{"id":161952,"date":"2025-06-06T03:53:16","date_gmt":"2025-06-06T03:53:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/161952\/"},"modified":"2025-06-06T03:53:16","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T03:53:16","slug":"this-game-is-rigged-indian-origin-berkeley-graduate-experiments-with-fake-founder-persona-fools-27-investors-using-buzzwords","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/161952\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018This game is rigged\u2019: Indian-origin Berkeley graduate experiments with fake founder persona, fools 27 investors using buzzwords"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bhavye Khetan<\/a>, an Indian-origin graduate from UC Berkeley, recently set the internet ablaze after revealing a bold social experiment<\/a> aimed at exposing the perceived superficiality of the startup and venture capital<\/a> (VC) ecosystem. With no product, pitch, or even a business idea, Khetan invented a fictional founder, slapped on a few high-profile affiliations\u2014Stanford Computer Science, ex-Palantir\u2014and sprinkled in the magic word \u201cAI\u201d a few times.<\/p>\n

Then came the true test: he sent cold emails to 34 venture capitalists.<\/p>\n

The result? A staggering 27 responded. Four even asked to jump on a call. All without a single slide deck, prototype, or business model. Just a fake persona and the right blend of tech-world jargon.
\u201cThis game is rigged in ways most people don\u2019t understand,\u201d Khetan declared in a now-viral post on X (formerly Twitter), drawing thousands of views and triggering a cascade of reactions from amused netizens to outraged professionals.<\/p>\n

\u2014 bhavye_khetan (@bhavye_khetan) <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Resume Mirage: Branding Over Substance? Khetan\u2019s post struck a nerve\u2014especially among aspiring founders and industry veterans who have long suspected that surface-level credentials often weigh heavier than genuine innovation in early-stage startup conversations.
\u201cWho would have thought having shiny logos on a r\u00e9sum\u00e9 makes people more likely to wanna talk to you?\u201d one user quipped. Another compared Khetan\u2019s stunt to a real-life case where someone allegedly fabricated their entire CV, climbed the corporate ladder by offloading tasks, and now sits as CFO at a Fortune 500 firm, drawing half a million dollars a year. To many, the experiment confirmed a frustrating truth: in a world of \u201cpitch decks\u201d and buzzword bingo, branding often beats brilliance.Not Everyone\u2019s Amused: Critics Call Out the Ethics However, not all reactions were impressed or entertained. Some accused Khetan of crossing a moral line, arguing that his deception\u2014though clever\u2014undermined real credentials and credibility.
\u201cThis is stupid. You lied. Stanford is meaningful. Palantir is meaningful. AI is meaningful. The only person acting inappropriately is you,\u201d one X user wrote bluntly.<\/p>\n

Others added that while clickbait-worthy, the stunt wouldn\u2019t have passed the second layer of due diligence. \u201cOf course they\u2019ll take your call,\u201d wrote another. \u201cBut I think you won\u2019t get past that when they figure out you are lying pretty quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even more intriguing was the question raised by curious commenters: What happens after the email reply? Would the VCs ask for proof of the degree, a working demo, or a product walkthrough\u2014or simply go by the impressive names on a digital r\u00e9sum\u00e9?<\/p>\n

Buzzwords, Branding, and the Brutal Truth of Startup Culture Khetan\u2019s experiment, while controversial, casts a revealing spotlight on the culture of venture capital, especially in an era where certain universities, companies, and buzzwords act like cheat codes to attention.<\/p>\n

Many netizens pointed out that this dynamic doesn\u2019t stop at founders. Recruiters, too, have reportedly sidelined candidates from non-elite universities regardless of experience, insisting on Ivy League or top-tier degrees even for sales roles.<\/p>\n

As one commenter lamented, \u201cOnce people have some work experience, it’s a mistake to judge them solely by the name of their college.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Wake-Up Call or a PR Stunt? Whether you view Bhavye Khetan as a provocateur, a whistleblower, or a clever opportunist, his post has undeniably forced a conversation about the criteria for success in the modern tech world.<\/p>\n

Is the startup ecosystem really as meritocratic as it claims to be? Or is it just a well-dressed masquerade where image, not innovation, wins the opening round?<\/p>\n

As the dust settles, one thing is certain: a little bit of Stanford, a sprinkle of Palantir, and a few AI references can still open doors\u2014regardless of what\u2019s actually behind them.<\/p>\n