The internet erupted recently over the case of a software engineer accused of simultaneously holding multiple full-time positions at various tech startups. This sensational story ignited widespread debate across the tech industry, shedding light on the complexities of remote work and the growing phenomenon of “overemployment,” where individuals secretly juggle several jobs at once. At least ten different tech companies have publicly stated they recently employed the individual at the center of the storm.
The man is identified as Soham <a href="https://news.quantosei.com/2025/07/04/the-job-juggler-the-tech-world-cant-stop-talking-about-speaks-out/” title=”Overemployment: Secret Tech Job Jugglers Speak Out Now”>parekh, initially presented as an ideal candidate for software engineering roles. However, his suitability was apparently perceived by numerous startups concurrently, leading to a complex web of conflicting employments. This situation quickly unraveled after a prominent figure in the tech community raised the alarm.
Exposure on Social Media
The controversy first gained significant traction through a post on X (formerly Twitter) by Suhail Doshi, the former CEO of analytics startup Mixpanel and founder of Playground AI. Doshi issued a public service announcement, warning fellow tech professionals, particularly those involved with Y Combinator-funded companies, about Parekh. Doshi alleged that Parekh was “preying on” startups by working for three to four companies simultaneously. He further claimed he had fired Parekh from Playground AI a year prior for similar deceptive behavior and had advised him to stop, but Parekh allegedly continued the practice.
Doshi’s initial post went viral, reportedly garnering over 20 million views and triggering a cascade of responses. Numerous other startup founders and tech workers came forward, sharing their own startling experiences with Parekh. Some recounted narrowly avoiding hiring him after seeing Doshi’s warning, while others realized they had recently interviewed him, sometimes giving impressive performances. The rapid spread of these testimonials underscored the immediate impact and widespread nature of Parekh’s alleged activities within the close-knit startup ecosystem.
Accounts from Employers
Several founders corroborated the difficulties encountered after hiring Parekh. Marcus Lowe, founder of the tech startup Create, described Parekh as performing exceptionally well during his in-person interview, even outshining most other candidates. However, as Parekh’s start date approached, a pattern of excuses emerged, citing reasons like illness or family visits for his inability to show up for work. Initially, these excuses seemed plausible.
Suspicion grew when Lowe examined Parekh’s public GitHub profile. He noticed that Parekh had been actively committing code during the weeks he claimed to be unavailable, including while purportedly sick. This observation struck Lowe as peculiar – typically, someone unwell might not be actively coding large amounts. Further investigation by Lowe revealed Parekh was committing code to another company, sync.so. Upon contacting the founder of sync.so, Lowe confirmed that Parekh was indeed working there simultaneously. Parekh’s presence at sync.so was also visible in employee social media posts and videos on the company’s YouTube channel. An employee from sync.so confirmed his employment but declined to be interviewed. Lowe characterized the experience as a significant waste of time and a major distraction for his small startup, calling the behavior “direct immoral behavior.”
Other founders echoed this pattern: Parekh would interview incredibly well but subsequently underperform once hired, presumably strained by juggling multiple commitments. Flo Crivello, CEO of Lindy, fired Parekh the same day he saw Doshi’s tweet, despite Parekh’s impressive interview just a week prior. Matthew Parkhurst, CEO of Antimetal, shared that Parekh was their first engineering hire in 2022 and, despite being “really smart and likable,” his multi-job activity was quickly discovered, leading to his termination. Michelle Lim from Warp also reported canceling a scheduled work trial immediately after seeing Doshi’s public warning.
The Engineer Responds
As the accusations circulated widely, Soham Parekh himself began to give interviews to address the situation. In an interview with the online tech show “TBPN,” Parekh admitted to working at multiple startups concurrently. He stated, “I’m not proud of what I’ve done. That’s not something that I endorse either.” He claimed, however, that his actions were driven by “extremely dire financial circumstances” and necessity, rather than greed or malicious intent. He estimated he was working around 140 hours per week to manage the workload, describing himself as a “serial nonsleeper” who did “nothing outside coding.”
Parekh denied online rumors that he had a team of engineers assisting him or that he used artificial intelligence tools to secure or manage his numerous positions. He indicated he began this practice in 2022, connecting it to financial needs that arose after deferring graduate school plans he had made for 2018 and opting for an online degree instead. In a public discussion on X with Andriy Mulyar, CEO of Nomic AI (another startup Parekh worked for), Parekh stated the maximum number of jobs he held at any single time was four, some reportedly offering six-figure salaries. He estimated his monthly income from this multi-job strategy was between $30,000 and $40,000.
