Soham Parekh news: Amid widespread online criticism, Soham Parekh, the Indian software developer accused of secretly working for multiple US startups at once, has found an unlikely supporter — Conor Brennan-Burke, founder of AI company HyperSpell, who has extended a job offer to him.
Parekh was recently named by several US tech CEOs, including Mixpanel and Playground AI co-founder Suhail Doshi, for allegedly moonlighting at 3–4 startups simultaneously, raising serious questions about integrity and trust in remote hiring. Doshi issued a public service announcement on X (formerly Twitter), cautioning fellow founders about hiring Parekh, who, he claimed, was “preying on YC companies.”
While most of the internet has been critical of Parekh’s actions, Brennan-Burke took a different stance. In a post defending his offer, he said, “He’s definitely learned his lesson now and is going to work insanely hard to prove everyone wrong. Massive opportunity to bring on top talent with a chip on their shoulder.”
Brennan-Burke also shared the email he sent to Parekh, inviting him to join HyperSpell as an engineer. “Hi Soham, Saw that you’ve worked with quite a few successful startups and heard you might be on the market. We’re hiring engineers right now. Let me know if you’re open to a casual chat next week,” read the message.
Posting the email publicly, he added, “Be greedy when others are fearful,” a phrase inspired by Warren Buffett’s famous investing philosophy.
The decision sparked mixed reactions. One user warned Brennan-Burke about hiring “low-integrity people,” but the founder stood firm, responding, “Everybody deserves a second chance. Let’s be part of his redemption arc.”
So far, over six US-based startup leaders have revealed they hired Parekh before discovering his alleged double- or triple-jobbing practices. He has since been let go from those roles.
The controversy highlights growing concerns over moonlighting in the global tech sector — particularly in the post-pandemic remote work era — and the challenges of vetting talent across borders.