Silicon Valley Startups Duped by Developer Who Faked Resume, Worked 4 Jobs Simultaneously

Soham Parekh, a Mumbai-based engineer, allegedly held multiple positions at Silicon Valley startups simultaneously while providing a fabricated resume. Playground AI's founder Suhail Doshi publicly warned the tech community about Parekh after firing him within a week, calling his resume "90% fake. " Founders from companies like Antimetal and Create echoed similar experiences, revealing they quickly discovered Parekh's deceitful practices and let him go. Parekh admitted to working up to 140 hours a week across various startups and cited financial hardship as a reason for his actions, expressing regret over the toll it took on him. Despite his admissions, he announced a new role at Darwin Studios, although both he and the CEO removed the announcement shortly after.

This incident has prompted discussions about the difficulties of verifying candidate qualifications in a fast-paced tech environment. The situation has raised awareness among startup founders about the potential for deception in hiring practices. It serves as a cautionary tale for those navigating the hiring landscape in the startup ecosystem.