Everyone in tech has an opinion about Soham Parekh
In a world where venture capital raises and successful exits often define a founder’s prestige, a new, unexpected metric has emerged in Silicon Valley: the proximity to a previously unknown Indian software engineer named Soham Parekh. His name has rapidly become a flashpoint, igniting widespread debate, humor, and concern across the tech industry, placing him at the center of an unprecedented online firestorm.
The controversy erupted on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, when Suhail Doshi, former CEO of Mixpanel, took to X (formerly Twitter) to issue a stark warning. “PSA: there’s a guy named Soham Parekh (in India) who works at 3-4 startups at the same time. He’s been preying on YC companies and more. Beware,” Doshi wrote, further adding, “I fired this guy in his first week and told him to stop lying/scamming people. He hasn’t stopped a year later.”
Doshi’s post quickly went viral, garnering over 20 million views and attracting a flood of responses from founders, investors, and tech enthusiasts globally. The immediate aftermath saw at least three founders reportedly reaching out to Doshi, confirming they had either fired or were currently employing Parekh. The situation has been humorously dubbed “soham-gate,” drawing comparisons to figures like Anna Delvey, known for her elaborate deceptions.
This revelation comes at a time when communities like Reddit’s r/overemployed openly discuss strategies for managing multiple remote jobs simultaneously. While the existence of individuals working multiple roles isn’t entirely new, the sheer scale and public exposure of Parekh’s alleged activities have provoked diverse reactions within the tech community, highlighting its often-conflicting moral landscape.
Opinions on Parekh’s actions vary wildly. To some, he’s a rogue hero, a modern-day trickster outsmarting well-funded startups. To others, he’s a dishonest actor who potentially took opportunities from deserving individuals. Many expressed a surprising admiration for his ability to navigate notoriously competitive interview processes, while others suggested he leverage his newfound notoriety to launch his own venture.
Aaron Levie, CEO of Box, quipped on X, “If Soham immediately comes clean and says he was working to train an AI agent for knowledge work, he raises at $100M pre by the weekend.” Similarly, Chris Bakke, founder of Laskie, advised Parekh to embrace his unique skill set: “Soham Parekh needs to start an interview prep company. He’s clearly one of the greatest interviewers of all time.”
Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan used the incident to champion the YC community, stating, “Without the YC community this guy would still be operating and would have maybe never been caught. The startup guild of YC is a necessary invention to help founders be more successful than they would be alone.”
In a live interview with TBPN, Parekh offered his perspective, asserting that his actions were not part of a grand scheme but rather a desperate attempt to escape a dire financial situation. “I really did not think this through,” he admitted. “It was an action that was done more out of desperation.” Notably, he did not address Doshi’s claims regarding the authenticity of his resume. Despite being new to X, Parekh quickly adopted the platform’s culture, even responding to LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman’s query about his LinkedIn header with a witty, “I don’t have a LinkedIn.” His X profile notably features the popular “Flynn Rider unpopular opinion” meme, a seemingly self-aware nod to his controversial status.
The situation has also spawned a wealth of memes and jokes, reflecting the tech community’s unique way of processing events. From “Soham-as-a-Service” to comical takes on venture capitalists finding multiple Soham Parekhs in their portfolio, the internet has had a field day. This saga serves as a compelling, albeit unusual, case study on accountability, remote work dynamics, and the power of social media in shaping reputations within the fast-paced world of technology.
