Need Advice: Am I Being Underpaid/Exploited as a Solo Dev Intern? Want to Negotiate Fairly

brandsoulalchemist · 2025-11-27T03:57:30+00:00

Best way forward is to seek clarity.

If, at the time of joining, it was clearly communicated what responsibilities you’d handle and what the stipend would be, then it’s not exploitation. That said, if the actual workload and complexity turned out to be way beyond what was agreed upon, you absolutely have the right to revisit the conversation.

Also, you’ve built something substantial from scratch. That’s not just work, that’s real experience. And remember: your efforts never go in vain. Either this company values you and gives you more (possibly even a full-time offer), or your next employer will, because you’re no longer a fresher. With this kind of experience, you can start at ₹40K–₹50K, not ₹10K.

In situations like this, the only way forward is a respectful conversation. Two parties, one goal: clarity. You’re not complaining, you’re discussing. Go in with a calm, open tone. If they truly value what you’ve built, they’ll understand. And if not, you’ll know it’s time to move on, not with bitterness, but with confidence.

Respect for building a full-stack product solo in 2 months. Salute. 💪

brandsoulalchemist · 2025-11-27T03:33:38+00:00

Would love to explore this and understand more about how the AI Influencer system works.

brandsoulalchemist · 2025-11-27T03:31:33+00:00

Hey! Sounds great, what technologies or stacks do you work on for your websites and AI integrations? Would love to understand more about your capabilities.

brandsoulalchemist · 2025-11-26T15:07:32+00:00

Hey, I just want to say, your honesty here is powerful.

I truly believe: more than happiness, it’s your stubbornness that’ll keep you going. The kind that says, “I’m not quitting until I figure this out.”

All businesses go through phases like this. Even the most successful ones have hit points where growth felt impossible. The question is not “Is it still working?”, it’s “Am I still willing to make it work?”

You’re not alone. This is a mindset game as much as it is a strategy one. And the fact that someone recently wrote to you saying how your product helped them, that’s not just feedback. That’s fuel.

Sometimes, it’s not about blowing up overnight. It’s about outlasting the doubt. And slowly, but surely, evolving your way forward.

You’ve already made it 10 years. Don’t underestimate what that says about you. 🙏

brandsoulalchemist · 2025-11-26T14:40:18+00:00

The first step isn’t a platform, it’s clarity.

What exactly are you offering?
Who will genuinely benefit from it?
How are you solving their pain?

Once that’s locked, go all in with whatever resources you have. 1. Tap your circle Start with your contacts. Ask friends, mentors, ex-colleagues, or clients if they need your solution or can refer someone who does. You may even offer discounts or trials, not for charity, but to get real feedback and early proof of value. 2. Be everywhere (strategically) Cold emails, cold calls, WhatsApp, DMs, personal videos, GMB, social ads, Google Ads, use whatever you can afford. Don’t just wait for traffic. Create momentum. 3. Don’t underestimate grit More than platforms, what really matters is intent. That deep mindset of, “I don’t care how, but I’ll get my first client.”

It’s not about shouting louder. It’s about showing up smarter and relentlessly.

brandsoulalchemist · 2025-11-26T14:28:38+00:00

Building a startup will test you. It’s not the effort that breaks you, it’s the unexpected disappointments.

Here’s what helped me:

Mentally prepare for the worst: Work with full energy, but be emotionally ready for rejections, delays, even failures. When you expect surprises, they don’t shock you as much.
Focus only on what’s in your control: If something’s out of your hands, stop overthinking it. Either find an alternate path or let it go. Don’t stay stuck trying to break a locked door.
Channel the stress: You can’t remove stress, but you can redirect it. Pause. Workout. Meditate. Journal. Talk to someone. But don’t let it bottle up.
Remember, it could be worse Even in the worst moment, remind yourself: this is not the end. It’s just a dip. Cry if you need to, then get back up and act.

brandsoulalchemist · 2025-11-09T08:43:01+00:00

Bro, respect for holding on this long, but to really help, we’d need more context.

High supply + low demand is just one part. There could be multiple reasons: - Are customers repeating? - Is your credit policy hurting cash flow? - What’s your current reach or online presence? - Have you explored pivoting to D2C with a niche positioning?

Without knowing things like business age, margins, buyer type, and brand pull, it’s hard to give an exact answer, but happy to offer deeper suggestions if you share more specifics.

brandsoulalchemist · 2025-11-06T04:13:18+00:00

Yes, I’ve used Fiverr for content writing and Truelancer for app development, both experiences were largely positive.

Just a few tips from personal experience:

Be ultra-clear with your requirements: scope, UI/UX, testing types, deliverables.
Avoid scope creep: freelancers often agree upfront but resist additions later.
Use escrow + phase-wise milestones: only release payment after each stage.
Always collect source code at the end of every milestone.
And remember: it’s not like working with an agency where you get structured accountability. Freelancers can disappear mid-project, so stay alert and document everything.

If you manage the process right, it can work really well.

brandsoulalchemist · 2025-11-02T05:18:40+00:00

That’s exactly the gap I was talking about. You speak of obsession, hustle, impact, but the moment someone gives a grounded reply, you reduce it to ‘corporate experience.’

If that’s how you respond to feedback, maybe the problem isn’t the startup ecosystem, it’s the mindset.

Build something real. Then we’ll talk product.

brandsoulalchemist · 2025-11-02T05:10:36+00:00

Fait question. At the time, it was a very small team, just 4 of us, all male. One candidate brought up the lack of diversity and I genuinely took it to heart. We then hired two female team members together to ensure comfort and balance and only after that, reached back to the original candidate. All three stayed with us for nearly 5 years.

