Daksh Gupta, the 23-year-old Indian-origin CEO of the AI startup Greptile, is making news for his strict 9-9-6 work schedule. He expects his employees to work from 9 AM to 9 PM, 6 days a week, in San Francisco.
This has started a discussion about work-life balance in tech startups. Known for being strict, he openly says that Greptile offers “no work-life balance” and that everyone must work from the office.
Who Is Daksh Gupta?
Daksh Gupta co-founded Greptile in July 2023. The AI startup helps check code for bugs and is supported by well-known investors, including Y Combinator, Initialized Capital, Paul Graham, and SV Angel. Gupta lives in San Francisco and graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2019 with a degree in Computer Science. Before starting Greptile, he interned at companies like Qualcomm and Amazon Web Services.
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Even at 23, Daksh is known for supporting the “grind culture” in Silicon Valley. The San Francisco Standard called him the “poster child of AI boom’s grindcore culture.”
9-9-6 Work Rule & Grind Culture
Daksh Gupta has always promoted the 9-9-6 work schedule, which means working from 9 am to 9 pm, six days a week. In an interview, he told The San Francisco Standard, “The current vibe is no drinking, no drugs, 9-9-6 [work from 9 am to 9 pm, six days a week], lift heavy, run far, marry early, track sleep, eat steak and eggs.”
He has also told job candidates clearly that Greptile does not provide work-life balance. “Recently I started telling candidates right in the first interview that Greptile offers no work-life balance, typical workdays start at 9 am and end at 11 pm, often later, and we work Saturdays, sometimes also Sundays,” Gupta wrote on X last year.
Strict Office Rules
Greptile does not allow remote work. Employees must work from the company’s San Francisco office. This approach shows Gupta’s focus on discipline and supervision. Some people admire his approach, calling him a visionary. Others worry that it could lead to burnout and stress among employees.
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Public Reaction
Daksh Gupta’s statements have started debates online about work culture in Silicon Valley. Critics say such long work hours can affect employees’ mental and physical health. Supporters argue that in the competitive world of AI startups, this kind of commitment is necessary, especially in small early-stage companies.
