San Francisco Tech Scene Grapples with 9-9-6 Work Ethic as CEO Advocates 14-Hour Days

San Francisco, CA – A tweet from tech entrepreneur Sunny Madra, stating that "9-9-6 is taking over San Francisco," has ignited discussions about the potential adoption of intense work schedules in the city's tech industry. The "996" system, originating in China, typically refers to working from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, six days a week, totaling 72 hours. This model, often associated with rapid growth in Chinese tech companies, is now being openly embraced by some Silicon Valley startups.

The controversial work ethic has found a vocal proponent in Daksh Gupta, the 23-year-old Indian-origin CEO of San Francisco-based AI startup Greptile. Gupta openly tells job candidates that joining his team entails "14-hour days, six or seven days a week, with no work-life balance promised." He views this as a necessary commitment for an early-stage company to gain momentum and survive in a competitive landscape.

The "996" system gained notoriety and significant criticism in China, where it has been linked to employee burnout, health issues, and even deaths. In August 2021, China's Supreme People's Court and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security jointly declared the 996 working hour system illegal, emphasizing that excessive overtime violates labor laws. Despite this, the practice has persisted in some sectors.

The tweet by Sunny Madra, which included a link, suggests a growing presence of this demanding work culture beyond its Chinese origins. While the "grind culture" has always been a part of Silicon Valley's ethos, the explicit embrace of a "996-style" schedule by figures like Gupta highlights a potential shift towards more extreme working conditions. This approach prioritizes speed and intense focus, compressing development cycles into shorter periods.

Critics argue that while such intense periods might be productive for specific, time-boxed projects, they are unsustainable as a long-term lifestyle. The regimen can lead to sleep deprivation, strained personal relationships, and ultimately diminishing returns in creativity and output. The debate underscores the tension between ambitious startup growth and employee well-being, raising questions about the future of work-life balance in the tech hub.