Who is Soham Parekh, and Why Do Silicon Valley Startups Keep Hiring Him?
Soham Parekh has become an unexpected online sensation, not for launching the next big startup, but for juggling multiple full-time jobs at once—without his employers’ knowledge. The focus keyword Soham Parekh has been trending across tech forums and social platforms after several Silicon Valley founders revealed being deceived by his strategic moonlighting. So, who is this elusive software engineer, and why do some of the world’s most competitive startups keep falling for him? Whether you’re a hiring manager, a founder, or simply intrigued by this bizarre tech story, this deep dive answers everything you need to know about Soham Parekh’s tactics, impact, and the reasons behind his surprising allure in Silicon Valley’s cutthroat hiring ecosystem.
Image Credits:Bill Hinton/ Getty Images
How Soham Parekh’s Moonlighting Became a Silicon Valley Cautionary Tale
The story erupted after Suhail Doshi, CEO of Playground AI, posted a public service announcement on X (formerly Twitter) alerting fellow founders to Soham Parekh’s ongoing deception. According to Doshi, Parekh—who is based in India—was terminated from Playground AI nearly a year ago for secretly working other jobs while employed full-time. Doshi’s tweet, which quickly amassed 20 million views, accused Parekh of preying on early-stage startups, particularly those from Y Combinator (YC), with exaggerated availability and dishonest commitments.
Once the initial post gained traction, other tech leaders began sharing similar experiences. Flo Crivello, CEO of Lindy AI, said he had recently hired Parekh only to let him go shortly after Doshi’s warning. The sheer number of founders with similar tales painted a pattern: Parekh often applied for remote roles, passed technical interviews with ease, and then used that credibility to maintain multiple roles simultaneously, often without raising suspicion for months.
Why Startups Keep Hiring Soham Parekh Despite the Warnings
Despite being exposed multiple times, Soham Parekh still manages to land jobs at high-profile startups. How is that possible in an age of background checks, LinkedIn scrutiny, and internal referrals? The answer lies in a combination of factors that reveal deeper issues in tech hiring. First, Parekh is reportedly a highly capable software engineer, particularly in backend systems and AI-related tools. Founders desperate to ship quickly or hit product deadlines often make hiring decisions in days—sometimes hours—without digging too deeply into a candidate’s employment history.
Moreover, the remote work culture has created new blind spots. Asynchronous communication, overlapping time zones, and distributed teams make it easy for someone like Parekh to manage overlapping commitments. Most of his employers realized something was wrong only after missed meetings, inconsistent progress reports, or conflicting time logs—red flags that are often overlooked in fast-paced startup environments. Ironically, his ability to secure roles at YC-funded companies has continued to give him credibility with other startups, creating a vicious cycle of trust and betrayal.
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