Over the past week, social media has been inundated with accounts of Soham Parekh, a software engineer reputed for simultaneously holding multiple roles across Silicon Valley startups without the companies’ knowledge. This article explores who Parekh is, how he managed his multi-faceted career, and why Silicon Valley remains captivated by him.
Origins of Soham Parekh’s Viral Reputation
The narrative began when Suhail Doshi, CEO of image generation startup Playground AI, published a warning on X about Parekh’s concurrent employment at three to four startups, including Y Combinator-backed companies. Doshi revealed he had terminated Parekh’s position approximately a year prior upon discovering his simultaneous engagements and accused him of deceitful practices.
Doshi’s post garnered around 20 million views, prompting other founders to share their experiences. For example, Flo Crivello, CEO of Lindy, hired Parekh recently but dismissed him following Doshi’s revelation. Similarly, Matt Parkhurst, CEO of Antimetal, confirmed Parekh was their first engineering hire in 2022 but was swiftly released upon discovering his moonlighting activities.
Additional reports indicate Parekh also worked at Sync Labs, where he appeared in promotional materials before being let go. He applied to multiple Y Combinator-backed startups, receiving offers and interviews from firms like Pally AI and Mosaic. TechCrunch sought comments from these companies but received no immediate response.
Insights into Parekh’s Interview Performance and Work History
Parekh’s technical prowess was evident across various interviews. Rohan Pandey, founding research engineer at YC-backed Reworkd, noted Parekh ranked among the top three candidates on algorithmic assessments. However, inconsistencies surfaced, such as Parekh claiming to be based in the U.S. while IP tracking located him in India.
Adam Silverman, co-founder of AI agent observability startup Agency, also interviewed Parekh, who impressed technically but insisted on remote work, raising concerns. Roy Lee, CEO of the AI startup Cluely, acknowledged Parekh’s strong React skills but ultimately did not hire him.
Soham Parekh’s Account of His Multi-Startup Career
On the Technology Brother Podcast Network (TBPN), Parekh admitted to holding multiple jobs concurrently since 2022. He denied employing AI tools or junior engineers to manage his workload, attributing the experience to improved programming skills but also significant personal strain.
Parekh claims to work approximately 140 hours weekly—20 hours daily without breaks—a schedule bordering on the untenable. Financial necessity reportedly motivated his multiple roles, as he deferred graduate studies to sustain income from various startups. Notably, Doshi shared Parekh’s résumé stating he earned a master’s degree from Georgia Institute of Technology.
When questioned why he did not seek a raise from a single employer, Parekh emphasized maintaining a boundary between his professional and personal life. He expressed genuine passion for his roles and their missions but acknowledged he does not condone his approach.
The Silicon Valley Response and Future Prospects for Parekh
While some label Parekh a scammer, he appears to leverage his viral status strategically. He announced employment at Darwin Studios, an AI video remixing startup, though the announcement and related posts were subsequently removed by both Parekh and the company’s CEO, Sanjit Juneja.
TechCrunch contacted Parekh for an interview, which he has yet to agree to; however, a spokesperson shared a statement from Darwin’s CEO praising Parekh’s engineering talent and contributions. This situation echoes recent Silicon Valley trends where controversial viral moments have been transformed into business opportunities, as exemplified by Cluely’s successful $15 million seed funding round from Andreessen Horowitz.
Whether Parekh will convert this notoriety into a prosperous venture remains to be seen.