'I'm from India and…': Social media reacts to $29.3-billion California-based AI startup's 'no shoes' policy in office

A California‑based artificial intelligence (AI) startup valued at about $29.3 billion went viral for its unusual office rule that does not allow employees to wear shoes inside the workspace. The company, Cursor, was founded in 2022 by four graduates of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), including Indian‑origin co‑founder Aman Sanger. The post went viral after a tech worker in San Francisco posted a photo showing numerous pairs of shoes left on the floor outside an office door. “Funny that everyone in SF immediately knows which office this is,” wrote Cupertino‑based developer Andre Landgraf on the social media platform X, alongside the image. Cursor is best known for developing an AI‑powered smart code editor that helps programmers write, edit and understand code more quickly. The company has attracted considerable investment and in November 2025 completed a $2.3 billion funding round that brought its valuation to about $29.3 billion.The no‑shoes office trend is getting attention in the tech world, with supporters saying it makes workplaces more relaxed and comfortable. Cursor’s rule has sparked online discussion about office culture and dress codes in modern startups.