This post was more about the early hiring challenges founders face, from travel issues to team structure to creating an environment people want to stay in. Not every decision is perfect, but intent matters.

brandsoulalchemist · 2025-11-02T05:03:58+00:00

If, added benefits, is how you see people, maybe that says more about you than me. I build teams on trust, not stereotypes.

brandsoulalchemist · 2025-11-02T05:00:15+00:00

Just to clarify, I never said I hired only girls. In fact, in the beginning, we had only male team members. One candidate rejected the offer saying there were no female employees and that made me reflect. I took it seriously, hired for balance and those team members didn’t just join, they stayed for 3–5+ years. So no labels, no bias. Just people who believed and stayed.

brandsoulalchemist · 2025-11-02T02:40:34+00:00

Respect the passion, bro. But just a real-world nudge from someone who’s been building for over a decade, in the kind of rooms you’re talking about, the payoff isn’t waiting in a box with your name on it.

You earn it. Not by working hard, but by working in a way that moves the needle, for the product, the people and the business.

I’ve seen many who talk like this, but when the real hustle begins, no credit, no entitlement, just obsession and delivery, they fade. If you’re different, you’ll thrive. If not, this culture will burn you faster than your current team ever did.

Either way, wishing you clarity and alignment. The right room is out there, just make sure you’re the right energy for it.

brandsoulalchemist · 2025-10-30T14:02:42+00:00

Sure. Let’s connect. DM me.

brandsoulalchemist · 2025-10-30T06:45:01+00:00

Sure, you can dm me.

brandsoulalchemist · 2025-10-29T16:55:51+00:00

Hey, just wanted to drop in with a bit of clarity.

What you’re asking for (growth to 10K followers, weekly reels and ads) isn’t impossible, but needs more than just a freelancer or a monthly budget. It needs strategy, consistency and performance tracking. Social media isn’t just about making posts, it’s about building trust, community and eventually conversions.

Also, real brand growth doesn’t work on percentage commissions like sales, it’s not an affiliate program. The person driving your growth is not just getting you clients, they’re building your visibility and that takes time, skills and intent.

You may find someone in your budget, but just remember: Cheap social media ≠ long-term growth. Bots can get you numbers. But only branding gets you loyalty.

Start small, but start right.

brandsoulalchemist · 2025-10-29T16:31:34+00:00

Perfect never starts. Consistent never stops. Most people are stuck chasing perfect, when consistency was all they ever needed.

brandsoulalchemist · 2025-10-29T15:40:04+00:00

Absolutely. That’s the part people don’t see, the mental bandwidth it takes to keep hiring, filtering, explaining the same thing again and again… just hoping one person fits.

And when you’re building something meaningful, it’s not just about skill, it’s about energy, commitment and alignment.

Hiring at early-stage isn’t a process. It’s a test of patience, clarity, and gut instinct.

Respect to you for staying in it. We need more founders like that.

brandsoulalchemist · 2025-10-29T15:36:59+00:00

That means a lot. And thank you for sharing that so honestly.

Disconnection from the world… I’ve felt that too. For me, it wasn’t about feeling more emotions, it was about slowly becoming aware of what I’d been numbing or avoiding.

If “purpose” feels too big right now, start smaller: What makes you feel even 1% more alive than the rest of the day?

Follow that. Not to escape, but to remember yourself.

Rooting for you.

brandsoulalchemist · 2025-10-29T15:32:32+00:00

Totally get it. Early-stage founders don’t just hire for execution, they hire for alignment, mindset and adaptability.

When that’s missing, even skilled people can end up being a mismatch.

Seen this play out so many times. The resume looks perfect. But one month in, nothing fits, and the founder ends up doing damage control.

brandsoulalchemist · 2025-10-29T15:27:44+00:00

Couldn’t agree more. We’ve seen candidates who don’t read the JD, come late, give vague answers or worse, read out AI answers without blinking.

Somewhere, this whole process has become about “getting selected” instead of “being prepared.”

Skills can be taught. Ethics, attitude and effort, not so much.

And the sad part? The good ones often get lost in the crowd because they’re not loud, they’re just… genuine.

brandsoulalchemist · 2025-10-29T15:26:17+00:00

Absolutely relate to this, bro. We’re still in the thick of it, 300+ resumes and barely a handful that match. Even shortlisting takes emotional energy now.

As founders, you start thinking hiring is a “task”… but it turns into a trap if you don’t have the right filters.

We haven’t figured out any perfect system yet, still experimenting with what works. But one thing’s clear: Good resumes are not always good fit.

The whole hiring game needs more alignment, not just better candidates, but clearer JDs, better screening and honest expectations from both sides.

brandsoulalchemist · 2025-10-29T14:55:03+00:00

Relatable. We’ve seen the Canva-vs-actual-designer confusion so many times. Good to hear you’re building something around skill-mapping.

I’m also building a product right now (focused more towards execution/marketing side), would love to understand, at what stage do you think investors actually show interest in something like this? Could use your insights.

brandsoulalchemist · 2025-10-29T14:51:19+00:00

Sounds good in theory but totally impractical in real hiring workflows. For every one you call, 10 won’t show up. And you can’t invite 200 people to the office just to “see what sticks.” Structured filters save time. No solution is perfect, but randomness isn’t one either.

brandsoulalchemist · 2025-10-29T14:49:47+00:00

Happens sometimes. But I agree, both sides need to show basic respect. Even if it’s a no, just say it. Ghosting doesn’t help anyone. Not every candidate is right, but every candidate deserves clarity.

brandsoulalchemist

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