Failed Class 12, started with Rs 2,500 salary, he now leads a Rs 300 crore company
At 40, Ashwini Kumar walked away from a successful Vice President role to build his own startup. From financial struggles and illness to personal loss and career setbacks, his journey is a story of resilience, courage and starting over.
Recently, a video went viral on social media where a man shared how he left behind a comfortable corporate life, a high salary and a Vice President position at a Rs 300 crore company at the age of 40 to start his own business.
That man is Ashwini Kumar.
While people often see the final picture of success, they rarely see the struggles, failures and sacrifices that come before it. Ashwini’s journey is a reminder that success is not always a straight road. Sometimes, it is built through repeated failures, difficult choices and the courage to begin again.
From failing Class 12 to building businesses worth crores, Ashwini’s story shows how resilience can change the direction of life.
A ONE-ROOM HOUSE AND A RS 2,500 JOB
Ashwini was not born into privilege. He grew up in a small town in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, where his family lived in a rented one-room house. His father was the only earning member, and the family managed their expenses with limited resources.
At the age of 17, Ashwini started learning at a computer centre, where he was introduced to network marketing. The beginning was far from easy. For nearly six months, he faced repeated rejections and criticism from people around him.
But those early struggles taught him important lessons about communication, understanding people and leadership.
At 18, another setback came; he failed his Class 12 exams. In a society where academic performance often decides how a person is judged, Ashwini was labelled a failure. The situation became so difficult that he even had to leave home for some time.
At the age of 20, he finally got his first job, earning just Rs 2,500 per month.
But this was only the beginning of his journey.
A BUSINESS SUCCESS THAT COLLAPSED OVERNIGHT
At just 21, Ashwini decided to take the entrepreneurial route and started his first company.
Despite people doubting his decision, his determination helped him turn the venture around. Within the second year, the company reached a turnover of nearly Rs 2 crore.
His wife, Hardeep Kaur, played a crucial role during this phase. She left her well-paying job to support Ashwini’s dream and stood beside him as he built his business.
But success did not last forever.
At the age of 23, Ashwini was diagnosed with tuberculosis. For six months, he struggled with the illness and his health deteriorated significantly.
During this difficult period, his startup collapsed completely. A business worth crores was wiped out, leaving him financially devastated once again.
THE LOSS THAT CHANGED HIS LIFE
The biggest challenge of Ashwini’s life came at the age of 27 when he lost his wife, Hardeep Kaur.
For Ashwini, she was not just his life partner but also the person who had supported his dreams through his toughest phases.
Before her death, Hardeep left him with a message that stayed with him forever, to never give up and continue building his life.
Those words became his motivation to start again. After this personal loss, Ashwini returned to the corporate world and focused on rebuilding his career.
FROM VP TO BUILDING A BUSINESS EMPIRE
Ashwini joined a company and gradually rose through the ranks with his business strategies and leadership skills.
He eventually became the Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Under his leadership, the company expanded its presence across more than 150 cities and grew from a Rs 2 crore business to sales exceeding Rs 100 crore.
Throughout his corporate career, Ashwini contributed to generating revenues of over Rs 1,500 crore.
But even after achieving professional success, another set of challenges awaited him.
COVID, ACCIDENT AND STARTING AGAIN AT 40
In 2020, during the pandemic, Ashwini faced multiple setbacks. He battled severe COVID infections twice, experienced financial difficulties and had savings that could support him for only a few months.
Around the same time, he met with a serious road accident that left him bedridden for months.
However, he refused to let another setback define his life.
During his recovery period, Ashwini completed his PhD in Business Management, adding another achievement to his journey.
Then, in 2024, at the age of 40, he made another bold decision. He left his secure corporate position as Vice President and started his own company.
Today, Ashwini shares his experiences with young entrepreneurs and professionals through social media, inspiring them to take risks and keep moving forward.
His journey proves that failure, illness, financial struggles or personal loss do not have to be the end of the story. Sometimes, they become the chapters that build the strongest comeback.
Recently, a video went viral on social media where a man shared how he left behind a comfortable corporate life, a high salary and a Vice President position at a Rs 300 crore company at the age of 40 to start his own business.
That man is Ashwini Kumar.
While people often see the final picture of success, they rarely see the struggles, failures and sacrifices that come before it. Ashwini’s journey is a reminder that success is not always a straight road. Sometimes, it is built through repeated failures, difficult choices and the courage to begin again.
From failing Class 12 to building businesses worth crores, Ashwini’s story shows how resilience can change the direction of life.
A ONE-ROOM HOUSE AND A RS 2,500 JOB
Ashwini was not born into privilege. He grew up in a small town in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, where his family lived in a rented one-room house. His father was the only earning member, and the family managed their expenses with limited resources.
At the age of 17, Ashwini started learning at a computer centre, where he was introduced to network marketing. The beginning was far from easy. For nearly six months, he faced repeated rejections and criticism from people around him.
But those early struggles taught him important lessons about communication, understanding people and leadership.
At 18, another setback came; he failed his Class 12 exams. In a society where academic performance often decides how a person is judged, Ashwini was labelled a failure. The situation became so difficult that he even had to leave home for some time.
At the age of 20, he finally got his first job, earning just Rs 2,500 per month.
But this was only the beginning of his journey.
A BUSINESS SUCCESS THAT COLLAPSED OVERNIGHT
At just 21, Ashwini decided to take the entrepreneurial route and started his first company.
Despite people doubting his decision, his determination helped him turn the venture around. Within the second year, the company reached a turnover of nearly Rs 2 crore.
His wife, Hardeep Kaur, played a crucial role during this phase. She left her well-paying job to support Ashwini’s dream and stood beside him as he built his business.
But success did not last forever.
At the age of 23, Ashwini was diagnosed with tuberculosis. For six months, he struggled with the illness and his health deteriorated significantly.
During this difficult period, his startup collapsed completely. A business worth crores was wiped out, leaving him financially devastated once again.
THE LOSS THAT CHANGED HIS LIFE
The biggest challenge of Ashwini’s life came at the age of 27 when he lost his wife, Hardeep Kaur.
For Ashwini, she was not just his life partner but also the person who had supported his dreams through his toughest phases.
Before her death, Hardeep left him with a message that stayed with him forever, to never give up and continue building his life.
Those words became his motivation to start again. After this personal loss, Ashwini returned to the corporate world and focused on rebuilding his career.
FROM VP TO BUILDING A BUSINESS EMPIRE
Ashwini joined a company and gradually rose through the ranks with his business strategies and leadership skills.
He eventually became the Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Under his leadership, the company expanded its presence across more than 150 cities and grew from a Rs 2 crore business to sales exceeding Rs 100 crore.
Throughout his corporate career, Ashwini contributed to generating revenues of over Rs 1,500 crore.
But even after achieving professional success, another set of challenges awaited him.
COVID, ACCIDENT AND STARTING AGAIN AT 40
In 2020, during the pandemic, Ashwini faced multiple setbacks. He battled severe COVID infections twice, experienced financial difficulties and had savings that could support him for only a few months.
Around the same time, he met with a serious road accident that left him bedridden for months.
However, he refused to let another setback define his life.
During his recovery period, Ashwini completed his PhD in Business Management, adding another achievement to his journey.
Then, in 2024, at the age of 40, he made another bold decision. He left his secure corporate position as Vice President and started his own company.
Today, Ashwini shares his experiences with young entrepreneurs and professionals through social media, inspiring them to take risks and keep moving forward.
His journey proves that failure, illness, financial struggles or personal loss do not have to be the end of the story. Sometimes, they become the chapters that build the strongest comeback.
