Greptile, a Silicon Valley-based artificial intelligence startup co-founded by Indian-origin entrepreneur Daksh Gupta, has made headlines for offering fresh graduates annual compensation packages of up to ₹1.5 crore.
The offer, however, comes with a demanding work schedule—12 hours a day, six days a week—under what Gupta calls the “9-9-6” work culture.
The startup’s job listings specify base salaries ranging from $140,000 to $180,000 (approximately ₹1.2–1.5 crore), with additional annual equity valued between $130,000 and $180,000.
These figures place Greptile’s entry-level compensation well above industry averages, especially for freshers with little to no prior experience.
The 9-9-6 Work Model at Greptile: Structure Over Flexibility
Daksh, 23, has openly defended the 9-9-6 model—working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week—as essential for startup success.
In interviews with The San Francisco Standard and NBC, he described the approach as a way to “compress months of work into weeks” and build momentum by eliminating distractions.
“There’s plenty of places that operate with work-life balance, and they’re very successful,” Daksh said.
“But if you want to build something fast and impactful, this is the pace we need.”
He added that the startup’s culture emphasizes discipline, structure, and intensity over leisure and flexibility.
Greptile’s positions require full-time office attendance in San Francisco, with no option for remote work.
The company also offers perks such as complimentary meals, transport facilities, healthcare coverage, and 401(k) contribution matching.
Mixed Reactions: Praise, Criticism, and Curiosity
Daksh’s stance has sparked debate across tech circles.
While some admire the clarity and ambition of Greptile’s culture, others have criticized the model as exploitative and unsustainable.
Daksh acknowledged the backlash, noting that his earlier endorsement of an 84-hour workweek drew “20% death threats and 80% job applications.”
He maintains that the startup’s expectations are clearly communicated during the hiring process.
“What’s the catch? It is hard,” he said, adding that candidates are made aware of the intensity before joining.
Background: From Reddit Scraping to AI Engineering
Greptile was founded by Daksh along with Soohoon Choi and Vaishant Kameswaran.
The trio initially worked on scraping Reddit reviews before pivoting to building AI tools for software engineers.
Their efforts attracted $5.3 million in seed funding and helped rebrand the company into a fast-growing player in the AI space.
Daksh, a former Georgia Tech student, has positioned Greptile as a startup that values output, discipline, and rapid iteration.
He claims to be the lowest-paid member of his team, underscoring his belief in reinvesting resources into talent and growth.
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