Freelancer Confronts Google Co-Founder Over Unpaid Labor, Incident Sparks Outrage
Freelance Industry Exposes Toxic Culture in India
Honey Veda, a Shark Tank India-featured company, has been accused of exploiting a freelance designer, Mayank, in a recent X post that has garnered nearly 5 lakh views. The incident highlights a larger pattern of exploitation in the freelance industry in India.
Background In August 2025, Mayank completed a project for Honey Veda, following a standard workflow of 50% upfront payment and 50% after delivery. However, the company's founder, Vivek Rajoria, allegedly shifted the goalpost, claiming the work was "not complete" despite receiving all deliverables.
Ghosting and Delay Tactics Mayank claims that he was subjected to ghosting, delays, and being told to chase the company's CEO, Hardik Joshi, who was allegedly consistently unreachable across various communication channels. Despite months of silence, Mayank eventually gave up for the sake of his mental peace.
Confrontation and Payment Dispute Seven months later, Mayank was unexpectedly added to an SEO strategy call for another freelancer. During the call, he asked about his long-pending payment, which led to an abrupt exit by the CEO and an alleged abuse by the founder. Mayank recorded the call and shared it on X.
Larger Pattern of Exploitation This incident is part of a larger pattern of exploitation reported by freelancers in India. Another freelancer alleged receiving a Rs 10 lakh penalty for "non-compliance" despite delivering 100% of the agreed project scope and 40% extra out of goodwill. The freelancer described a "toxic" freelance environment where clients routinely shift goalposts, gaslight creators, and weaponise goodwill before threatening legal action.
Key Figures
- Honey Veda: Indian company featured on Shark Tank India
- Mayank: Freelance designer
- Vivek Rajoria: Founder of Honey Veda
- Hardik Joshi: CEO of Honey Veda
- Shark Tank India: Reality TV show featuring Indian entrepreneurs and investors
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Investor Takeaway
Be cautious when dealing with companies that may not honor their payment agreements.
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