Note – This post is being shared by an Ex-employee of Reshamandi in LinkedIn, we are presenting as it is, giving a just voice to an issue.
As per us any startup dealing with any artisans should do their businesses ethically and most of all they should take care of their employees first. As per Tracxn, Reshamandi had raised $69.8 million from 23 investors. Unpaid salary of hundreds of employees since 9 months.
Link to the LinkedIn Post – Click Here
As an ex-employee of Reshamandi, my intention in writing this post is to unveil the grave injustices that have unfolded within what was once a promising startup. This is not just my story, but the plight of many who trusted and invested their skills in a mission that was meant to empower silk weavers across India.
Founded with a vision to uplift artisan communities, Reshamandi secured a whopping $54.5 million in funding. Despite this, the company has left a trail of financial and emotional devastation. Artisans and employees, including myself, have not received salaries for 6-8 months. Meanwhile, the very craftspeople we aimed to support are now engulfed in debt, having never been paid for their labor and goods.
The contrast between the founders’ lifestyles and the employees’ financial struggles is stark and deeply troubling. While many of us have been forced into severe financial and mental distress, our founders have been visibly spending extravagantly. Their recent appearances in elite social clubs and parties, flaunting new acquisitions, renovating luxury homes and, international travels on Instagram, are a bitter pill to swallow for those of us still awaiting months of unpaid wages. (Saurabh Agarwal Supriya Munshi Kshitij Kuthiala . Another Founder ”Mayank Tiwari” remain unavailable to tag. )
In a further attempt to escape accountability, the company’s management outsourced HR operations to an external firm right before initiating a mass forced resignation, complicating our ability to seek rightful claims. (Sophronia S.)
Approximately 180 former employees have now taken legal steps to recover their dues, yet the founders and managers have made themselves scarce—changing contact details, deactivating social profiles, and even relocating to evade facing the consequences of their actions.
This situation is a glaring example of the ethical rot that can undermine the foundations of the most innovative sectors. It serves as a stark reminder that without transparency, integrity, and respect for every individual’s contribution, the success touted by startups can be illusory and damaging.
I urge my peers in the startup ecosystem, especially students of institutes like NIFT and venture capitalists, to be vigilant and discerning. Let us advocate for and establish stringent oversight mechanisms that prevent such exploitation and ensure that no other group of hopeful individuals has to endure similar betrayals.
We, the former employees and the affected artisans, stand united in our quest for justice—not just for financial reparation but to restore faith in the ethical possibilities of the startup ecosystem.
Shiwangi .Rishav Sinha Shristi Agrawal Vidushi Singh Aliza Hussain M S Anaina Nitin Kumar Nabamita Ghosh
Ministry Of Textiles
ReshaMandi
#StartupCulture #BusinessEthics Prime Ministers Office The Labour Court
How Startups are cheating their employees?
How Funded Startups are cheating artisans, labours and employees?
Another BYJUs in the making!
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