Silicon Valley needs to stop with the ‘grindslop’
Have you ever heard of ‘grindslop’? It’s the latest dig aimed at what some internet users see as tech’s performative, startup hustle culture. The unflattering term was coined by tech entrepreneur Will Manidis , who argued in a post on X that by glorifying work at all costs, Silicon Valley has turned overworking into a religion—and a product in and of itself: “No one asks what the company does,”…
Have you come across the term 'grindslop'? It's the newest jab at what some online users perceive as excessive, self-promoting culture within the tech industry. The term was invented by tech entrepreneur Will Manidis, who lamented in a post on the social media platform X that Silicon Valley has elevated non-stop work to a form of worship.
"No one asks what the company does," Manidis wrote. "What matters is the suffering that preceded it." The phrase is now being used widely on the internet, typically directed at tech employees, often young males, who flaunt their overwork as a symbol of pride on social media. This is part of a growing backlash against the so-called hustle culture that has been pervasive in the tech sector.
This backlash became evident when Han Wang, co-founder of Mintlify, posted on X, advising people not to smile. Wang referenced Uber's Travis Kalanick's recent comments about working until 4:00 a.m., likening it to a marathoner during the final stretch. Wang wrote, "Someone who signed up for the pain... will go harder and further because of it."
The post went viral, but many netizens criticized Wang's stance, with one user commenting, "what a terrible way to live life." Wang later told Fast Company that the backlash was warranted, stating that his article was not about glorifying the grind. Meanwhile, Manidis has taken aim at hardcore founders, seemingly referencing ICO CEO Nico Laqua, who reportedly lives, sleeps, and eats in his office.
Manidis also referenced Y-Combinator startup LemonLime, which sparked accusations of exploitation when it offered job interviews to candidates who got a company tattoo. Andrew Mitchell, founder and CEO of global employee engagement platform Rewardia, told Fast Company that to him, 'grindslop' embodies the worst aspects of performative culture, where the employee who works the longest and hardest receives praise.
Mitchell argued that the solution lies in changing the way recognition is given, rewarding employees who solve problems efficiently rather than those who display a showy work ethic.
Written by urgent.news from Fast Company's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
