In a world where work-life balance is increasingly cherished, voices like Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy’s call for a 70-hour workweek have sparked outrage, and inspiration. But Murthy isn’t the only one advocating for longer hours as the key to national or business transformation. Across the continent, another influential figure is echoing the sentiment, albeit with some nuance.
Harry Stebbings, the 27-year-old British venture capitalist and founder of 20VC, surprised many in the startup ecosystem recently when he proclaimed that European founders needed to push harder. In a now-viral LinkedIn post from June, Stebbings said, “7 days a week is the required velocity to win right now,” citing the speed of startups in Silicon Valley and China as models to match. What followed was a wave of backlash — and a debate that refuses to die down.
Europe vs. the ‘996’ Culture
At the heart of the controversy lies China’s “996” work culture — shorthand for working 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week — long criticized for its punishing hours but often credited with powering tech titans like Alibaba, Tencent, and Baidu. Stebbings’ comments revived questions about whether such intensity is essential to building globally competitive startups — especially in regions like Europe, often stereotyped as less aggressive in the startup race.
Speaking to CNBC Make It, Stebbings clarified that he didn’t expect his message to go viral, nor did he mean for it to apply to every professional. “It’s everything that’s wrong with Europe, that backlash,” he said. “Speed and the ability to move fast really determine success — especially in AI.” For him, expecting to build a $10 billion company on a 9-to-5, Monday-to-Friday model was, simply put, “delusional.”
But many disagree — and vocally so. Sarah Wernér, co-founder of Husmus, told CNBC that Europe doesn’t need more “hustle,” but rather more aggressive funding. “If a team of 10 is burning out to keep up with a 50-person U.S. VC- or Chinese government-backed startup, the problem isn’t their stamina, it’s their cap table,” she added. To her, funding — not fatigue — is the core issue.
Work Harder, But Not Without Heart
Yet, Stebbings, like Murthy, insists he isn’t promoting burnout. “There is nuance,” he said. “I’m not saying miss dinner with friends or family or just sit at your desk all day.” He calls for 100% commitment, particularly in the early years of building a company, but emphasizes the importance of mental and physical well-being. Stebbings shared his own reality — spending Sundays walking marathons with his ailing mother who has multiple sclerosis, before heading back to work. “It’s important to turn off and have a couple of hours away from your computer.”
Murthy, too, made similar remarks at the Indian Chamber of Commerce centenary event in Kolkata, reported by NDTV. While advocating a 70-hour workweek, he rooted his stance in national responsibility: “If we are not in a position to work hard, then who will work hard?” Drawing from his experience in Paris in the 1970s and his disenchantment with socialism, Murthy spoke of embracing “compassionate capitalism” — a system where entrepreneurship creates jobs, generates wealth, and pays taxes to build infrastructure and reduce poverty.
Overwork or Overhype?
Interestingly, both Murthy and Stebbings acknowledge the cultural context of their advice. While Murthy speaks of India’s developmental needs, Stebbings calls out what he sees as Europe's complacency. Yet, he also questions the narrative of nonstop hustle in the U.S. “Go into a WeWork in San Francisco at 7 p.m. — they’re not all working like we see on social media,” he said. He admits that hustle culture is often “over-glamorized” and even fetishized. However, for the top 0.01% of Silicon Valley, he insists, it’s real — and relentless.
Other voices, like Balderton Capital’s Suranga Chandratillake, have countered this glorification of overwork. He told CNBC Make It that what we often see is “a fetishization of overwork rather than smart work… it’s a myth.” In his view, the storytelling and mythmaking around Silicon Valley startups have created unrealistic expectations about the path to success.
A New Work Ethic; Or an Old Debate in New Packaging?
Whether it’s Murthy’s rallying cry for young Indians to “work hard to make India number one” or Stebbings urging European founders to outpace their American and Chinese peers, the message is clear: in their eyes, success doesn’t come on a clocked-out schedule.
But at what cost? And for whom?
Both leaders acknowledge the importance of balance, but their emphasis on dedication — and the backlash it brings — shows how deeply divided the global workforce is over what ambition should look like in 2025. Is it 70-hour weeks and “seven days to win”? Or is it smarter, more funded, more inclusive models of productivity?
