Delve allegedly forked an open-source tool and sold it as its own
Compliance startup Delve allegedly sold a forked version of Sim.ai's SimStudio without proper license attribution.
The controversy around Y Combinator-backed compliance startup Delve has intensified with fresh allegations from the anonymous whistleblower 'DeepDelver.' The claim centers on Delve's no-code tool, Pathways, which a prospect recognized as strikingly similar to Sim.ai's open-source agent-building platform, SimStudio. When questioned, Delve reportedly stated it built the tool itself. However, DeepDelver presented evidence suggesting Pathways was actually a forked and modified copy of SimStudio, rebranded and sold without proper attribution to the original developer, a potential violation of the Apache 2.0 license.
Sim.ai's founder and CEO, Emir Karabeg, confirmed to TechCrunch that Delve had no licensing agreement with his company, despite Sim.ai being a Delve customer. Karabeg noted he had previously tried to sell Delve an agreement but was unaware they planned to sell a standalone product based on SimStudio. The irony of a compliance startup potentially violating a software license has fueled significant outcry on social media. In the wake of the allegations, Delve has scrubbed mentions of the Pathways tool from its website, and its media contact address is non-functional. The whistleblower also alleges these actions preceded Delve's $32 million Series A round led by Insight Partners, raising questions about investor due diligence.
- Delve allegedly forked Sim.ai's open-source SimStudio, rebranded it as 'Pathways,' and sold it without a license or attribution.
- Sim.ai CEO confirmed no licensing agreement existed, adding irony as Sim.ai was itself a paying customer of Delve.
- The allegations have led Delve to scrub its website and follow a $32M Series A round from Insight Partners.
Why It Matters
Highlights critical risks around open-source license compliance, investor due diligence, and trust in enterprise SaaS vendors.