Shark Tank startup trolled for post glorifying "toxic work culture"

Gurgaon-based dental care startup Perfora, which recently appeared on Shark Tank India, is facing backlash from netizens for its post about employees having sleepless nights due to work demands. 

The company shared two posts on its social media platforms, one of which called its employee an "unsung hero" for handling order packing and dispatching, and the other featuring a photo of the employee surrounded by boxes in the warehouse.

Signaling Everything That’s Wrong!

Soon after sharing the post, the startup came under fire and got criticized for glorifying a toxic work culture. One user wrote, "Toxic work culture (is) whitewashed as commitment for no reason," while another commented, "companies like @Perforaofficial glorifying such work cultures talk a lot about what's wrong with today's work expectations!! such a stupid move as PR."

Some users even tagged the Shark Tank judges and questioned whether they were funding startups that exploit their workforce. "Perfora has raised a total of $3.7M in Series-A funding, as well Rs 80 lakh investment on Shark Tank," one person wrote. "Are you guys funding startups that exploit its workforce? Is it not sufficiently funded to hire to meet rising demand?"

Perfora was founded in 2021 by Jatan Bawa and Tushar Khurana, and offers dental care products such as toothpastes, electric toothbrushes, and dental flossers. On its website, the company claims to believe in adding value to the lives of everyday consumers.

The controversy has sparked a debate on twitter about work culture and employee exploitation in startups. While some argue that long working hours and sleep deprivation are a necessary part of startup culture, others believe that such practices are harmful and perpetuate a toxic work environment.

Mind Your Posts

The incident serves as a reminder that startups must be mindful of how they portray their work culture on social media and the impact it may have on their reputation.

Perfora is an innovative oral care brand with products that will make oral care easy, inviting and enjoyable, the company says on its website. "At Perfora we strongly believe in adding value to the life of everyday consumers."

Trolled Not For The First Time

This is not for the first time that a shark tank contestant has been trolled on social media. Recently, actor Parul Gulati, was trolled for her appearance on Shark Tank India 2. 

Parul Gulati pitched her hair brand, Nish Hair, to the panel of investors. Her pitch ultimately sealed a deal with CarDekho CEO, Amit Jain, who invested Rs 1 crore for a 2% equity stake in the business.

Many netizens were outraged over her appearance in the show, with many calling her out and claiming she appeared for marketing and not receiving investment.

“They are saying that it is scripted. Of course, the first three lines of my pitch I wrote them,” Parul said in an interview. 

“People also thought I was confident, actually, I was quite nervous when I started the pitch. It did irk me a little with the reaction I received. I thought, at the end of the day I took that Rs 1 cr cheque home they didn’t,” she added.

The controversy highlights the potential impact of social media on a company's reputation. It is crucial for startups to ensure that they do not promote a toxic work culture and instead focus on creating a positive work environment that values and supports their employees.