Get our logo tattooed, get a job interview. Seven people took the deal. Then the apology.

LemonLime, a five-person Y Combinator AI startup, brought a tattoo artist to a networking afterparty and offered instant guaranteed interviews to anyone willing to get the company logo permanently inked. Seven attendees said yes. CEO Jordan Zietz framed it as a search for people who are just as crazy as we are. The backlash was immediate: Black Mirror comparisons, accusations of exploiting desperate job seekers, and a widely-shared X post noting the job market cannot be this cooked that kids have to get permanent tattoos to get interviews. Zietz apologised within days, deleted all related posts, and offered to cover tattoo removal costs.