"When you go to the Valley now, and when you go to China now, they are working seven days a week in the fastest-growing companies," says 20VC founder Harry Stebbings.

Venture capitalist Harry Stebbings faced a wave of backlash in June after urging European startup founders to increase their work hours — but he now admits there’s some room for nuance when applying his mantra.

Stebbings, founder of 20VC, a firm managing $650 million in funds, advised founders on LinkedIn last month that “7 days a week is the required velocity to win right now,” to compete with startups in Silicon Valley and China.

The post went viral, to Stebbings’ surprise, and sparked a debate on whether China’s brutal “996” work culture — which means working 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. six days a week — is needed in Europe.

  • Morganica@lemmy.world
    61·
    1 day ago

    Yeah, I’d work 995 if…

    1. I was being paid twice as much as I am now
    2. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided.
    3. You have someone who can do all my chores and errands before I get home.

    There’s not enough money you could give me could make up for having Saturday off.