Bengaluru founder who got Nikhil Kamath's backing, shares journey before: 'Rs 2 crore lost, body paralysed'

WTFund, an initiative founded by Nikhil Kamath, has launched its second cohort, featuring 22 founders across nine startups.

Vikram Pai, CEO of ReferRush, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his gratitude after his startup was selected for WTFund’s grant programme, an initiative led by Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath.

Sharing details of his turbulent six-year entrepreneurial journey, Pai highlighted the challenges, setbacks, and resilience that ultimately led to his company’s success.

"Six years. Five failed businesses. Rs 2 crore earned and lost. They called me Elon Musk. Half my body got paralysed. I went down to my last Rs 4,000 and couldn’t pay my co-founder’s salary. Here’s the screenshot before I sent him Rs 36,000 for the month. He had responsibilities. Everyone told me to quit. Even my grandma questioned me. I was called delusional. Dad said I was ‘playing business’. Aunties gossiped about my career. My mum lost belief. My best friend betrayed me. I cried. But I always believed. I always had food and a home. That’s all I needed," Pai wrote.

Pai revealed that ReferRush was among just nine startups chosen from over 2,400 applicants for WTFund’s latest grant programme. He also shared details of the company’s growth trajectory, stating: "It took us four months to generate Rs 1 lakh for our customers. Today, we’re generating Rs 1.5 lakh a day. We’re profitable. And we’re just getting started."

Expressing gratitude to those who stood by him, Pai added: "The first five years aren’t where you win. It’s where you get good. Grateful for my parents. For Rohan. For this opportunity. For this life. Never give up. Believe in yourself. Every e-commerce brand in the world will use @ReferRush. We are inevitable. A big thanks to @harnidhish @Suchetkm @nikhilkamathcio @TheWTFund Arshia Vivek and Piyush."

6 years. 5 failed businesses. 2 crores earned and lost.They called me Elon Musk. Half my body got paralyzed.I went down to my last 4k and couldnt pay co-founders salary. Heres the screenshot before I sent him 36k for the month. He had responsibilities.Everyone told me to pic.twitter.com/umaZQ0QBaw Vikram Pai (@vpai100) February 13, 2025

WTFund, an initiative founded by Nikhil Kamath, has launched its second cohort, featuring 22 founders across nine startups. The programme provides up to ₹20 lakh in grant funding, along with mentorship and strategic support, helping early-stage startups scale their businesses.

Explaining the vision behind WTFund, Kamath stated: "Entrepreneurs can build at any age, but there’s something about being young—the audacity, the relentless energy, the willingness to take risks before the world tells you otherwise. With Cohort 2, we’re backing founders who aren’t just dreaming of change but are actually building it."

This year’s cohort includes entrepreneurs from over 50 cities, spanning Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 locations, with startups across multiple sectors, including Tech/SaaS, D2C, EdTech, FinTech, HealthTech, AgriTech, and CleanTech. Notably, six of the selected startups focus on AI-based solutions.

Last year’s first cohort included 13 startups, which received early-stage funding, mentorship, and strategic guidance.