Archive · 23 Nov 2025
Former JPMorgan Exec Trades High-Paying Job for Startup Life
A man named Semlani left his high-paying job at JPMorgan because he felt unfulfilled.
He took a big pay cut to work at a startup, then started his own company called Tartan.
He thinks success is about being happy every day, not just making lots of money.
33-year-old Semlani quit JPMorgan after feeling his work was 'robotic'
Took a 70% pay cut to join a startup focused on international students
Later cofounded Tartan, a data-infrastructure platform, raising over $6M
Credits JPMorgan for discipline but redefines success beyond titles and money
Finds fulfillment in daily happiness and building things
- Who
- Semlani, a former JPMorgan employee
- What
- Quit JPMorgan, started a startup, redefined success
- When
- Quit in 2018, started Tartan during the pandemic
- Where
- Gurugram, India
- Why
- To find fulfillment and redefine success
Corporate Ladder
Startup Life
Career Progression
Corporate Ladder
Clear path to VP by 30
Startup Life
Less defined, but more meaningful work
- Previous Job
- Vice President at JPMorgan
- Pay Cut
- 70%
- New Definition of Success
- Daily happiness and building things