Mumbai, India — The tech industry is abuzz this week following revelations about Indian software engineer Soham Parekh, who is reportedly balancing multiple jobs at various startups. The controversy ignited when Suhail Doshi, founder of Playground AI, publicly accused Parekh of juggling roles across three to four companies, sparking a flurry of reactions from other founders who shared their own experiences with him.
On a recent episode of the podcast “TBPN,” Parekh confirmed the claims, openly discussing the pressures that led him to take on such an extensive workload. He described himself as a “serial non-sleeper” and emphasized that he did not utilize junior engineers or artificial intelligence to manage his tasks. “I want to preface by saying that I’m not proud of what I’ve done. This is not something I endorse either,” he remarked, acknowledging the extreme hours he logged out of necessity due to financial circumstances.
The situation began when Doshi made his accusations on social media, warning others in the tech community about Parekh’s alleged moonlighting. The post caught fire, leading to a wave of responses from various founders who confirmed having hired or interviewed Parekh. Many expressed disappointment upon discovering his multiple commitments.
Igor Zalutski, CEO of Digger, remarked on Parekh’s impressive skills, noting that he had passed interviews with exceptional marks. However, the company ultimately halted his hiring process due to issues uncovered during a background check. “He’s genuinely a brilliant engineer,” Zalutski stated, highlighting that Parekh belongs to an elite group of technical problem solvers.
Others shared less favorable experiences. Kevin Wu, the CEO of Leaping AI, indicated that Parekh was let go for underperformance and for being concurrently employed by different organizations. A spokesperson for Synthesia confirmed Parekh’s brief tenure with them, linking his departure to concerns about his commitment to multiple roles.
Despite the rising controversies, it’s important to note that working for multiple employers simultaneously is not illegal in California, where many of these startups are based. The implications of such employment practices raise questions about the nature of contemporary work culture, especially as overemployment has become more common during the pandemic, enabling some workers to maximize income through remote job opportunities.
As the tech community reflects on these developments, the conversations have quickly evolved into memes and humorous commentary. Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn’s co-founder, joked about the professional branding of an engineer with such a multifaceted career. Others chimed in with their satirical takes, illustrating the broader concern regarding rampant overemployment in the sector.
Technology leaders are now pondering the implications of this phenomenon. Venture capitalist Deedy Das remarked that many others could be operating under similar circumstances, suggesting that as long as employment contracts permit it, overemployment may not necessarily be problematic.
As the industry grapples with the ramifications of this revelation, the narrative around balancing multiple tech jobs may have permanently shifted, igniting discussions about ethics, transparency, and the evolving landscape of workplaces in the digital age.