New Delhi: A LinkedIn post by Nishant Joshi has sparked debate across India\u2019s startup ecosystem, bringing renewed attention to concerns around Gen Z employees, workplace expectations, and the hustle culture.<\/p>\n
In the post, Joshi, a content strategist and B2B tech writer, recounts an incident involving his younger cousin, an employee at an early-stage startup in Gurgaon. The man was pulled into a glass cabin and told he needs to develop a \u201cfounder\u2019s mindset,\u201d to treat the company \u201clike it is your own baby\u201d. In the 20-minute lecture, he was told to take extreme ownership.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The employee, however, had a fitting response.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI will treat this company like my baby the day you give me a 50 per cent share in the equity. Right now, I am just the babysitter, and my shift ends at 7 PM.\u201d<\/p>\n
The idea of a \u201cfounder\u2019s mindset\u201d is often presented as aspirational. But in practice, as Joshi\u2019s post argues, it often becomes a convenient way to demand more work without offering a proportionate share in either risk or reward.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe founder\u2019s mindset is the biggest manipulation tactic in the Indian startup world,\u201d the post states. It adds that companies expect \u201cthe anxiety and the sleepless nights of a CEO\u201d while offering \u201ca Rs 35,000 fresher salary.\u201d<\/p>\n
The discussion extends beyond pay, focusing on how responsibility and rewards are distributed within startups.<\/p>\n
In the comments, a copywriter wrote, \u201cThere is a difference between \u2018hustle\u2019 and \u2018productivity\u2019\u2014companies need to understand that.\u201d The comment adds that if companies expect \u201cfounder\u2019s hours,\u201d they should either compensate employees accordingly or offer equity such as ESOPs.<\/p>\n