On February 3, 2026, Harmonic, the math-focused AI startup co-founded by Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev, announced a “Rising Mathematician Research Sponsorship” for Neel Somani, former Eclipse Labs founder and CEO, per The Block. Somani resigned in May 2024 amid sexual misconduct allegations from multiple women on X, which he denied, stating, “I have never sexually assaulted or harassed any woman.” Harmonic’s post on X praised Somani’s “continuing mission to explore math + AI,” with Tenev reposting it, per. The sponsorship, part of a $1M program for students and researchers, has ignited controversy in the crypto and tech communities.
Somani founded Eclipse in 2022, developing an Ethereum Layer 2 using the Solana Virtual Machine, raising $65M from investors like Hack VC, per. Allegations surfaced in May 2024, leading to pressure from Hack VC and others for his resignation. Sydney Huang succeeded him as CEO, per. Despite denials, the accusations detailed in X threads alleging inappropriate behavior led to his exit, per. Harmonic’s decision to sponsor Somani, valuing his mathematical contributions, contrasts with the industry’s #MeToo reckoning, per X posts from @CryptoFeminist criticizing the move as tone-deaf.
Harmonic, valued at $1.45B after a $120M raise in late 2025, focuses on AI for mathematical discovery, per Reuters. Sponsoring Somani risks reputational damage, especially as Robinhood (HOOD) trades amid crypto volatility (BTC at $73,000), per. X backlash from @TheBlock__ and @laurashin questions Tenev’s judgment, potentially impacting Robinhood’s user base and Harmonic’s talent attraction, per. CEO Tudor Achim’s statement on supporting “mathematical pioneers” may face scrutiny if public pressure mounts.
This controversy highlights tensions between merit and accountability in tech/crypto, per. Eclipse continues under Huang, with $50M in TVL, per DefiLlama, but Somani’s sponsorship could deter partners. Investors should monitor Robinhood stock (HOOD) and Harmonic announcements. Diversify into BTC or ETH with stop-losses below $70,000 and $2,200, per TradingView. Follow @TheBlock__ on X for updates. While Harmonic aims to advance AI, the Somani sponsorship risks alienating stakeholders in a sensitivity-aware industry.
