Daksh Gupta's 9-9-6 vision for success: Why Gen Z may see it as a red flag

Daksh Gupta, the 23-year-old Indian-origin CEO of Greptile, has sparked controversy in Silicon Valley by advocating for a strict 9-9-6 work routine requiring employees to work 12 hours daily, six days a week.

Speaking to The San Francisco Standard, Gupta described his company's culture as "no drinking, no drugs, 9-9-6, lift heavy, run far, marry early, track sleep, eat steak and eggs."The co-founder of the AI startup, which helps developers understand and review code, openly tells potential candidates that joining his team means 14-hour days with no work-life balance promised. Gupta, who studied at Georgia Tech alongside co-founders Soohoon Choi and Vaishant Kameswaran, raised $5.3 million in seed funding and operates from San Francisco's Transamerica Pyramid.

Despite being CEO, he claims to be the lowest-paid person on his team.

Work culture philosophy clashes with generational expectationsGupta's approach represents a fundamental disconnect with Gen Z workplace preferences. According to McKinsey research, 77% of Gen Z respondents consider work-life balance crucial when evaluating job opportunities. This generation, which currently comprises 30% of the world's population, is expected to account for 27% of the workforce by 2025.

The Greptile CEO frames his demanding schedule as necessary discipline for early-stage startup success, arguing that 9-9-6 routines can "compress months of iteration into weeks" and align small teams around singular goals. He positions this intensity as a temporary measure, suggesting it shouldn't extend beyond the first year or two of operations.Generation gap widens over workplace flexibilityLinkedIn survey data reveals 72% of Gen Z workers are most likely to have left or considered leaving positions due to inadequate flexible work policies.

This statistic directly contradicts Gupta's rigid scheduling approach, highlighting a generational divide in workplace expectations.Gupta's startup journey began in 2022 with Reddit review scraping projects before pivoting to AI tools for software engineers. Initially operating under the name Onboard AI, the company rebranded as Greptile whilst developing its current focus on code analysis tools. Tech billionaire Christopher Klaus provided their first significant investment of $100,000.Silicon Valley's cultural battleground emergesThe controversy reflects broader tensions within Silicon Valley's evolving work culture. Gupta represents a faction advocating extreme dedication, believing such intensity filters for committed team members and accelerates company growth. His philosophy encompasses lifestyle elements beyond work hours, including fitness routines, dietary choices, and personal relationship decisions.However, this approach conflicts with emerging workplace trends favouring employee wellbeing and sustainable work practices. Gen Z's prioritisation of work-life balance stems from witnessing previous generations' burnout and seeking more sustainable career paths.Long-term sustainability questionedWhilst Gupta acknowledges his regimen works best as a "sprint with an exit ramp," critics argue such intensity rarely permits adequate recovery time.

The mathematical reality of 84-hour work weeks challenges sustainable productivity, potentially leading to diminished creativity and strained personal relationships.The CEO's emphasis on "no drinking, no drugs" and "track sleep" suggests awareness of recovery's importance, yet the demanding schedule may prevent proper rest. This contradiction highlights the tension between short-term startup acceleration and long-term employee retention, particularly relevant as Gen Z increasingly values workplace flexibility and mental health considerations.