Bengaluru startup’s strategy changed weekly based on founder’s latest read, claims ex-employee

Online discussions erupted over chaotic startup leadership driven by popular business books.

Bengaluru’s startup culture is known for its fast-paced and dynamic environment, but a recent revelation by a former employee's experience has raised eyebrows.

Representational Image.

A user on X, Akshay G Jain, shared that his friend, who worked in growth at a Bengaluru-based startup, quit because the company's strategy kept shifting based on whatever book the founder was reading that week.

Read his post here:

How did X users react?

"Which book will end this startup?" one user quipped, mocking the unpredictable decision-making.

Another chimed in, "I’d say you’re exaggerating, but I know someone who worked exactly like this, and he’s still running a ‘business.’"

A few users pointed out that this phenomenon wasn’t limited to books alone. "This happens a lot. Sometimes it's podcasts, tweets, and blogs too—not just books," one person noted, highlighting how some startup founders chase the latest trends rather than a consistent strategy.

One particularly striking comment mentioned a founder who took pride in being "paranoid and narcissistic"—because he read it in a book.

The post has gained significant traction, amassing over 104,000 views, more than 2,000 likes, and over 100 reposts.

In another instance, recently, CRED founder Kunal Shah took to X (formerly Twitter) to highlight this growing trend, emphasising the need for broader adoption. He stated, "Bengaluru startups are increasingly using AI to be hyper-productive. But it seems only 20 per cent are breathing AI. Rest are waiting for a sign. This is your sign."