Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Co-founder of $2B startup says he was fired for taking LSD at work

Co-founder of $2B startup says he was fired for taking LSD at work

The use of LSD as a creative accelerant and microdosing as a tool to focus has become increasingly popular, particularly in Silicon Valley

The co-founder and former CEO of $2 billion marketing startup Iterable says he was squeezed out of the company for taking LSD on the job.

San Francisco-based Iterable reportedly sent out a memo to staff on Monday announcing that co-founder Justin Zhu was fired for violating company policy, but Zhu told Bloomberg on Tuesday that the board ousted him for taking the psychedelic before a meeting in 2019.

Zhu told Bloomberg he was experimenting by taking a small amount of the psychedelic, or microdosing, to boost his focus. A representative for Iterable did not return the New York Post’s request for comment.

The use of LSD is illegal in the U.S. and the Drug Enforcement Agency classifies it as a Schedule I substance, which also includes marijuana, heroin and ecstasy. But the use of LSD as a creative accelerant and microdosing as a tool to focus has become increasingly popular, particularly in Silicon Valley, where Apple co-founder Steve Jobs spoke openly about his use of the drug.

Zhu, who previously worked at Google and Twitter, co-founded Iterable in 2013 along with Andrew Boni. By Wednesday morning, Iterable had removed Justin Zhu from the leadership team listed on its website and named Andrew Boni CEO.

Boni reportedly said in the memo to staff that Zhu’s not only violated the company’s "policies and values," but his "behavior also undermined the board’s confidence in Justin’s ability to lead the company going forward."

Boni also praised Zhu as a "world-class innovator and creative thinker" whose "vision, creativity and passion will remain a core part of our culture."

The use of LSD as a creative accelerant and microdosing as a tool to focus has become increasingly popular, particularly in Silicon Valley.


Iterable provides marketing services to businesses. It’s rapidly expanded in recent years, making headlines in 2019 when it secured $60 million in funding from investors. Its roster of clients now includes heavyweights like DoorDash, Asics and Zillow, according to its website.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
French Police Probe Suspected Weather-Data Tampering After Unusual Polymarket Bets on Paris Temperatures
CATL Unveils Revolutionary EV Battery Tech: 1000 km Range and 7-Minute Charging Ahead of Beijing Auto Show
Changi Airport: How Singapore Engineered the World’s Most Efficient Travel Experience
Power Dynamics: Apple’s Leadership Shakeup, Geopolitical Risks in the Strait of Hormuz, and Europe's Energy Strategy Amidst Global Challenges
Apple's Leadership Transition: Can New CEO John Ternus Navigate AI Challenges and Geopolitical Pressures?
Italy’s €100K Tax Gambit: Europe’s Soft Power Tax Haven
Budapest latest News Roundup
Travel on all public transport in the Australian state of Victoria will be free in May and then half price for the remainder of this year as the government ramps up help for consumers battling high fuel costs
News Roundup
Microsoft lost 2.5 millions users (French government) to Linux
Privacy Problems in Microsoft Windows OS
News roundup
Hungary's elections
Péter András Magyar and the Strategic Reset of Hungary
Hungary After the Landslide — A Strategic Reset in Europe
The CIA’s Secret Technology That Can Find You by Your Heartbeat Successfully Locates Downed Airman
Operation Europe: Trump Deploys Vance to Hungary to Save the EU
Asian Energy Security Tested as Strait of Hormuz Disruption Threatens Oil Supplies
Iran Sets Three Conditions for Ending Regional War as Diplomatic Efforts Intensify
Iran warns of $200 oil as forces target merchant ships in Gulf
Japan to Release 45 Days of Oil Reserves Amid Iran Conflict
Global Energy Agency Announces Record Release of 400 Million Barrels to Stabilize Oil Markets Amid Hormuz Disruption
U.S. and Israel Intensify Strikes on Iran as Conflict Expands to Lebanon and Gulf States
When the State Replaces the Parent: How Gender Policy Is Redefining Custody and Coercion
Larry Summers, the former U.S. Treasury Secretary, is resigning from Harvard University as fallout continues over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
U.S. stocks ended higher on Wednesday, with the Dow gaining about six-tenths of a percent, the S&P 500 adding eight-tenths of a percent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq climbing roughly one-and-a-quarter percent.
Nvidia posted better than expected results for the January quarter on Wednesday and forecast current quarter revenue above market estimates.
Ukrainian government intensifies pressure on Hungary and Slovakia with oil blockade
Britain’s Channel Crisis: Paying Billions While the Boats Keep Coming
Woman Receives Gift Card for Christmas – Discovers It Is ‘Worth’ 63,000,000,000,000,000 Pounds
United Nations Calls for Global Action Against Disinformation and Hate Speech Online
Tucker Carlson warns of an inevitable clash in Western societies over mass migration
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman praises the rapid progress of Chinese tech companies.
Poland's President Karol Nawrocki ENDS support for Ukrainian citizens:
Italy's PM Giorgia Meloni highlights record employment and economic growth
Chancellor Friedrich Merz Re-elected as CDU Leader, Opposes AfD Influence
Trump Directs Government to Release UFO and Alien Information
Trump Signs Global 10% Tariffs on Imports
UK Government Considers Law to Remove Prince Andrew from Royal Line of Succession
Two teens arrested in France for alleged terror plot.
US Supreme Court Voids Trump’s Emergency Tariff Plan, Reshaping Trade Power and Fiscal Risk
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis advocates for a ban on minors using social media.
Meanwhile in Time Square, NYC One of the most famous landmarks
Jensen Huang just told the story of how Elon Musk became NVIDIA’s very first customer for their powerful AI supercomputer
Former British Prince Andrew Arrested on Suspicion of Misconduct in Public Office
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol Sentenced to Life in Prison for Abuse of Authority
Unitree Robotics founder Wang Xingxing showcases future robot deployment during Spring Festival Gala.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz calls for real name use on social media.
Italian Police Arrest Man After Alleged Attempt to Abduct Toddler at Bergamo Supermarket, Child Hospitalised With Fractured Femur
British Tourist Arrested at Hong Kong Airport After Meltdown and Vandalism
×