A US-based AI founder has accused Indian software engineer Soham Parekh of moonlighting across several startups under false pretenses. Suhail Doshi, co-founder of Mixpanel and Playground AI, called Parekh a “scammer” in a viral post on X, alleging that he worked at 3–4 companies simultaneously. Doshi claims Parekh briefly worked at one of his firms before being fired in the first week. Despite being warned, Parekh allegedly continued the behavior, deceiving early-stage startups and hurting small teams. Doshi even shared Parekh’s resume, stating that most of it appears fake, and warned other tech founders to stay cautious.
Industry Reacts as Founders Confirm Pattern
Following Doshi’s post, multiple startup founders came forward confirming similar experiences with Parekh. Nicolai Ouporov of Fleet AI said Parekh “works at more than four startups at a time.” Justin Harvey of AIVideo added, “I was this close to hiring him. He crushed the interview.” Another founder, Adish Jain, called him a “liar” who wasted their time. Michelle Lim, who had scheduled a work trial with Parekh, cancelled it after seeing the post. Doshi emphasized that the issue wasn’t performance under pressure but dishonesty, claiming Parekh lied repeatedly and didn’t deliver.
Despite clear red flags, he continued applying and accepting roles at high-growth companies, particularly those in the YC ecosystem. Some questioned whether moonlighting was truly wrong if tasks were completed. Doshi responded firmly, “Gets nothing done. Made up constant lies. Corroborated by 6+ other companies.” He explained that he wanted to ensure that people learn to be cautious so that the same trend does not occur again. Moonlighting is not necessarily a bad thing, but dishonesty about availability and deliverables is suicidal at an early stage for a team that depends on trust, clarity, and commitment.
Ethics of Moonlighting in the AI Startup Era
The post sparked a heated discussion about ethics in remote-first startups, especially in AI. In a fast-moving space where hiring is global and timelines are tight, moonlighting without disclosure can tank entire roadmaps. Critics of Doshi argued that if deliverables were met, multiple jobs shouldn’t be an issue. But founders say that’s a false equivalence; what’s being criticized here is the deceit, not just the workload. With startups operating on lean budgets, a single dishonest hire can derail product timelines, delay launches, and hurt investors. confidence.
As more AI startups scale with distributed teams, these stories underscore the urgent need for tighter vetting, contract clarity, and better cultural alignment across borders. The case also surfaces a broader shift: the AI boom is creating high-demand roles but also opening doors to exploitation on both sides. Tech founders are calling for more shared references, tighter onboarding, and background verification, even in remote hiring. For founders building in sensitive areas like generative AI, fraud isn’t just a productivity issue; it’s a risk to IP, credibility, and growth. Moonlighting may remain a gray zone, but intentional deception, especially at scale, is a red flag for any serious startup.
A Warning and a Reckoning
Doshi ended his thread with a blunt warning: “No more excuses.” His posts have since gone viral, surfacing even more founders who shared similar run-ins with Parekh. While debate rages over moonlighting ethics, one thing is clear: transparency in hiring matters more than ever. Startups move fast, but trust moves faster. In the era of distributed AI talent, founders are tightening their screening processes, and this case may serve as a wake-up call. Whether this leads to broader reforms in remote hiring or not, the industry now has one more cautionary tale to learn from.
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