Indian-American entrepreneur Vishnu Hari is recovering from a brutal attack in San Francisco even as his co-founder Peggy Wang announced her exit from their AI startup Ego, sparking online criticism.
Hari was assaulted on January 18 while walking home from a corner store. He was struck on the back of the head with a metal pipe in an unprovoked attack, leaving him with a traumatic brain injury. Hari spent two weeks in intensive care and continues to suffer partial blindness in one eye and hearing loss in one ear.
Last week, Wang revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that she left Ego “due to differing visions for the company’s future” and will launch a new AI startup accepted into Y Combinator’s F25 batch. Ego, which creates AI-powered 3D animated characters, is also Y Combinator–backed.
Wang’s announcement triggered backlash, with many accusing her of abandoning Hari during his recovery. Some users described her move as “betrayal,” while others urged people not to harass her.
Responding online, Hari said Wang asked him to sign a non-disparagement clause when she left while he was still healing. He explained he signed it to focus on recovery and rebuilding the company, adding that he holds no ill will and is grateful for the team’s support.
