Latest news with #Matiks
Mint
07-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
'12-hour shifts, 6 days a week': Bengaluru founder's post on work culture sparks debate
Long work hours aren't new in India's startup world. But when a Bengaluru-based entrepreneur publicly said his team works 12 hours a day, six days a week, and often on Sundays, it reignited the debate around hustle culture. Mohan Kumar, co-founder of mobile gaming startup Matiks, shared a post on X, saying: 'We have strict office timing of 10 am to 10 pm and 6 days a week. Still, our team members work beyond 10 and on Sundays as well.' He followed it up by addressing the backlash: 'People will criticise this, but the reality is if we have to build the first global product built in India, we need everyone to be all in. Let's move out from job mindset to building mindset.' In a separate interview with Hindustan Times, Kumar said the company doesn't view its employees as staff but as 'founding members on a shared mission.' 'We're not building something for paychecks or survival,' he said. 'Of course, not everyone resonates with this mindset, and that's okay. But for those who do, this journey doesn't feel like a 'job.' It feels like chasing a dream.' The post quickly sparked reactions online. Some praised the commitment to building a product from scratch, while others flagged concerns about burnout, work-life balance, and exploitative work expectations. After the backlash, Kumar deleted his earlier post and cleared the air by saying, 'Guys, chill, no one comes in at 10:00 am. We play poker and watch Netflix together in the office. We're all fresh out of college, building our careers and lives from scratch. No one's just doing a job here, we're all seniors and juniors working together on a project, giving it our 100%. We have a kind of fun in our office space that you can't even imagine in corporate setups.' A user commented, 'Ragebait, they know how to farm engagement for their math app.' Another user commented, "I don't get it, what's wrong with people wanting to give their own time to something, nobody was forced, all are working willingly and trying to create something cool. let people hustle, until more responsibility come in life and prevent them from doing so. idk, but i would personally love to work with such a closenit and dedicated team."
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Bengaluru founder's 'strict 72-hour workweek' to promote a 'building mindset' sparks online uproar: 'Make employees partners'
In a country already grappling with blurred work-life lines, a Bengaluru entrepreneur 's post about rigid office timings has ignited fresh debate on workplace expectations , the price of ambition, and the elusive dream of building a globally recognised product from India. 10 AM to 10 PM, 6 Days a Week Mohan Kumar, co-founder of mobile gaming startup Matiks , recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to proudly describe the work ethic of his team. His words, however, left the internet sharply divided. 'We have strict office timing of 10 am - 10 pm and 6 days a week. Still, our team members work beyond 10 and on Sundays as well,' Kumar wrote, triggering waves of responses from both supporters and critics. In his post, he acknowledged the anticipated backlash but stood firm in his belief that such dedication was necessary to build India's 'first global product.' Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo by Taboola by Taboola 'People will criticize this,' he added, 'but the reality is if we have to build the first global product built in India, we need everyone to be all in. Let's move out from job mindset to building mindset.' — themohment (@themohment) Beyond a Paycheck In a conversation with Hindustan Times , Kumar clarified that Matiks isn't just another tech startup — it's a movement. 'We don't look at our team as employees,' he said. 'We see them as founding members on a shared mission.' You Might Also Like: 'Work 70 hours a week for your bosses until you are replaced by AI': Shark Tank trolls working professionals According to Kumar, the company isn't built for survival or driven by monthly paychecks but is rather aiming to put India on the global product map. 'Of course, not everyone resonates with this mindset, and that's okay,' he added. 'But for those who do, this journey doesn't feel like a 'job.' It feels like chasing a dream.' Netizens React: 'Build or Burnout?' Kumar's post soon became a flashpoint for heated discussion around hustle culture and modern workplace values. Some applauded the startup's bold mission, calling for equity sharing to complement the commitment. 'I am 100% with this approach,' one user wrote. 'But if you want employees to move from job mindset to building mindset, make them partners in business.' Others, however, raised concern about sustainability and mental health . 'There is absolutely no loyalty,' said a user. 'Companies will let go of employees at the first sight of trouble… A good work-life balance is essential to success.' Another user added, 'Hard disagree, almost no one can sustain peak IQ bandwidth beyond 40-50 hours a week… Anything beyond that is slop.' You Might Also Like: Sudha Murthy on Narayana Murthy's 70-hour workweek remark: 'Success has no magic wand' Kumar tried to argue that work pressure isn't inherently bad — but only when one is passionate about the task at hand. 'Work pressure comes when you work for something that you don't like,' he replied. Kumar's statement has revived a lingering conversation about ambition versus wellbeing, particularly in India's fast-paced startup culture. While some admire the vision of creating a world-class product from Indian soil, others caution against celebrating overwork at the expense of long-term creativity and mental health.
