IITian Founder's Startup Faces Backlash Over Work Culture and Allegations of Misrepresentation | Hindustan Times
Updated: November 10, 2025, 05:53 IST
A former employee, Jared Steele, has accused the Silicon Valley startup Giga, founded by IIT Kharagpur alumni Varun Vummadi and Esha Manideep, of fostering an intense work environment and making misleading promises. The startup, which secured $61 million in Series A funding, builds voice-based AI agents for companies.
Steele, who was hired to lead demand generation in 2025, resigned after just one day, citing a series of issues.
Allegations of Misrepresentation and Intense Work Culture
Steele's claims include discrepancies between the promised and actual compensation, job title, and revenue figures. He noticed inconsistencies from the start, with company dashboards showing lower revenue than initially stated.
One of the most shocking revelations was the alleged statement by startup executives: "When we hit $10 million in ARR, we’re going to spend $100,000 on [illegal activities]" and their disturbing comments about sacrificing a goat in India.
Excessive Work Hours and Unpredictable Paid Time Off
Steele also alleged that employees were expected to work 12-hour days, seven days a week, with a flexible paid time off policy that could be changed at management's discretion. This led to employees feeling pressured to "always be working."
Steele's experience with the company's leave policy was particularly telling. Before joining, he received approval for time off to attend two weddings. However, after signing the contract, he was informed he couldn't attend either.
A Snub from the Founder
Steele's decision to quit was influenced by a seemingly dismissive interaction with the founder on his first day. He extended his hand for a handshake, but the founder ignored him, not even acknowledging his presence.
"I just moved my entire life and drove 26 hours across the country, and not even a 'welcome to the team' or a hello," Steele said, emphasizing the emotional impact of the founder's lack of acknowledgment.
No Public Response Yet
Giga and Vummadi have not publicly addressed these allegations. The article invites readers to share their thoughts and encourages discussion on the potential implications of these claims.
