Silicon Valley Startups Scammed by Software Engineer Holding Multiple Jobs

Soham Parekh, a software engineer, has admitted to holding multiple jobs simultaneously across various Silicon Valley startups, earning salary offers as high as $200,000 per year. The revelation came after a viral post by Suhail Doshi, co-founder and former CEO of a tech company, accused Parekh of scamming multiple startups. According to startup founders, Parekh excelled in early interviews, secured high-paying positions, and then disappeared when work began. He provided creative excuses for his poor performance, including drone strikes and visa issues, before vanishing. At least 10 companies reportedly hired and subsequently fired him for lying and underperforming.

Parekh's saga began when Doshi issued a warning on social media, detailing Parekh's deceptive practices. The post quickly garnered responses from other founders who shared similar experiences. Parekh's resume, which listed multiple companies and a master's degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, was found to be fraudulent. The institute confirmed that there was no record of Parekh's enrollment. In an interview, Parekh admitted to holding multiple jobs, citing financial hardship as his motivation. He claimed that he was forced to work 140 hours a week out of necessity.

Arkadiy Telegin, co-founder of an AI startup, was impressed by Parekh during the interview process and offered him a salary ranging from $160,000 to $200,000 per year, along with equity. However, Parekh's performance was subpar, and he provided various excuses for his lack of productivity. Telegin eventually realized that Parekh was working for multiple companies simultaneously. Another founder, Marcus Lowe, hired Parekh as an independent contractor but terminated him after he failed to deliver on his promises. Lowe discovered that Parekh was committing code to another startup while supposedly working for him.

The incident highlights the challenges startups face in the competitive tech hiring market. With big tech companies offering high salaries, startups struggle to attract and retain top talent. The situation also underscores the importance of thorough background checks and verification of credentials during the hiring process. Parekh's actions have raised concerns about the integrity of job applicants and the need for more stringent hiring practices in the tech industry.