“A founder who doesn't negotiate salaries sounds like a LinkedIn fairy tale — except his 21-person team has the retention numbers to prove it. In an ecosystem where "competitive pay" usually means competitive for the company, Vivek Kumar is running a quiet experiment: what happens when you just pay people what they're worth? Turns out, they stay.”
Vivek Kumar
Founder @ Alive, Ex-VC, Alive
“"There's no comparison between the two." Correct. One has equity. The other has a salary that doesn't change whether they work 8 hours or 18. Maybe that's why they check the clock.”
Nikhil Rana
Founder, The 15
“Everyone talks about 'putting yourself out there' — she actually did it. No warm intro, no mutual connection, no recruiter. Just a conversation at an airport counter with someone she admired. Most people would've smiled and walked away. Avni Shah asked questions, stayed curious, and bet on herself. The Chona Group didn't hire a LinkedIn post — they hired someone with the nerve to start a conversation and the talent to finish it.”
Avni Shah
Lead Strategy & Special Projects, Chona Group