Kerala man running his own business shuts down startup, joins job for ₹25,000. Then…

Shamil Muhammed faced a humbling realisation when his first venture, a 360-degree marketing agency, collapsed. Despite hitting a monthly projected revenue peak of ₹3 lakh, he quickly lost his clients and his savings. Swallowing his pride, he shut down the business and took a 9-to-5 job as a salesperson earning ₹25,000 a month while living with his parents in Kozhikode. However, this step was the pivot he needed. In a conversation with HT.com, Muhammed shared how this journey led him to his current venture, where he serves as a major stakeholder.Shamil Muhammed is a major stakeholder in his current company. (Shamil Muhammed)Recalling his first business, he told HT.com, “I started my first business in July 2024. It was a 360-degree marketing agency. We stopped operations around December 2024, and the company was officially closed in July 2025.” He shared that losing his business also affected his savings, as he dipped into them to “sustain operations during the transition phase.”Also Read: