Indian IT professional Soham Parekh, who has been at the center of intense social media outrage for purportedly working at various startups simultaneously, has confirmed allegations but firmly dismissed any scamming intent. The scandal went viral after the co-founder of Mixpanel, Suhail Doshi, branded Parekh a “scammer” on Twitter, fueling widespread controversy in the tech community.
In a recent interview with The Business People Network (TBPN), Soham Parekh addressed the allegations and offered his version of the story. When asked if he held multiple jobs simultaneously, Parekh responded directly, “It is true.”
“I’m Not Proud of What I’ve Done”
During the interview, he was queried if he thought that he had broken work contracts or used loopholes in the law to escape breaching the law. He replied by stating, “Honestly, going back to how it started and what the motivations were. You probably know, I would want to preface with saying I’m not proud of what I’ve done. It’s not something I endorse either.”
He explained that his choice was made solely due to economic limitations. “Financial situations. Nobody particularly enjoys working 140 hours a week, but I did it out of need,” Parekh said, claiming that his motive was need, not greed.
Soham Parekh Denies Hiring Others to Do His Work
One of the most contentious assertions going around is that Parekh had made his numerous jobs a business by hiring work from younger developers. Parekh flatly denied this, however, saying, “I wrote every inch of code.”
Background: Mumbai to the US
Parekh also discussed his move from India to the US. Mumbai-born, he had originally wanted to migrate to the United States in 2018 for graduate school but was unable to do so due to financial difficulties. He eventually made the move in 2020.
While there has been backlash against Parekh, numerous individuals online have posted mixed responses—some vilifying his actions, while others sympathized with the pressures immigrants in the tech sector go through.
As arguments about moonlighting and dual employment become louder, Parekh’s tale has once again raised eyebrows about labor legislation, ethics, and economic survival in the world of startups.