In a scandal that’s shaking the startup world, Indian software engineer Soham Parekh has been accused of secretly working for multiple high-profile startups at the same time, raising serious concerns about hiring integrity in the tech sector.
The story went viral after Playground AI founder Suhail Doshi alleged on July 2, 2025, that Parekh deceived several startups by simultaneously holding jobs while misrepresenting his experience across numerous companies—some of which were backed by Y Combinator.
What Exactly Happened?
Doshi revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that Parekh joined Playground AI, but was fired just a week later when Doshi discovered that he was also employed at three to five other startups concurrently. Following the post, founders of several startups—including Lindy, Antimetal, Fleet AI, Create, and Warp—came forward to share similar experiences.
They allege that:
- Parekh’s resume falsely listed work at well-known startups like Dynamo AI, Union AI, Synthesia, and Alan AI
- He gave excuses to avoid meetings, citing illness or family issues, while allegedly coding for another startup
- Internal investigations revealed GitHub activity and Slack presence pointing to simultaneous full-time roles
Founders Speak Out
Multiple founders have now confirmed that Parekh impressed them during interviews but failed to deliver on the job.
Create’s CEO reported that during a week Parekh claimed to be sick, he was actively pushing code to a competitor’s private GitHub repo. Others noticed a pattern of missed deadlines, evasive communication, and inconsistencies in his employment claims.
The alleged deception wasn’t just limited to resumes—founders say they were misled about his availability, productivity, and prior roles.
Parekh Responds with Regret
In the aftermath, Soham Parekh has acknowledged his actions and expressed regret in private messages shared by Doshi. He admitted to working 140 hours a week across multiple startups due to financial pressure, stating:
“Have I completely sabotaged my career? What can I do to improve my situation? I am also happy to come clean.”
He also insisted that he is now focused on rebuilding his professional life and working with just one startup.
The Debate: Scam or Survival?
While some in the tech community have condemned Parekh’s behavior as unethical and deceptive, others have taken a more empathetic view.
HyperSpell founder Conor Brennan-Burke publicly offered Parekh a potential job opportunity, stating he was looking for “greedy engineers” who can hustle—adding fuel to the debate on startups exploiting talent vs. workers gaming the system.
What’s Next for Soham Parekh?
According to sources, Parekh is now working at Darwin Studios, a startup focused on AI-powered video remixing. The company has confirmed his employment and emphasized a fresh start.
Meanwhile, many founders have called for:
- Stricter background verification for remote hires
- Better contract enforcement regarding exclusivity
- Transparency and ethical standards for engineers and founders alike
Why This Matters
This incident has highlighted vulnerabilities in the startup hiring ecosystem, especially in the age of remote work and gig culture. The Parekh saga serves as a cautionary tale for:
- Startup founders to vet hires thoroughly
- Investors to demand better governance
- Engineers to maintain credibility in a competitive space
The Soham Parekh controversy has exposed a gray area in modern startup culture where desperation, ambition, and deceit can intersect. While Parekh has apologized and found a second chance, the debate continues: Was this tech fraud or a survival tactic in an unforgiving industry?
Only time will tell if trust can be rebuilt—and if the startup world will learn to better protect itself from similar breaches of integrity.
