Vinay Hiremath, co-founder of video messaging platform Loom, sold his company to Atlassian in 2023 for nearly $1 billion. Despite securing an estimated $50 to $70 million, the 33-year-old, based in California, USA, has chosen to study physics full-time and pursue internships rather than start another business.
Vinay Hiremath, co-founder of video messaging platform Loom, sold his company to Australian software giant Atlassian in 2023 for nearly $1 billion. Despite securing an estimated $50 to $70 million personally, the 33-year-old is now studying physics full-time and searching for internships instead of pursuing another business venture.
Walking Away from Millions
Hiremath revealed on the Moneywise podcast that he turned down a $60 million retention package that would have vested over four years. In a candid blog post titled “I Am Rich and Have No Idea What to Do with My Life,” he admitted struggling with purpose post-acquisition.
A New Passion for Physics
Rather than re-entering the startup world, Hiremath has dedicated himself to studying physics, spending 5-8 hours daily on the subject and engaging in Discord communities with young students. He is now seeking internships in mechanical and electrical engineering at robotics startups.
Lessons from Elon Musk
After leaving Loom, Hiremath briefly worked on a cryptocurrency project with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. While the experience reinforced the importance of urgency in business, he ultimately decided against launching a new company, realizing he was more drawn to the idea of being like Musk rather than genuine entrepreneurial passion.
Internships Over Entrepreneurship
Despite financial independence, Hiremath is choosing to start fresh in a technical field rather than pursuing another high-stakes startup. “I really don’t know what I’m going to do with this,” he admitted, but for now, his focus is on learning rather than leading.
