'Stupid Idea': Zepto CEO Calls His 2024 Work Life Balance Post (image- X/Y-combinator)
Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha in a recent interview with Y Combinator, shared insights on his company’s journey and the evolving quick commerce landscape in India. He also opened up about his viral 2024 mocking comment on work-life balance, calling it a ‘stupid idea’.
The controversy emerged after the Zepto CEO posted on Reddit highlighting the 14-hour long shifts, late night meetings. And in response to the viral post, the 22-year-old CEO posted on X, “Nothing against work-life balance. In fact, I recommend it to all our competitors.” This post led to widespread backlash, many accusing him of promoting burnout.
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During the podcast, the host Garry Tan brought up the post asking about his thoughts on it. However, Palicha immediately reacting to it, called it a “stupid idea.” He further went on elaborating on the company’s work culture. “Join Zepto if you’re really looking to do the best work of your life. This is the place that is going to get that out of you because it is a very execution-focused culture,” he said.
Addressing the debate, Palicha described the Zepto work culture as intense and focused on getting results. He also mentioned that the environment isn’t for everyone, emphasising that it suits those who are ‘super ambitious’ and ‘super capable’.
He in the podcast had also opened up about the near collapse the company faced during 2022–2023 due to a funding crisis. Giving in details, he shared how the Silicon Valley Bank crisis and hiring missteps nearly collapsed the company.
“The biggest mistakes I made were wrong hires,” he said, adding, “We almost died. Those mistakes were very costly, especially during that 2022–2023 period when it was existential for us.”
Despite the challenges, the company operates in the fiercely competitive quick-commerce space, managed to survive. It led the company to become more focused, he said.
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“We should not be building for small exits or small impact. We need to create companies that define global categories,” he said.
