In a noteworthy Bengaluru incident, known for its vibrant startup culture, an intern resigned from his tech company after his own startup received funding. Karthik Sridharan, CEO of Flexiple, shared a screenshot of his conversation with the intern on X.
The Conversation
Sridharan, who leads Flexiple—a platform connecting tech professionals with employers—messaged the intern via WhatsApp to inquire about his absence on Friday. The intern explained that he had taken the day off to meet a venture capitalist and concluded by informing Sridharan that his AI startup had secured funding, making the internship unnecessary.
“Hey, sorry I took a leave because I had a meeting with a VC. My AI startup got funded. I don’t need the internship anymore,” the intern stated. Sridharan commented, “This only happens in Bangalore” while sharing the exchange on X.
This only happens in Bangalore – pic.twitter.com/KtfB6dhJl5
— Karthik Sridharan (@KarthikS2206) September 1, 2024
Reactions on Social Media
The post sparked varied responses online. Some users expressed admiration for the intern’s success and wished him well in his entrepreneurial pursuits. Abhimanyu Saxena, co-founder of Scaler, remarked, “Glad for the kid! Just hope someone guides him to get better at communications as well!”
Others criticized the intern’s approach to quitting. One X user noted, “I think this is disrespectful to some extent but understandable,” while another said, “No matter how young or inexperienced someone is, basic communication skills and respect for others are needed.”
Some users made light of the situation. One commented, “I guess that internship was just the warm-up!” Another added, “Just Bengaluru things” with a laughing emoji.
Bengaluru’s Startup Scene
Bengaluru continues to be recognized as India’s premier startup hub, surpassing Delhi and Mumbai in its startup ecosystem, as highlighted in Startup Genome’s Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2024.