Bengaluru Entrepreneur's Viral Post Sparks Debate on Founder Egos in Startup World
Startup journeys often thrive with guidance from experienced leaders. These mentors help transform simple ideas into successful ventures. Yet many founders discover a harsh truth only after seeking advice. Some leaders lift others up generously. Others let their egos block the way completely.
Social Media Lights Up with Startup Mentoring Reality Check
Bengaluru serves as India's premier startup hub. It constantly attracts ambitious founders hungry for wisdom. However not all mentors live up to their hype or match the expected vibe. Recently social media platforms erupted with a revealing post. This post highlighted the significant gap between expectations and reality in startup mentoring.
Shubh Agrawal, a Bengaluru entrepreneur now working at a New York firm, shared his experiences publicly on X. He detailed his efforts over six months. During this period he reached out to countless founders and CEOs he admired for advice.
"What's with Indian founders and their ego?" Agrawal wrote. "Story time - in the last 6 months, I've reached out to countless founders and CEOs I admire for advice. Most of the time, they're willing to help - but there seems to be a massive difference between the ego levels of Indian founders and the ones outside."
A Tale of Two Founders with Stark Contrasts
Agrawal posted screenshots that presented two founders with dramatically different approaches. He described the first founder as Indian, frequently seen on podcasts, whose company generates $40 million in yearly revenue. The second founder operates from the United States, has built two unicorn companies, and leads a business doing over $400 million annually.
According to Agrawal, the Indian founder reacted with anger over product access issues. This founder allegedly used a slur against the team. Meanwhile the US founder spent a full hour diagnosing problems thoroughly. This founder also offered a follow-up call to provide further assistance.
"I might be wrong in attributing this to their origin," Agrawal added. "But it's clear that the founder with 10x higher competence was a lot more humble and willing to help out."
Social Media Becomes a Fierce Debate Ground
Agrawal's post from 12 January 2026 quickly divided social media users. One user commented, "I guess when someone goes through hard steps and then makes it work, they feel it's worth the journey. So they would rather watch others struggle to get to the same level than offer a helping hand. Maybe that's how the Indian mindset works."
Another user offered a different perspective. "I think this is very specific. I reached out to people in India and outside, and the experiences were completely different. So I don't think this is a general thing. It's very, very specific to the people."
Some comments extended the criticism beyond founders to managers. "Same with managers. Literally, Indian managers s**k!" wrote one user. Another user with a similar view added, "Humility comes with higher competence because you know your worth and do not need constant validation from others."
The thread gained significant traction across platforms. It raised serious questions about cultural traits within India's startup ecosystem. Many wondered whether ego presents a systemic barrier to effective mentorship in Bengaluru's competitive environment.
