting significant engagement and sparking a broader conversation about entrepreneurial motivations.
Many users expressed agreement with his practical stance. One commenter noted, "Obviously business is supposed to be for making money, even most of the big NGOs are running a profitable business. In fact if one is not practical enough to be driven by money they shouldn't think of starting the business."
Another supporter praised the honesty, stating, "The kind of honesty more founders need to hear. Passion matters, but sustainability matters more."
A more pointed response declared, "You have just roasted 90% of the wannabe investors, people who are talking about following passion and shit. Money is the biggest motivator in this world. Period."
Beyond defending profit motivation, Emmani cautioned entrepreneurs against taking unsolicited advice from the internet, encouraging them to instead focus on building businesses ethically while enjoying their work, and ultimately using generated wealth for positive purposes.
This exchange highlights the ongoing tension between idealistic and practical approaches to entrepreneurship within India's rapidly evolving startup ecosystem, raising fundamental questions about what truly drives sustainable business success.
