New corporate espionage claims emerge, centered on two highly valued 401(k) admin startups

Core Viewpoint - The lawsuit filed by Human Interest against Guideline alleges a coordinated corporate espionage scheme involving the Sterri brothers, who are accused of funneling sensitive company information to Guideline while still employed at Human Interest [1][2][10]. Group 1: Allegations of Corporate Espionage - The Sterri brothers, while working as junior inside sales representatives at Human Interest, allegedly shared sensitive intelligence, including partnership leads and customer data, with Guideline [2]. - The operation was reportedly referred to as the "Sterri Takeover," indicating a bold approach to corporate espionage [3]. - The lawsuit claims that the brothers downloaded confidential documents and communicated with Guideline executives, suggesting a systematic infiltration of Human Interest [8][10]. Group 2: Specific Incidents and Requests - Brian Sterri allegedly requested a screenshot of total lead flow, which Human Interest describes as critical information for growth and market penetration [7]. - The complaint details that Brian attempted to persuade a colleague, Castro, to provide sensitive data in exchange for a job at Guideline [7][9]. - After being denied access to the information, Brian continued to reach out to other employees for internal metrics, demonstrating persistent attempts to gather confidential data [9]. Group 3: Involvement of Executives and Broader Implications - Human Interest claims that the espionage was not just the actions of rogue employees but involved executive support from Guideline [10]. - The lawsuit also mentions an alleged ultimatum from Guideline's CFO regarding a potential acquisition deal with Gusto, suggesting possible extortion related to the lawsuit [11]. - The ongoing legal battles in the HR software industry, including those between Rippling and Deel, highlight the competitive and contentious nature of the sector [13][14]. Group 4: Financial Context - Human Interest has raised over $700 million at a valuation of $1.4 billion, while Guideline raised $340 million, reaching a valuation of $1.2 billion in 2021 [14].