Who is Soham Parekh? Indian Techie Accused of Moonlighting Scandal Across Multiple US Startups
A Silicon Valley controversy has erupted involving Soham Parekh, an Indian tech professional accused of secretly working for multiple US startups simultaneously without disclosing his concurrent roles.Suhail Doshi, co-founder and former CEO of Mixpanel, brought the issue to light on X, alleging that Parekh deceived several early-stage companies, including Y Combinator-backed startups, by moonlighting at three to four firms at once. “He’s been targeting YC companies and others. Be cautious,” Doshi posted, sharing Parekh’s CV and questioning the authenticity of his work history.
Attempt to intervene failed, says Mixpanel co-founder
Doshi revealed he tried to address the matter privately with Parekh before going public. “I attempted to reason with him, highlight the consequences, and give him a chance to change course, but it didn’t work,” Doshi stated. Responding to queries about the ethics of moonlighting, he clarified that Parekh’s actions went beyond working multiple jobs. “He lied, faked progress, and misled multiple employers,” Doshi wrote, adding that Parekh “accomplished nothing” during his brief time at Mixpanel.
What’s on his CV?
According to the CV shared by Doshi, Parekh earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mumbai and a master’s from Georgia Institute of Technology. His resume includes roles at tech companies such as Dynamo AI, Union AI, Synthesia, and Alan AI, primarily in engineering positions.
Soham Parekh’s reply to the post
Addressing the viral accusations, Parekh took to X, stating, “There’s a lot being said about me, and most don’t know the full story. I love to build—that’s who I am. I’ve been isolated and written off by nearly everyone I’ve worked with, but building is all I know, and I’ll keep doing it.” He announced an exclusive role as a founding engineer at a single company, describing it as a “cracked team” working on a groundbreaking video AI project. “They’re the only ones who bet on me. We’re launching this month, and I’ll share more in my TBPN interview tomorrow,” Parekh added, expressing determination to prove himself.
Internet reacts with memes, ‘Soham-gate’ trends
The controversy exploded online, particularly in India, where “Soham Parekh” trended on Thursday. Social media users flooded platforms with memes, dubbing the saga #SohamGate. The incident has sparked discussions about remote work ethics, trust in startup hiring, and the complexities of moonlighting in the global tech landscape.As of now, Parekh has not issued further responses to the specific allegations.