Hyderabad CEO Challenges Conventional Wisdom: Build for Money, Not Just Passion
Jitendra Emmani, the co-founder and CEO of Cozy Farms, has sparked a debate with his candid views on building companies. Emmani believes it is perfectly acceptable to start a business with the primary goal of making money, challenging the common advice that companies should be built to solve problems.
Emmani’s advice is rooted in his personal experience. He began his first company, Picxy, with a noble intention: to address the lack of stock images representing India. While studying at Northern Illinois University in the US, Emmani noticed this gap and decided to fill it. However, despite six years of hard work, Picxy did not achieve the success he had hoped for.
“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 shared on the social media platform X.
Determined to find a more successful path, Emmani founded Cozy Farms with a different mindset. His goal was straightforward: to make money. The results were impressive. In just one year, Cozy Farms generated more revenue than Picxy had in six years.
Emmani’s candid post on X was a response to investor Aviral Bhatnagar, who had advised against starting a company solely for the purpose of making money. Bhatnagar emphasized that one should only start a business if they are passionate about solving a problem they deeply care about.
Hyderabad-based Jitendra Emmani refuted that take. “Started my second company to make money and be happy with the work I do. Year 1 revenue of Cozy Farms >> 6 years cumulative revenue of Picxy which is my first company,” he revealed.
“Stop listening to the gyan. Build for money, it’s totally fine,” Emmani added, advising people to first get rich and then put the money to good use.
Many users on X applauded Emmani for his honesty and practical approach. “Great to see such a turnaround. I can relate with founder pain and 6 years of no concrete results. Realising what's working and what's not is really important,” wrote X user Vikas.
“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,” added Harsh Patel.
Emmani’s story highlights the importance of adaptability and pragmatism in the business world. While passion and solving problems are noble goals, the financial success of a company should not be overlooked. Cozy Farms, under Emmani’s leadership, serves as a testament to the fact that building a profitable business can lead to both personal and professional fulfillment.
