The promise of purpose-driven work has long attracted young professionals to startups that claim to change the world. But a viral Reddit post has exposed the darker side of this “mission over money” philosophy, revealing how some founders romanticize unpaid labor under the banner of culture and community. A job seeker recently shared his experience after applying for a “Social Media & Community Manager” role at a so-called mission-driven lifestyle startup. The posting claimed to “pay people what they’re worth,” but what followed painted a very different picture.
According to the applicant, who shared the post, the first round of interviews seemed promising. The discussion revolved around storytelling, strategy, and content creation. However, things took a strange turn when the company’s founder joined the second round wearing a hoodie with the slogan “Empathy is our currency.”
‘We Don’t Pay Salaries, We Offer Lifelong Connections’
The applicant recalled that during the conversation, the founder spoke about building communities over compensation. At first, he thought it was a lighthearted comment—until it wasn’t. The founder went on to explain that the company did not pay salaries during its “early phase,” but instead offered “something better—lifelong connections.”
The applicant responded that his landlord does not accept lifelong connections as rent. After a brief silence, the founder told him he “wasn’t a cultural fit.” Later that night, the applicant found a LinkedIn post from the same founder titled “Why Some People Just Don’t Get Startup Life.”
Online Reactions
The story quickly resonated with users across Reddit, many of whom criticized the normalization of unpaid work in the name of “passion.” One user humorously commented that every time they see a “mission-driven startup,” their wallet hides under the bed. Another pointed out that the phrase has become a red flag for exploitative workplace practices.
Some users added that many startup founders come from privileged backgrounds and are financially secure enough to glorify unpaid work. One comment noted that for people with six-figure corporate experience or family money, working for free can feel feasible, but for others, “passion still needs groceries.”
The Startup Culture Divide
Others chimed in with similar experiences, recalling how certain founders preach mission and values while comfortably living off personal wealth. A Redditor described a past employer who encouraged employees to work for “purpose” rather than pay—despite owning a mansion himself.
Several users called for naming and shaming the company, though the original poster declined, joking that he’d already been “paid in connections once this month.” Another user dryly remarked that if compensation is replaced by “community,” the least the company could offer is an ownership stake—only to be told that the applicant’s “ownership” was merely emotional investment in the mission.