Soham Parekh, an Indian software program engineer, has sparked a wave of controversy throughout the US startup ecosystem after being accused of holding jobs at a number of firms concurrently, with out informing his employers. The allegations have been first made public by Playground AI founder Suhail Doshi, who claimed that Parekh labored at 3 to 4 startups without delay whereas misrepresenting his location, expertise, and availability. As extra tech founders got here ahead with comparable tales, the incident rapidly gained traction on-line. What began as a severe dialogue about hiring fraud quickly changed into viral content material, with memes, on-line warnings, and heated debates concerning the state of distant hiring and tech ethics.
Soham Parekh: A number of jobs, one resume
In line with Doshi and different founders, Parekh had been employed at a number of well-known startups together with Alan AI, Synthesia, DynamoAI, Union.ai, and extra, usually with overlapping job intervals. He’s accused of fabricating components of his resume, offering false location particulars, and utilizing a number of identities to safe jobs. In a single case, an organization even shipped a laptop computer to a US deal with, solely to seek out out it had been acquired by somebody claiming to be his sister. Regardless of being let go from some firms, Parekh allegedly continued to use and work for others, exposing main loopholes in the way in which startups rent distant expertise.
From scandal to web phenomenon: The rise of “Soham-gate”
Because the allegations unfolded, Soham Parekh rapidly turned a speaking level throughout tech Twitter, LinkedIn, and startup boards. Founders started sharing screenshots of digital conferences, resume inconsistencies, and conversations with Parekh. Some expressed disbelief at how simply he handed interviews and obtained employed, whereas others used humor to deal with the scenario, turning it right into a meme-fueled phenomenon now dubbed “Soham-gate.” The scandal raised considerations not nearly Parekh’s actions, but additionally concerning the distant work tradition that made such deception potential within the first place. It additionally sparked discussions round transparency, background checks, and industry-wide hiring norms.
Web divided: Moonlighting debate reignites
Whereas many criticized Soham Parekh for unethical habits and deception, others on social media defended him, calling consideration to bigger points like underpayment, burnout, and unrealistic expectations within the startup world. Some customers questioned why working a number of jobs was seen as an issue if deliverables have been met, reigniting the continued debate round moonlighting. Just a few tech professionals argued that facet gigs and even full-time overlap are widespread in distant settings and that the actual drawback lies in poor administration and lack of clear contractual boundaries. In the meantime, critics identified that transparency and honesty are important in any skilled relationship, particularly in early-stage firms the place each function counts.
