Indian-origin CEO offers Rs 1 crore package to freshers, insists on 9-9-6 work culture. What is it?

Defending his stance, Daksh Gupta had previously likened the pace of his start-up to the pressure of a major launch.

Daksh Gupta, the 23-year-old entrepreneur of Indian origin and co-founder of the artificial intelligence start-up Greptile, continued to defend his position on extended working days while announcing a new set of job opportunities at his company.

Gupta, who previously drew controversy for promoting a 14-hour workday, told The San Francisco Standard that many professionals in Silicon Valley already worked shifts of up to 12 hours a day, six days a week. The publication described him as “the poster child of AI boom’s grindcore culture”.

Greptile’s latest vacancies offered compensation packages well above industry averages. At entry level, the base salary ranged between $140,000 and $180,000 a year (approximately Rs 1.2 crore to Rs 1.5 crore), alongside annual equity valued at $130,000 to $180,000.

For candidates with more than seven years’ professional experience, base pay was listed between $240,000 and $270,000 annually.

In addition to salary and equity, the company offered complimentary meals, transport facilities, healthcare cover, and a 401k contribution match. Gupta confirmed that all positions required full-time office attendance in San Francisco, with no option for remote work.

When questioned on the nature of the work, Gupta responded candidly. “What’s the catch? It is hard,” he said. Employees were expected to follow what he described as a ‘9-9-6’ routine – working from 9 am to 9 pm, six days a week.

we're hiring! pic.twitter.com/ZEmPbdNl7j

— Daksh Gupta (@dakshgup) August 27, 2025

Defending his stance, Gupta had previously likened the pace of his start-up to the pressure of a major launch. “If you care about work-life balance, I think that’s great. There’s plenty of places that operate that way and they’re very successful,” he told NBC in an earlier interview.

Speaking to The San Francisco Standard, Gupta contrasted the priorities of younger professionals with those of earlier generations. He argued that large cultural gatherings such as the Burning Man festival had lost appeal among younger technology workers, who he said were now more focused on structure and discipline.

“The current vibe is no drinking, no drugs, 9-9-6, lift heavy, run far, marry early, track sleep, eat steak and eggs,” he said.

Gupta had previously admitted that his public comments had attracted backlash. In an interview last year, he revealed that after endorsing an 84-hour workweek, he had received a mixture of threats and job applications. “Twenty per cent death threats and eighty per cent job applications,” he told NBC.

Despite the criticism, Gupta maintained his view that sustained effort and long hours were essential for scaling an early-stage company in a competitive sector.