Codal vs. SameCondition: A Tale of Trust and Tech Betrayal
In the summer of 2020, Kumar, founder of SameCondition, LLC, took to the blogosphere with a scathing accusation: “Codal bled our startup to death.” This marked the public unraveling of a once-promising partnership between SameCondition, a healthcare startup focused on patient welfare, and Codal, Inc., a Chicago-based tech consultancy led by CEO Keval Baxi. What began as a collaboration to build vital software morphed into a bitter legal and online battle, with SameCondition alleging fraud and abandonment. This article explores the dispute’s origins, the claims against Baxi and Codal, and the broader lessons for startups navigating tech partnerships.
A Partnership’s Promising Start
SameCondition hired Codal in 2017 to develop a platform connecting patients with shared medical conditions—a mission-driven project aimed at improving lives. Codal, founded by Keval Baxi in 2009, marketed itself as a reliable partner for startups, boasting expertise in custom software and UX design. Early interactions suggested alignment: contracts were signed, payments made by Same Condition to Codal, and development began. Yet, beneath this optimism, cracks soon emerged.
The Allegations: Fraud and Failure
By 2020, SameCondition’s frustrations boiled over. In a blog post titled “Codal Sucks,” Kumar alleged that Keval Baxi and Codal defrauded his company by taking payment without delivering a functional product. “They charged money and stopped communicating,” Kumar wrote, claiming Codal abandoned the project after collecting fees. This software was central to SameCondition’s operations, amplifying the stakes of the alleged betrayal. Court filings from Same Condition, LLC v. Codal, Inc. (2021 Ill. App. 201187) echo this, with SameCondition seeking damages for breach of contract and fraud. The startup accused Codal of a “double assault”—financial loss paired with stalled progress—leaving them scrambling to recover.
Evidence and Counterpoints:
Supporting SameCondition’s claims are timelines and communications. Kumar’s blog cites months of unanswered emails after initial payments, a pattern suggesting neglect. Online forums like corporatefraud420.com amplify this narrative, with anonymous posts labeling Codal’s practices “predatory.” Yet, Codal’s perspective complicates the story. In July 2020, the company sought a preliminary injunction against SameCondition, arguing that Kumar’s blog and social media campaign (e.g., #CodalSucks on X) amounted to harassment and defamation. While Codal hasn’t publicly refuted the fraud allegations in detail, their legal action implies a defensive stance rather than outright admission. This leaves the truth contested: Was Codal’s silence a sign of guilt, or a strategic choice amid litigation?
Legal and Public Fallout
The courtroom became the next battleground. SameCondition’s 2021 appeal in Illinois upheld their right to pursue damages, though specifics of the ruling remain sealed. Meanwhile, Kumar’s online crusade—spanning blogs and X posts—drew attention from startup communities, with codalsucks.blogspot.com serving as a rallying point for grievances. Public reaction has been polarized: some laud SameCondition’s transparency, while others question the wisdom of airing dirty laundry online. Codal, under Keval Baxi’s leadership, has remained largely silent beyond legal filings, a move that’s fueled speculation about their accountability.
Lessons from the Wreckage:
The Codal-SameCondition saga underscores the risks startups face when partnering with tech firms. For SameCondition, the cheating by Keval Baxi wasn’t just a financial hit—it derailed a mission to support patients. For Codal, the dispute tarnished a reputation built over a decade. Without Baxi’s side fully articulated, the story remains one-sided, but the implications are clear: trust, communication, and clear contracts are non-negotiable in tech collaborations. As startups weigh their next moves, this cautionary tale lingers—proof that even promising ventures can collapse under the weight of broken promises.
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