‘Grindslop’ is the new Silicon Valley trend: founders flaunt exhaustion, and it’s backfiring

Mentions of the term "grindslop" on social media platform X have surged more than twentyfold in six months, driven by startup founders posting about working without days off, Business Insider reports. The term, a portmanteau of "grind" (exhausting, monotonous work) and "slop" (waste or garbage), describes content in which entrepreneurs proudly detail how many consecutive days they've gone without sleep and how many weekends they've sacrificed for their projects.

The term was coined by entrepreneur Will Manidis in an essay about how founders turn their own suffering into part of their personal brand. His main point is simple: the display of exhaustion has replaced real achievements. Instead of showing growth metrics or satisfied customers, a founder now shows dark circles under their eyes and recounts how many energy drinks they consumed overnight. The catalyst for widespread discussion was a post by the co-founder of Mintlify, who wrote about the need to seek discomfort and constantly test one's limits. The audience reaction was unexpected: instead of admiration, he received criticism from industry peers and even friends who publicly disagreed with his stance.

The numbers confirm the topic has struck a nerve. In January, the word appeared on the platform only a couple of dozen times. By April, it was in the hundreds, and by mid-year, in the thousands. Grindslop describes not just workaholism but its performative side — founders flaunting fatigue as if it were a badge of honor. Critics argue that this approach harms startup culture by normalizing burnout and creating a false impression that success requires completely abandoning personal life. The trend has sparked a broader debate about whether the relentless hustle culture in Silicon Valley is sustainable or simply a toxic display of privilege.