Corporate Espionage Hits Top 401(k) Startups in New Allegations
▼ Summary
– Human Interest is suing Guideline for corporate espionage, alleging that employees Brandon and Brian Sterri stole sensitive data while working at Human Interest and shared it with Guideline executives.
– The Sterri brothers allegedly called their operation the “Sterri Takeover” and systematically funneled partnership leads, customer data, and internal strategy documents to Guideline over several months.
– Guideline’s CFO allegedly attempted to pressure Human Interest into dropping the lawsuit by threatening to cancel a potential asset sale related to Guideline’s acquisition by Gusto.
– Guideline denies the allegations, stating they are false and without merit, and is vigorously defending itself in court.
– This lawsuit is part of a broader trend of corporate espionage allegations in the HR software industry, involving other major players like Rippling and Deel.
The world of 401(k) administration and HR software, often seen as a quiet corner of the tech industry, has erupted into a high-stakes legal battle. Fresh allegations of corporate espionage now pit two major players, Human Interest and Guideline, against each other in federal court. The lawsuit details a scheme so bold it has drawn comparisons to a spy thriller, centering on three brothers accused of systematically stealing confidential data.
According to the complaint filed in Utah, brothers Brandon and Brian Sterri, while employed at Human Interest, allegedly operated a plan they called the “Sterri Takeover.” The suit claims they funneled sensitive information, including partnership leads, customer details, and internal strategy documents, directly to executives at Guideline, where their third brother, Eirik, worked. A text message from Brandon stating, “We are going to tear apart HI. It’s going to be the easiest thing to do,” is cited as evidence of their intent.
The operation reportedly unraveled when Brian Sterri, after resigning from Human Interest, asked a former colleague named Castro for a screenshot of the company’s total lead flow data. This information represents the lifeblood of sales operations, detailing all potential client inquiries. Castro’s wary response, “Am i allowed to ask why,” was met with a grinning emoji. She later texted, “I’m down to play dirty for sure but you need to get me a job lol,” to which Brian allegedly promised her a position at Guideline in exchange for the data. When she refused, Brian’s wife, McKenna, reportedly contacted Castro on his behalf.
Human Interest claims the brothers used their company laptops to email confidential files to personal Gmail accounts, bypassing internal security. After being denied by Castro, Brian allegedly approached another employee, Chloe Garza, requesting internal metrics from a Slack channel. She also refused, replying, “Yea so I cannot send you anything HI related.” Brian then commented that another sales representative would be the only person who could provide the information “GDL [Guideline] would want.”
Following emergency meetings at Human Interest to reinforce confidentiality rules, Brian reportedly mocked the effort, texting Castro, “lol Horne using fear tactics lmao. Heard today scared a lot of people.” The complaint suggests this was not just isolated misconduct but a coordinated effort with support from Guideline’s leadership. After Human Interest sent cease-and-desist letters, Eirik Sterri texted his brothers that Guideline’s Senior Vice President of Sales, Andrew Conley, and others were “fired up” and had their backs.
The situation escalated when Guideline’s CFO allegedly delivered an ultimatum connected to its planned acquisition by payroll giant Gusto. Human Interest expressed interest in purchasing some assets Guideline intended to divest, but was reportedly told the acquisition would be called off unless the lawsuit was dropped. Gusto has not commented on the status of the deal.
A Guideline spokesperson stated, “Guideline believes allegations in this lawsuit are false and without merit. We are vigorously defending ourselves and we look forward to presenting the facts and showing that these claims are unfounded.” Human Interest did not respond to requests for comment.
This case unfolds against a backdrop of similar disputes in the HR software sector, where Rippling and Deel are also engaged in litigation over claims of corporate spying. The outcomes carry significant weight for all involved. Human Interest, valued at $1.4 billion with over $700 million in funding from investors like SoftBank and TPG, and Guideline, valued at $1.2 billion with $340 million raised from backers including General Atlantic, now face a legal confrontation that could reshape their competitive standing.
(Source: TechCrunch)