Questions About Credentials
Adding another layer of complexity to the narrative were discrepancies surrounding Parekh’s claimed educational background. A picture of his résumé, shared by Suhail Doshi and confirmed by Marcus Lowe as the one they received, listed attendance at Georgia Tech from September 2020 to May 2022, alongside an impressive history at other AI companies.
However, Suhail Doshi publicly expressed skepticism about the authenticity of these credentials, suggesting they were likely “90% fake” and noting that most linked profiles had disappeared. When contacted by NBC News, a spokesperson for Georgia Tech stated the school had no record of a student by the name of Soham Parekh. This raised further questions about the level of deception involved beyond simply holding multiple jobs.
Broader Implications: Remote Work and Overemployment
The case of Soham Parekh quickly became a focal point for a wider discussion about remote work practices and the ethical challenges they present. With remote positions making it easier for individuals to potentially conceal simultaneous employment, the practice of “moonlighting” or “overemployment” has gained attention.
Data cited in The Wall Street Journal indicates a recent slight increase in the proportion of people in the United States holding multiple jobs, rising from 5.3% to 5.5%. While this statistic includes all types of second jobs (including legitimate part-time work), Parekh’s case highlights the more problematic scenario of secretly holding multiple full-time remote roles and deceiving employers about capacity and commitment. Some commentators, like investor Deedy Das, suggested that Parekh’s case might just be “the tip of the iceberg,” referencing online communities where individuals allegedly discuss and boast about earning significant income through such schemes. The incident underscores the challenges startups face in verifying information and building trust in remote hiring environments. It highlights vulnerabilities in standard hiring processes when candidates are determined to conceal conflicting commitments.
The Aftermath and Moving Forward
Following the public exposure and intense scrutiny, Parekh reflected on the situation via his X account. He stated, “There’s a lot being said about me right now, and most of you don’t know the full story.” He reiterated his passion for building software, stating, “building is the only thing I’ve ever truly known, and it’s what I’ll keep doing.” He also acknowledged feeling “isolated, written off and shut out” by many.
In his interview with “TBPN,” Parekh indicated he has now signed a deal to work for “one company and one company only.” This company is identified as a startup called Darwin. Sanjit Juneja, the founder and CEO of Darwin, provided a statement expressing belief in Parekh’s abilities. Juneja stated, “Soham is an incredibly talented engineer and we believe in his abilities to help bring our products to market,” suggesting that despite the controversy, some companies may still be willing to hire him based on technical skill. However, reports also indicate that Parekh reached out privately to some founders involved in the controversy, asking for advice on how to salvage his career. The willingness of a company like Darwin to hire him after such public exposure suggests a complex intersection of talent assessment, risk tolerance, and the competitive nature of the tech hiring market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Soham Parekh and why did he go viral?
Soham Parekh is a software engineer who went viral after being publicly accused by multiple tech startup founders of secretly working for several companies simultaneously, allegedly deceiving them about his availability and commitments. The allegations gained widespread attention on social media platforms like X, sparking intense debate about ethics in remote work and tech hiring practices.
What motivated Soham Parekh to work multiple jobs simultaneously?
In interviews following the accusations, Soham Parekh stated that his actions were driven by “extremely dire financial circumstances” and necessity. He claimed he was not proud of the practice but felt compelled to do it to improve his financial situation quickly, even working around 140 hours per week to manage the workload across multiple roles.
What does Soham Parekh’s case reveal about remote work hiring?
The case highlights the challenges of verifying credentials and ensuring commitment in remote hiring environments, particularly for early-stage startups with limited resources. It underscores the importance of thorough background checks, vigilance regarding employee activity (like GitHub commits), and the potential for trust to be exploited when physical presence is not required, bringing the issue of “overemployment” or “moonlighting” into sharp focus for the industry.
Conclusion
The viral story of Soham Parekh serves as a cautionary tale for both employees and employers in the rapidly evolving landscape of remote tech work. While Parekh cited financial necessity for his actions, the resulting exposure caused significant disruption and frustration for multiple startups and raised serious questions about professional ethics, trust, and verification in distributed teams. The incident has ignited broader conversations about how companies can better detect and prevent such issues, and what constitutes acceptable conduct when working remotely. As remote and hybrid work models continue to dominate the tech sector, establishing clear expectations, robust verification processes, and fostering a culture of transparency will be crucial to navigating the challenges brought to light by this unusual and widely discussed case.
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