The billion-dollar AI startup rejecting 996 hustle culture

1 day ago7 min read3 comments

In the feverish race to dominate artificial intelligence, a troubling cultural import has gained traction within Silicon Valley's hallowed halls: China's notorious '996' work schedule, which demands employees labor from 9 a. m.to 9 p. m., six days a week. This grueling ethos, long romanticized by figures like Elon Musk who famously declared that world-changing work cannot be accomplished in a mere 40-hour week, is now being openly espoused by leaders of ascendant AI firms.Scott Wu, CEO of the $10 billion startup Cognition, exemplifies this trend, boasting on social media platform X about an 'extreme performance culture' where teams routinely work through weekends and 'literally live where we work. ' This sentiment echoes through corporate corridors from Amazon to Meta, where executives like Andy Jassy urge operating with startup scrappiness and Vishal Shah mandates that 80% of Metaverse employees integrate AI into their daily routines, framing breakneck speed as an existential necessity.Against this backdrop of relentless acceleration, Karri Saarinen, cofounder of the AI-powered enterprise software company Linear, presents a deliberate counter-narrative. Having been an early employee at Coinbase and principal designer at Airbnb, Saarinen witnessed firsthand the chaotic culture erosion that can accompany explosive growth.When founding Linear in 2019, he and his partners made a conscious decision to reject the geographic and philosophical confines of traditional Silicon Valley hustle, embracing remote work not merely as a operational model but as a core tenet of a sustainable philosophy. This approach has proven remarkably successful; Linear recently raised $82 million, catapulting its valuation past the billion-dollar mark and attracting prestigious clients like OpenAI and Perplexity, all while remaining profitable for four years.Saarinen articulates a profound skepticism toward the industry's self-imposed pressure, questioning the very premise of an endless sprint. 'I think a lot of this pressure is somewhat self-created,' he reflects.'I don't know if it's even real. Companies are so focused on what all the other companies are doing.This race is not going to end after this year. It will probably go for the next decade.So are you going to race that whole next decade?' His skepticism is rooted in a belief that quality, the attribute Linear values most, is the first casualty of burnout. Instead of participating in a frenzied talent war, Linear has adopted a measured, intentional growth strategy, roughly doubling its headcount annually to around 80 people.A cornerstone of its culture is the 'work trial,' a paid, multi-day final interview stage where candidates collaborate on real projects. This creates valuable friction, allowing both the company and the individual to assess fit, communication style, and ownership mentality beyond the gloss of a traditional interview.This meticulous approach has resulted in minimal attrition and a strong internal promotion track. Saarinen’s philosophy extends beyond hiring to a fundamental belief in human potential flourishing outside a state of perpetual exhaustion.'People should have some life outside of work,' he states. 'They should get inspired by their life, and then hopefully that will kind of bleed into the work as well.If you just feel better, then I think the work you do is a little better. ' In an industry hurtling toward an uncertain future, often guided by the principle of 'move fast and break things,' Linear offers a compelling, human-centric alternative. It stands as a testament that in the long marathon of technological innovation, a sustainable pace and a commitment to quality might just be the most disruptive advantage of all, challenging the core assumption that progress must always be purchased with personal sacrifice.

#work culture

#996

#AI startups

#remote work

#hiring practices

#employee well-being

#featured

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