Who is Soham Parekh? The ‘Indian techie' going viral on X and giving US start-up founders a headache

Time of India

4 days ago

Soham Parekh, an Indian software engineer, has sparked a wave of controversy across the US startup ecosystem after being accused of holding jobs at multiple companies simultaneously, without informing his employers.
The allegations were first made public by Playground AI founder Suhail Doshi, who claimed that Parekh worked at 3 to 4 startups at once while misrepresenting his location, experience, and availability. As more tech founders came forward with similar stories, the incident quickly gained traction online. What started as a serious discussion about hiring fraud soon turned into viral content, with memes, online warnings, and heated debates about the state of remote hiring and tech ethics.
Soham Parekh: Multiple jobs, one resume
According to Doshi and other founders, Parekh had been employed at several well-known startups including Alan AI, Synthesia, DynamoAI, Union.ai, and more, often with overlapping job periods. He is accused of fabricating parts of his resume, providing false location details, and using multiple identities to secure jobs. In one case, a company even shipped a laptop to a US address, only to find out it had been received by someone claiming to be his sister.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy
IC Markets
Tìm hiểu thêm
Undo
Despite being let go from some companies, Parekh allegedly continued to apply and work for others, exposing major loopholes in the way startups hire remote talent.
From scandal to internet phenomenon: The rise of 'Soham-gate'
As the allegations unfolded, Soham Parekh quickly became a talking point across tech Twitter, LinkedIn, and startup forums. Founders began sharing screenshots of virtual meetings, resume inconsistencies, and conversations with Parekh. Some expressed disbelief at how easily he passed interviews and got hired, while others used humor to cope with the situation, turning it into a meme-fueled phenomenon now dubbed 'Soham-gate.
' The scandal raised concerns not just about Parekh's actions, but also about the remote work culture that made such deception possible in the first place. It also sparked discussions around transparency, background checks, and industry-wide hiring norms.
Internet divided: Moonlighting debate reignites
While many criticized Soham Parekh for unethical behavior and deception, others on social media defended him, calling attention to larger issues like underpayment, burnout, and unrealistic expectations in the startup world. Some users questioned why working multiple jobs was seen as a problem if deliverables were met, reigniting the ongoing debate around moonlighting. A few tech professionals argued that side gigs and even full-time overlap are common in remote settings and that the real problem lies in poor management and lack of clear contractual boundaries.
Meanwhile, critics pointed out that transparency and honesty are essential in any professional relationship, especially in early-stage companies where every role counts.