🧨 Before You Judge Us: A Note from the Founder of 16VC

16VC

Jul 01, 2025

Yes, this is the real 16VC.

And yes — we know what Google shows you.

From Reddit threads to media articles, a lot has been said about us.

So instead of letting headlines define us, here’s the full story — directly from the founder.

🧠 Who We Are

16VC backs bold founders building the future of AI & Tech.

We’re a newly launched venture capital fund with $20M AUM, investing globally at the Pre-Seed and Seed stages.

🚀 Fund Snapshot

Detail Info Registered 2025 (UK-based) Fund Size $20M AUM Stage Pre-Seed / Seed Cheque Size $250K – $2M Focus Agnostic – AI, Infra, SaaS, Tools Status Actively investing (2025)

🛤️ My Journey: From Healthtech to Venture Capital

I’m Sridhar Arunagiri, founder and general partner of 16VC.

My background isn’t in finance or big VC firms — it’s in healthcare.

In 2020, I founded Famwork, a healthcare EHR startup during the pandemic.
I worked directly with doctors, clinics, and health systems — solving real operational issues.
Over time, I gained the trust of doctors and health professionals who later backed me as LPs when I moved into venture investing.

By 2022, I had formed an angel investing group.

By 2024, that evolved into a formal venture capital fund, and in 2025, 16VC launched with $20M AUM.

This journey wasn't institutional — it was built on trust and track record with real operators and professionals.

⚠️ Why the Backlash Happened (2024–2025)

You may have seen headlines or Reddit posts calling 16VC a “scam” or criticizing our hiring. Here's what really happened — no spin.

🔥 The “Unpaid Jobs” Controversy (Early 2025)

In January 2025, I posted several open roles at 16VC.

These included a 1-month unpaid trial period, after which performance-based offers would follow.

The intention: fast learning, real collaboration, early-stage experience.
The reaction: “This is exploitation.”

The backlash was loud — and justified.

📰 National coverage:

We removed the roles. We stopped all unpaid trials. And we took responsibility.

🇩🇪 The Berlin Studio & Visa Issue (Late 2024)

We also attempted to launch a Berlin-based product studio, hiring remote-first talent with plans to relocate.

We hired engineers and operators globally.
Visa logistics were handled by third-party immigration consultants.
Candidates paid their own visa processing fees.
Due to visa delays and EU waitlists, the relocation failed.
The Berlin studio was shut down.

Reddit painted it as a scam.
We never charged anyone for a job — but our execution created confusion and real damage.

🔗 Reddit Discussions & Controversy Threads

Here are the public discussions where we were criticized — and why:

We understand the frustration. And while we may not agree with all interpretations, we accept the outcomes and have made structural changes since.

🧠 What We’ve Learned

No unpaid trials. Ever again.
International hiring must include full visa sponsorship and support — not just good intentions.
Founders are responsible for every outcome tied to their name.
Transparency is a must — before things go wrong, not after.