California, San Francisco, USA: At just 23, Indian-origin entrepreneur Daksh Gupta has become the face of Silicon Valley's grind culture, gaining attention not only for his AI startup but also for his extreme work philosophy. Gupta is the co-founder and CEO of Greptile, a company that helps developers understand and review code. But instead of product features, it is his “9-9-6 rule” — working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week — that has sparked viral discussions online.
Gupta's entrepreneurial journey began at Georgia Tech in 2022 alongside co-founders Soohoon Choi and Vaishant Kameswaran. Their initial idea, scraping Reddit reviews for consumer insights, quickly evolved after they received a $100,000 investment from tech billionaire Christopher Klaus. By mid-2023, the team shifted focus to AI tools for engineers, rebranding their startup as Greptile. Earlier this year, they raised $5.3 million in seed funding and set up operations in San Francisco's Transamerica Pyramid.
What makes Gupta stand out is his unapologetic approach to work culture. He openly tells new hires that joining his startup means 14-hour days, little to no work-life balance, and a commitment to building fast. For Gupta, this isn't exploitation but transparency—an upfront filter to find people willing to work in a high-intensity, short-term sprint.
The 9-9-6 model, often compared to China's startup culture, is designed to compress months of progress into weeks, creating speed and focus during the critical early stage. However, Gupta acknowledges that such intensity cannot last forever. He describes it as a sprint meant for the first year or two of building, after which balance must return to avoid burnout and declining productivity.
His philosophy also reflects a broader shift among young founders in San Francisco, where strict routines, fitness, discipline, and long work hours are once again shaping startup culture. Supporters say this brings clarity and momentum, while critics argue it sacrifices sustainability for short-term gains.
For now, Daksh Gupta's bold stance has made him a symbol of Silicon Valley's new generation of builders, sparking debate worldwide on whether the grind is inspiration—or a warning.
