Startup Porn is Killing Dreams: The Dirty Truth About Entrepreneurship

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• The Glamorized Hustle: Digital Nomads Selling Lies
• The Hard Truth: Entrepreneurship is Brutal
• “It’s Like a Cult”: Fanaticism in Startup Culture
• The Mental Health Fallout
• Entrepreneurship Isn’t for Everyone
• Conclusion: The Death of the Startup Dream

Introduction

Let’s talk about ‘startup porn’—the glamorous, glossy portrayal of entrepreneurship that has consumed social media feeds, blog posts, and podcasts everywhere 🙄. The notion that anyone can just “hack it” with a few clever tricks, raise millions in VC money, and live the digital nomad life in Bali with endless success stories. Here’s the reality: it’s far from the truth!

The problem with ‘startup porn’ is that it has led countless aspiring founders down a rabbit hole of disillusionment and despair. The reality? Most of these people fail. Miserably. And yet, the myth persists that building a successful startup is as easy as following a thread of “simple steps” offered by those same influencers who have never actually built anything worthwhile.

I came across a post on Hacker News titled “I’m done. I give up,” and it perfectly sums up this frustration. Here’s the thing: it’s not that these people lack the drive or intelligence to succeed; it’s that they’ve been sold a false dream. Startup porn is the problem.

The Glamorized Hustle: Digital Nomads Selling Lies

One user, wakana, described trying three different startups, working tirelessly to gain traction—yet nothing stuck. No paying customers, no real growth, and certainly no meteoric rise to stardom. The nail in the coffin? Constantly seeing digital nomad influencers on Twitter, parading their distorted, rosy version of success. The ones who claim that all it takes to build a thriving business is the right mindset, a good coffee shop, and a Twitter thread filled with “hacks.”

It’s everywhere:

“Want to build a $100K MRR SaaS startup in 90 days? Here’s how I did it!”

“Escape the 9-to-5! Travel the world while building a 7-figure startup!”

“Get rich with a side hustle!”

These influencers often play into your challenges and self-doubt, reinforcing the idea that if you’re not successful, it’s because you’re not putting in enough effort—or perhaps that you’re simply not suited for it.

The Hard Truth: Entrepreneurship is Brutal

I know this from personal experience. After 10 years of being an ‘Angel Investor’ and attempting my own startup, I’ve realized that entrepreneurship is one of the hardest things you can do. It’s not some game you can “hack” for quick results. The hours are brutal, the mental toll is severe, and for many, success is elusive. Many startups implode not because the idea was bad, but because the founders themselves couldn’t handle the pressure or manage their personal life.

You have to manage yourself before you can manage a company. So many founders I’ve seen over the years just wanted the glamourous life, being a “digital nomad” while they casually burned through investor money. It doesn’t work that way.

Here’s what’s often ignored in the glossy narratives:

If this upsets you, good—because you need to wake up. Entrepreneurship isn’t a shortcut to freedom. It’s a profession like any other, and it takes dedication, learning, and hard-earned experience to master it.

“It’s Like a Cult”: Fanaticism in Startup Culture

Another commenter on Hacker News, rapidn, described the entrepreneurial grind as a kind of fanaticism—a religion of self where failure is constant, hours are long, and balance is non-existent. And they have a point. Startup culture can sometimes feel like a movement, with certain influencers championing its ideals. They often tap into your aspirations, which can sometimes lead to a cycle of exhaustion and frustration.

It’s not just tech startups, either. Every industry has its version of startup porn:

• Real estate gurus teaching you how to flip houses for millions.
• Crypto bros preaching how anyone can get rich in the digital gold rush.

They’re selling the dream because selling dreams is profitable—more profitable than the businesses they claim to have built.

The Mental Health Fallout

What’s worse is the mental health fallout from chasing these impossible standards. Wakana mentioned being institutionalized after their startup failures. The pressure to “succeed” in the eyes of social media or to live up to the hype of startup porn can push people to their breaking point. And yet, no one talks about it. Instead, the narrative keeps looping: “Just hustle harder,” “You can do it!” But at what cost?

For many entrepreneurs, the cost is their mental health, relationships, and sometimes even their physical well-being. It’s time we stop glorifying the hustle and start acknowledging the toll it takes. If you’re struggling, know this: It’s okay to quit.

Entrepreneurship Isn’t for Everyone

Here’s the truth nobody wants to tell you: Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone. Just because you’ve got an idea doesn’t mean you’re cut out to run a business. And that’s okay! There’s no shame in realizing that maybe this path isn’t for you. It’s far better to bow out early than to burn out completely.

But if you’re determined to go forward, understand this: It’s going to be hard. You’re going to face failure—possibly more than once. You’re going to struggle, question yourself, and want to quit. But if you’re prepared for that, and if you’re doing it for the right reasons (not just to live the digital nomad life), then you might have a shot. Just don’t expect it to come easy.

Conclusion: The Death of the Startup Dream

So let’s kill the startup porn dream once and for all. Let’s acknowledge the harsh reality that building a business isn’t a glamorous, Instagram-worthy journey. It’s tough. It’s messy. It’s not for everyone. And if that sounds harsh, it’s because it is.

Wake up. Entrepreneurship isn’t a hackable game. It’s a serious profession, and it’s time we start treating it like one.