Indian graduate’s experiment exposes startup biases

Hannah Bietz
Indian graduate's experiment exposes startup biases
Indian graduate's experiment exposes startup biases

Bhavye Khetan, an Indian-origin UC Berkeley graduate, has stirred up controversy in the startup world with a bold social experiment. Khetan created a fake founder persona, complete with impressive credentials like a Stanford CS degree and experience at Palantir, and casually mentioned “AI” three times in his pitch. He then sent cold emails to 34 venture capitalists to see how they would respond.

The results were shocking. Out of the 34 VCs contacted, 27 replied and four even asked for a call, despite Khetan having no actual product, pitch, or business plan. This game is rigged in ways most people don’t understand,” Khetan wrote in a revealing post on social media.

Khetan’s experiment has sparked a heated debate about the role of buzzwords and credentials in the startup ecosystem. Some have praised him for exposing the superficiality of the industry, while others have criticized him for being unethical and misleading. Who would have thought having shiny logos on a resume makes people more likely to wanna talk to you,” joked one user in response to Khetan’s post.

Another shared a similar story: “I heard about a guy who faked his CV and landed major consulting and executive jobs this way. Throughout his climb up the ladder, he delegated tasks he had no idea how to handle himself. Now he’s CFO at a Fortune 500, clearing 500K a year.”

However, not everyone was amused by Khetan’s stunt.

Startup biases in funding choices

Some argued that prestigious institutions and companies on a resume do lend credibility and that a lie such as Khetan’s wouldn’t sustain in the longer term. “This is stupid.

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You lied. Stanford is meaningful. Palantir is meaningful.

AI is meaningful. The only person acting inappropriately is you,” commented one detractor. Khetan’s experiment has certainly raised important questions about the startup funding landscape.

Do top-tier logos and trendy tech terms outweigh raw innovation in early-stage funding? Can a resume cheat code beat an honest, well-thought-out business model? As one commenter noted, “Once people have some work experience, it’s a mistake to judge them solely by the name of their college.” Khetan’s experiment has highlighted the potential flaws in prioritizing educational pedigree over actual skills and achievements.

While opinions remain divided on the ethics of Khetan’s actions, his experiment has undeniably sparked a much-needed conversation about the role of superficial elements in the startup ecosystem. It remains to be seen whether this will lead to any meaningful changes in how VCs assess potential investments, but one thing is clear: Khetan has certainly given the industry something to think about.

Hannah is a news contributor to SelfEmployed. She writes on current events, trending topics, and tips for our entrepreneurial audience.