India, Aug. 5 -- A viral video posted by a US-based Indian tech founder has sparked a wider conversation on the gruelling reality behind startup hustle culture. Detailing his personal struggles online, the entrepreneur revealed that building his company has meant spending endless hours isolated in a tiny room, leaving him unable to visit his parents for over two years. Admitting to having gained over 20 kilograms and to a heavy reliance on soda while building his platform, he struck a deep chord on social media, drawing widespread empathy from fellow founders who resonated with the extreme mental and physical toll of chasing business success.

"Only $1M investment can save my soul," Utkarsh Nanda wrote while sharing a video sharing his st...