Vinay Hiremath, co-founder of the successful startup Loom, recently shared his struggles following the company’s sale to Atlassian for $975 million. In a blog post titled “I am rich and I have no idea what to do with my life,” Hiremath opened up about the emotional journey and uncertainties he faces despite his newfound wealth. After the acquisition, Hiremath found himself in an unfamiliar position—financially secure but lacking direction.
He discussed the psychological challenges that often accompany sudden financial success, revealing how his new reality has left him questioning his purpose and the next steps in his life. Hiremath’s story resonates with many who have experienced similar financial windfalls, highlighting that wealth does not inherently provide a roadmap for life. His reflections serve as a reminder that financial success does not always equate to personal fulfillment.
The honest commentary has sparked discussions about the complexities of wealth and happiness, emphasizing the importance of finding meaning beyond monetary achievements. This story underscores the need for mental and emotional support structures for individuals navigating such significant life transitions. Hiremath’s blog has been met with support and empathy from readers, many of whom appreciate his transparency in discussing issues that are often swept under the rug.
The 32-year-old co-founded Loom, a video-communication company, and served as its chief technology officer. In his post, Hiremath wrote about giving up $60 million in pay when he decided not to work for Atlassian. He briefly evaluated building a robotics company and climbed two Himalayan peaks.
Hiremath’s search for post-sale direction
He also worked for Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s Department of Government Efficiency for a month. “I started to realize that, although the mission of DOGE is extremely important, it wasn’t the most important thing I needed to focus on with urgency for myself,” he wrote.
“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.”
Hiremath also shared his experience of breaking up with his long-term girlfriend and the challenges of tying his identity to his startup. “When we went through our first round of layoffs, this company my ego was hitched to had suffered a massive blow, so I lost myself.
This whole chapter of Loom has created a complex web of internalized insecurities I must now work hard to disentangle and free myself from.”
Currently, Hiremath is in Hawaii, learning physics and aiming to start another company “that manufactures real world things”—even if he doesn’t find as much success as he did at Loom. He is wrestling with philosophical questions about his identity and how he relates to others. Hiremath’s journey began at the University of Illinois, which he dropped out of after two years.
He briefly interned at Facebook as a software engineering intern before joining the startup Backplane in 2012. There, he met Shahed Khan, with whom he eventually co-founded Loom in 2015. Apart from his success as an engineer and entrepreneur, Hiremath describes himself as an investor eager to help founders he connects with, offering guidance for free and with no strings attached.
He proclaims a strong belief in capitalism and enjoys various activities such as cold plunges, sauna therapy, meditation, riding motorcycles, boxing, lifting weights, traveling, throwing parties, and meeting diverse people. As Hiremath navigates this new chapter in his life, his diverse interests suggest that he continues to seek purpose and fulfillment beyond his impressive professional achievements.