For Shamil Muhammed, this became a defining moment. After his first startup failed, he chose stability over risk and took up a salaried job. That decision, though difficult at the time, later helped him rebuild his path with more clarity.
In a chat with HT.com, Shamil Muhammed revealed he faced a difficult realisation when his first venture, a 360-degree marketing agency, collapsed. The business had shown early promise, reaching a projected monthly revenue of around Rs 3 lakh. However, this growth did not last. Clients began to leave, and the income slowed, making it hard to continue operations.
Recalling his first business, he said that he had started his first venture in July 2024, a 360-degree marketing agency, and that operations were stopped around December 2024, with the company officially closing in July 2025. He also shared that the situation affected his savings, as he used them to sustain operations during the transition phase.
With the business no longer running, Muhammed made a practical decision. Instead of rushing into another venture, he chose to take up a job as a salesperson, earning around Rs 25,000 per month. To manage his expenses, he moved back in with his parents in Kozhikode. This phase gave him some stability and time to rethink his next steps.
Working in a regular job also gave Muhammed a closer view of how businesses function daily. After taking up a regular job, he continued to put in consistent effort and gradually rose within the organisation, eventually becoming a major stockholder.
He later became part of building a new venture focused on professional branding. He explained that his current business is a LinkedIn founder branding agency that works with B2B founders and VCs, helping them build their personal brand on LinkedIn. He added that he had initially joined the company as an employee and later acquired a major stake, eventually becoming the primary stakeholder, and that this version of the business was formally launched on March 30, 2025.
Recalling the time he was struggling after leaving his business and joining a 9-5 job, Muhammed explained, “I was living with my parents at the time to manage costs. Currently, we have both an office and residence set up in Kozhikode, Kerala. When I finished my degree, I wanted to go for an MBA, but I couldn't. It was expensive. That's why I wanted to make money, started a business and failed.”
Even without an MBA, Muhammed continued learning through real-world exposure. He said, “I come from a small village where people don't know about LinkedIn. I studied at a tier 3 college. But now I'm directly working with people who are running 7-8 figure companies and VCs and investors across 4 countries. I'm getting my MBA directly from them, helping them build their brand and taking their mentorship to build my business too.”
The Shamil Muhammed Story
The story making rounds online is about Shamil Muhammed, an entrepreneur from Kozhikode, Kerala, whose journey highlights the value of pivoting and learning from failure.
Despite scaling his first venture—a 360-degree marketing agency launched in July 2024—to a peak monthly projected revenue of Rs 3 lakh, the business eventually collapsed due to the loss of clients and depletion of savings.
Instead of holding onto a failing venture, Muhammed made the humbling decision to close it down, rely on his parents' support in Kozhikode to manage costs, and take a regular 9-to-5 job as a salesperson earning Rs 25,000 a month.
Key Highlights of His Journey
The First Venture: Launched a 360-degree marketing agency in July 2024. Operations were stopped by December 2024, and the company was officially closed by July 2025.
The Strategic Pivot: Recognizing that the first business was not viable, he accepted a sales job at Rs 25,000 per month to reset his career and avoid burning through his remaining savings.
The Comeback: Muhammed joined a LinkedIn founder branding agency as an employee.
He rebuilt his expertise, acquired a major stake, and became the primary stakeholder. The new venture was formally launched on March 30, 2025. Online Reception: His transparency regarding the financial and professional setback received widespread praise from professionals on LinkedIn, with many appreciating the reminder that "quitting the wrong thing is how you find the right one."
Relevant Perspectives
This story parallels a broader discussion in the Indian startup ecosystem regarding linear career growth versus calculated risk-taking. While some entrepreneurs take low-paying roles or face financial strain to learn new skills before building a business, Muhammed's case emphasizes the importance of evaluating product-market fit and knowing when to pivot from a venture that is no longer sustainable.
Would you like to explore more perspectives on modern entrepreneurship or personal branding strategies?
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