‘Paying Rs 55 lakh for sub par work…’: CEO sparks hiring storm with brutal post on team lead – ‘Paying Rs 55 lakh for sub par work…’: CEO sparks hiring storm with brutal post on team lead BusinessToday

A New York-based mostly Indian-origin tech entrepreneur has ignited debate throughout startup circles after publicly calling out an underperforming worker drawing a hefty ₹72 lakh annual bundle.

Aditya Siripragada, co-founder and CEO of Fountane—a quick-rising digital and AI options startup—took to X (previously Twitter) to announce he was changing a team lead managing a essential mission.

“Paying ₹55 lakh for a team lead on a essential mission – efficiency is subpar and I would like to interchange quick,” Siripragada posted, clarifying later that the whole annual compensation stood at round ₹72 lakh.

The post has since drawn over 92,000 views, with a number of professionals expressing curiosity. Nevertheless, Siripragada made it clear he wasn’t trying for novices. “Please don’t attain out for those who haven’t achieved this sort of function earlier than – not the time to experiment,” he cautioned.

The candid post sparked chatter not simply round hiring practices, but in addition startup accountability and the worth of efficiency-linked pay in excessive-development tech firms.

Responding to candidates, Siripragada signalled he was open to paying much more—if the best candidate confirmed up. “When you’re freaking wonderful, I’m right down to pay greater than that,” he wrote.

Siripragada’s journey itself has the makings of a basic immigrant startup story. In a separate LinkedIn post, he shared that he landed within the US with “two baggage, $700, and a coronary heart stuffed with ambition.” A decade later, his startup Fountane has made it to the Inc. 5000 listing, ranked 884th in August 2024. It’s additionally among the many high 10 quickest-rising companies in Minnesota and leads the state’s software program and tech companies phase.