A Bengaluru-based startup has shaken up traditional hiring norms by offering a ₹1 crore salary package for a full-stack developer, without requiring a college degree or even a résumé. The announcement, created by Indian-origin techie Sudarshan Kamath on X (formerly Twitter), has quickly gone viral, racking up over 3.3 lakh views.
Hiring a cracked full-stack lead at Smallest AI
Salary CTC – 1 Cr
Salary Base – 60 LPA
Salary ESOPs – 40 LPA
Joining – Immediate
Location – Bangalore (Indiranagar)
Experience – 4-5 years minimum
Languages – Next JS, Python, React JS
Work from Office – 5 days a week (slightly…— Sudarshan Kamath (@kamath_sutra) July 7, 2025
Kamath, currently based in Palo Alto, is hiring for a full-stack lead at Smallest AI, a startup located in Indiranagar, Bengaluru. The role offers an annual compensation of ₹1 crore—₹60 lakh as base salary and ₹40 lakh in ESOPs (employee stock options). It’s a full-time, on-site position with a five-day workweek, though the post mentions flexibility in scheduling.
What sets this opportunity apart is the complete departure from conventional hiring filters. There is no requirement for a degree or CV. The only non-neobtainediables are solid skills and proven experience.
Applicants must have 4–5 years of hands-on experience, particularly with Next.js, React.js, and Python. Preference will be given to those who have previously scaled systems from 0 to 100. Importantly, this is a developer role, not a managerial position, and the company expects candidates to be deeply involved in coding and product building.
Interested candidates must sfinish a 100-word self-introduction along with links to their best work to [email protected], with the subject line “Cracked Full Stack Lead.”
Social Media Buzz
The job post has triggered a mix of excitement and critique. While many lauded the progressive approach, some questioned the cost of living versus compensation.
One applyr remarked, “₹3.4 lakh per month is good money for a bachelor, but for someone married, it’s just fine.”
Another quipped, “You stated cracked! I’m in!” while a third pointed out, “It’s a great opportunity, but hybrid should at least be an option.”
By focutilizing purely on talent and capability, Smallest AI’s hiring strategy has ignited a conversation on the future of recruitment and opened doors for self-taught developers to earn large on merit alone.
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