**The Spy Who Came to Deel: Corporate Espionage Allegations Send Shockwaves Through Silicon Valley**
You know the saying “keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.” Well, it seems like Deel, a startup in the HR and payroll space, took that saying a little too seriously. According to reports, the Department of Justice is investigating Deel for allegedly hiring a company spy to snoop on its biggest rival, Rippling.
**The Juiciest Spy Story Ever**
In a statement to TechCrunch, Deel denies any wrongdoing, claiming it’s “not aware of any investigation” and will cooperate with authorities if needed. But we’re not buying it. The allegations are just too wild. Rippling sued Deel in June, alleging that Deel hired a company spy to infiltrate their ranks. The spy, a Rippling employee, was caught in a sting operation and confessed to being a paid spy for Deel in an Irish court. He testified that he gave Deel executives access to sensitive info, including sales leads, product roadmaps, and customer account data.
**The Spy Who Loved Deel**
But that’s not all. The spy also alleged that Deel had him under surveillance, and that his family was living in fear because they thought Deel’s goons were following them. Deel initially denied this, but later admitted to hiring surveillance. Yeah, because that’s not creepy at all.
**The Spy’s Payday**
Things got even juicier when Rippling obtained bank records that showed Deel transferring funds to the spy’s account. The records also revealed that the money came from Deel’s COO’s spouse. Talk about a family affair.
**The Battle for Corporate Supremacy**
The two companies are going head-to-head in court, with each side making allegations of corporate espionage and misconduct. Rippling has hired Alex Spiro, a high-powered lawyer with a long list of celebrity clients, while Deel has brought in William Frentzen, a former US Attorney with a white-collar defense team.
**Funding Rounds Continue Unabated**
Despite the drama, investors are still backing both companies. Deel recently raised $300 million at a $17.3 billion valuation, while Rippling raised $450 million at a $16.8 billion valuation. Guess all that corporate espionage didn’t slow down the funding after all.
**It’s Like a Novel**
This whole saga is like something out of a John Grisham novel, with a dash of “Succession” thrown in for good measure. Who knew corporate espionage could be so exciting?
**Source:** [The Wall Street Journal](https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/justice-department-opens-criminal-probe-into-silicon-valley-spy-allegations-9afe1eec?mod=hp_lead_pos6)
