Technical

Srinivasa Reddy Kandi: YC Startup Delve Faces Fresh Allegations Over Misuse of Open-Source Software

April, 02, 2026-04:06

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YC Startup Delve Faces Fresh Allegations Over Misuse of Open-Source Software:

The controversy surrounding compliance startup Delve has intensified, with new allegations emerging from an anonymous whistleblower known as “DeepDelver.” The latest claim suggests that Delve may have taken an open-source tool and presented it as its own product without proper attribution or licensing agreement.

According to the whistleblower, Delve introduced a no-code platform called Pathways during a pitch. However, DeepDelver noticed strong similarities between Pathways and SimStudio, an open-source agent-building tool developed by Sim.ai. When questioned, Delve reportedly stated that the product was built internally.

DeepDelver later shared what they believe is evidence that Pathways is actually a modified version (or fork) of SimStudio, altered just enough to appear original. If accurate, this could violate the terms of the Apache license, which requires proper credit to the original creators.

While the whistleblower described the situation as “intellectual property theft,” the issue is more nuanced, as open-source software can be used freely—provided licensing rules are followed. The situation is particularly notable given that Delve markets itself as a compliance-focused company.

Sim.ai’s founder and CEO, Emir Karabeg, confirmed that he responded to the whistleblower’s inquiries. He stated that Delve never entered into any licensing agreement with Sim.ai, despite prior awareness of their intended use.

“We knew they planned to use Sim for something and later tried unsuccessfully to establish an agreement,” Karabeg said. “I didn’t realize they intended to sell it as a standalone product.”

Author: Kandi Srinivasa Reddy, Srinivasa Reddy Kandi, #KandiSrinivasaReddy, #SrinivasaReddyKandi