Europe's startup sector is facing a sharp divide. While some believe the Chinese "996" model (working from 9 AM to 9 PM, six days a week) is the gold standard for growth, others describe it as a "toxic" and "childish" culture that doesn't fit the modern era.
Winning Requires Sacrifice
The debate kicked off when Harry Stebbings, founder of 20VC, made a direct call on LinkedIn, urging European founders to work seven days a week to keep up with the fierce competition in Silicon Valley and China.
Supporters of the idea: Investors like Martin Mignot believe the "9 to 5" era is over, and that the 996 model is the real engine for startups aiming for global success.
Internal criticism: Nik Storonsky, CEO of Revolut, sharply criticized European entrepreneurs, accusing them of overestimating "work-life balance" at the expense of the effort needed to succeed.
Creativity Needs Rest
On the other hand, Suranga Chandratillake of Balderton Capital led the opposition, emphasizing that working "crazy hours" is disastrous advice. He likened a founder to a "sprinter" who can't run forever without stopping to reflect and rest.
A human perspective: Amelia Miller described these calls as "toxic," arguing that working seven days isn't a sign of success but rather "poor time management" and a fast track to burnout.
Social exclusion: Opponents warned that this culture excludes talented parents and those with family commitments, stripping the sector of diversity.
By the Numbers... Are Europeans Really Slacking?
Existing data challenges the idea of a "lazy" European founder. A survey by Antler, which included 128 founders, revealed surprising facts about weekly work hours: 75% work more than 60 hours, and 20% work more than 80 hours.
A Marathon Isn't Won by Sprinting
Industry experts concluded the discussion by affirming that the obstacles to growth for European companies aren't just about "the number of hours worked." Instead, they are structural challenges like the difficulty of securing late-stage funding. Building a global entity is like a marathon; it requires smart distribution of effort and long-term endurance, not just a frantic sprint that ends in collapse before the finish line.
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