Discourse on founder salaries in startups

19 December 2023

​The discourse on founder salaries in startups is intriguing. While some advocate for hefty compensation to recognize th e risk and effort invested, others emphasize the importance of prudent financial management.

​Before we dive into this conversation on the evolving dynamics of startup compensation, let’s analyze a few pointers:

​The average founder’s annual salary rose marginally to ₹3.2 Cr. in FY23 from ₹ 3.04 Cr. in FY22.

​Nitin& Nikhil Kamath continue their dominance as the highest-paid founders of a startup.

​3 Founders saw their annual remuneration decline year-on-year—reasons being stated as the critical financial health of the business.

​What's your take on the fine line between rewarding innovation and maintaining financial sustainability?​