UC Berkeley Grad’s VC Prank Exposes Startup Scene’s Shallow Side

We’ve all probably wondered folks, how far credentials and catchy buzzwords can really get you in the fast-paced world of tech startups. Recent news from our friends at NDTV highlighted an eye-opening experiment conducted by Bhavye Khetan, a UC Berkeley graduate of Indian origin, that exposed some uncomfortable truths about the venture capital ecosystem.

In what has to be one of the cheekiest moves recently seen online, Khetan put together a completely fabricated founder persona—he had no product, no proper sales deck, not even a fancy presentation lined up. Instead, he casually dropped "Stanford CS," "ex-Palantir," and threw in "AI" no fewer than three times into a few cold emails. Amazingly—or worryingly, depending on your viewpoint—this minimalist approach landed replies from 27 out of 34 venture capitalists. Four of them even eagerly asked for calls.

Taking to the social media platform X to unveil his prank, Khetan didn't shy away from calling the whole venture capital game "rigged." He wrote plainly: "I made a fake founder persona. No product. No pitch. No deck. Just: Stanford CS - Ex-Palantir - Used the word 'AI' 3 times. Sent cold emails to 34 VCs. 27 replied. 4 asked for a call. This game is rigged in ways most people don't understand."

Predictably, the story quickly went viral online and sparked rather heated debates—rarely have startup discussions been quite this lively, let's be honest.

Plenty of folks shared Khetan’s scepticism, lamenting the superficiality they see regularly in investment decisions. One user shared an anecdote of a person who allegedly faked his CV with similar tech hype and climbed all the way up to become CFO at a Fortune 500 firm, earning half a million quid a year, conveniently outsourcing all the tasks he himself couldn’t actually do.

But others were quick to accuse Khetan of foul play and dishonesty. "This is stupid. You lied. Stanford is meaningful. Palantir is meaningful. AI is meaningful. The only person acting inappropriately is you," snapped one particularly irritated commenter.

Another added a balanced view, pointing out that such deception might get initial attention, but it will hardly carry you far once the truth outs itself. Fair play, they argued, involves honesty even if the startup culture values glossy credentials.

A more nuanced point came from another user, highlighting the broader issue of elitism in startup hiring: some founders reportedly only consider applicants from the most prestigious universities, refusing to look beyond those flashy names, even for roles demanding real industry experience—something Arageek readers might have come across in other scenarios.

All in all, the incident Khetan ignited certainly sheds light on some uncomfortable faultlines beneath the glitz and glamour of venture capitalism—where buzzwords and big names often superficially outweigh substance and real experience. While his approach might have divided opinions, it undeniably prompts a timely rethink about what investors truly value and how far the obsession with branding can realistically take startups—or sunk them.

🚀 Got exciting news to share?

If you're a startup founder, VC, or PR agency with big updates—funding rounds, product launches 📢, or company milestones 🎉 — AraGeek English wants to hear from you!

✉️ Send Us Your Story 👇

https://en.arageek.com/send-us-your-story-or-a-news-tip