Perhaps the answer isn’t binary. But what’s certain is this: the conversation on how much we work — and why — isn’t going away anytime soon.
Harry Stebbings, the 27-year-old British venture capitalist and founder of 20VC, surprised many in the startup ecosystem recently when he proclaimed that European founders needed to push harder. In a now-viral LinkedIn post from June, Stebbings said, “7 days a week is the required velocity to win right now,” citing the speed of startups in Silicon Valley and China as models to match. What followed was a wave of backlash — and a debate that refuses to die down.
Europe vs. the ‘996’ Culture
At the heart of the controversy lies China’s “996” work culture — shorthand for working 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week — long criticized for its punishing hours but often credited with powering tech titans like Alibaba, Tencent, and Baidu. Stebbings’ comments revived questions about whether such intensity is essential to building globally competitive startups — especially in regions like Europe, often stereotyped as less aggressive in the startup race.
Speaking to CNBC Make It, Stebbings clarified that he didn’t expect his message to go viral, nor did he mean for it to apply to every professional. “It’s everything that’s wrong with Europe, that backlash,” he said. “Speed and the ability to move fast really determine success — especially in AI.” For him, expecting to build a $10 billion company on a 9-to-5, Monday-to-Friday model was, simply put, “delusional.”
But many disagree — and vocally so. Sarah Wernér, co-founder of Husmus, told CNBC that Europe doesn’t need more “hustle,” but rather more aggressive funding. “If a team of 10 is burning out to keep up with a 50-person U.S. VC- or Chinese government-backed startup, the problem isn’t their stamina, it’s their cap table,” she added. To her, funding — not fatigue — is the core issue.
Work Harder, But Not Without Heart
Yet, Stebbings, like Murthy, insists he isn’t promoting burnout. “There is nuance,” he said. “I’m not saying miss dinner with friends or family or just sit at your desk all day.” He calls for 100% commitment, particularly in the early years of building a company, but emphasizes the importance of mental and physical well-being. Stebbings shared his own reality — spending Sundays walking marathons with his ailing mother who has multiple sclerosis, before heading back to work. “It’s important to turn off and have a couple of hours away from your computer.”
Murthy, too, made similar remarks at the Indian Chamber of Commerce centenary event in Kolkata, reported by NDTV. While advocating a 70-hour workweek, he rooted his stance in national responsibility: “If we are not in a position to work hard, then who will work hard?” Drawing from his experience in Paris in the 1970s and his disenchantment with socialism, Murthy spoke of embracing “compassionate capitalism” — a system where entrepreneurship creates jobs, generates wealth, and pays taxes to build infrastructure and reduce poverty.
Overwork or Overhype?
Interestingly, both Murthy and Stebbings acknowledge the cultural context of their advice. While Murthy speaks of India’s developmental needs, Stebbings calls out what he sees as Europe's complacency. Yet, he also questions the narrative of nonstop hustle in the U.S. “Go into a WeWork in San Francisco at 7 p.m. — they’re not all working like we see on social media,” he said. He admits that hustle culture is often “over-glamorized” and even fetishized. However, for the top 0.01% of Silicon Valley, he insists, it’s real — and relentless.
Other voices, like Balderton Capital’s Suranga Chandratillake, have countered this glorification of overwork. He told CNBC Make It that what we often see is “a fetishization of overwork rather than smart work… it’s a myth.” In his view, the storytelling and mythmaking around Silicon Valley startups have created unrealistic expectations about the path to success.
A New Work Ethic; Or an Old Debate in New Packaging?
Whether it’s Murthy’s rallying cry for young Indians to “work hard to make India number one” or Stebbings urging European founders to outpace their American and Chinese peers, the message is clear: in their eyes, success doesn’t come on a clocked-out schedule.
But at what cost? And for whom?
Both leaders acknowledge the importance of balance, but their emphasis on dedication — and the backlash it brings — shows how deeply divided the global workforce is over what ambition should look like in 2025. Is it 70-hour weeks and “seven days to win”? Or is it smarter, more funded, more inclusive models of productivity?
Perhaps the answer isn’t binary. But what’s certain is this: the conversation on how much we work — and why — isn’t going away anytime soon.
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