Last Updated:April 19, 2026, 15:36 IST
A Delhi startup founder’s 5 am office video has gone viral after he revealed the stress, sleepless nights and chaos behind entrepreneurship
A Delhi startup founder has given social media users a reality check on entrepreneurship after posting a video from his office at 5 am (Image-Instagram/@nikhill.gaur)
A Delhi-based entrepreneur has sparked online debate after sharing a raw and honest look at what startup life is really like behind the scenes. Nikhil Gaur, founder of Hypeschool, shared a video on Instagram showing himself arriving at his office at 5 am, with the workplace completely empty around him.
Posting the clip with the caption, “keep at it,” Gaur used the video to talk about the pressure, sleepless nights, and uncertainty that often come with running a business.
In the video, Gaur begins by showing viewers the deserted office space and says, “It’s 5:00 am in the morning right now, and I just came to the office. Right now, literally, there’s not a single person in the office. Let me just show you around. Literally, not a single person in the office right now.”
He then introduces himself and explains that these unusually early office visits are not uncommon for him. According to Gaur, every week brings a new challenge, whether it is stress, unexpected setbacks or sleepless nights.
“So, I’m a founder, and I’m building this startup named Hypeschool. And this happens to me every week, that every week in the business, there’s some kind of stress, something goes wrong, I don’t get sleep all night, and then I end up coming to the office at extremely odd times, sometimes at 2:00 am in the morning, sometimes at 3:00 am in the morning, and today is just one of those days,” he said.
Gaur also reflected on how entrepreneurship is often portrayed online, arguing that many people only see the glamorous side of startups and founder culture.
“Now, people glorify startups a lot, they glorify founders a lot. Everyone wants to be a startup founder, but they don’t really know that this is the actual backstory behind building a startup,” he said.
Despite speaking openly about the difficulties, Gaur maintained that building a company is possible for anyone willing to put in extra effort and deal with uncertainty. He described success as being tied to that “additional 20% effort” and the ability to handle stress and chaos.
He ended the video with a motivational message, encouraging viewers not to give up even when progress feels slow. Gaur stressed that meaningful businesses are not built overnight and often take years of consistent work before they become successful.
The clip quickly resonated with viewers, many of whom said they appreciated the founder’s honesty.
“This is the reality no one shows,” one user wrote.
“Respect for the honesty, not just the success story,” another commented.
“People only see funding news, not sleepless nights like this,” a third user said.
Others shared similar views. “Startup life looks cool on LinkedIn but this is the truth,” one person commented, while another added, “That extra 20% effort is actually everything.”
“Motivating and scary at the same time,” another user wrote.
Not everyone fully agreed with Gaur’s perspective, however.
“Its not truth just a marketing … if u focus 8 hours of good work is enough .. startup or any business ..” said one user.
“Entrepreneurship is actually glorified by so many and people only know good things but the stress!!!! Noone knows abt late night thoughts ,fear of failing , things not working out as u think and alottt off chaoss!” said another.
“Great Advice! Keep Growing. I remember walking in the same corridors motivating myself to keep moving forward. Cheers to you man,” a third user said.
“I can see someone sitting behind at TS 0.32 on sofa- hope he’s your security guard,” a fourth user said.
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First Published:
April 19, 2026, 15:36 IST
News viral Delhi-Based Founder Walks Into Empty Office At 5 AM, Internet Says ‘This Is The Reality No One ShowsDisclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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