• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechZenefits

Here Are Parker Conrad’s New Startup Plans

By
Dan Primack
Dan Primack
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Dan Primack
Dan Primack
Down Arrow Button Icon
July 6, 2016, 12:19 PM ET
Zenefits Chief Executive Officer Parker Conrad Interview
Parker Conrad, chief executive officer of Zenefits, speaks during a Bloomberg West Television interview in San Francisco, California, U.S. on Tuesday, June 3, 2014. Zenefits, a year-old startup that makes human resources software, is valued at $500 million after its latest found of fundraising, according to people familiar with the matter. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesDavid Paul Morris/Bloomberg—Getty Images

It’s a problem faced by new employees at almost any company: Hours, if not days, wasted while waiting for IT and HR to set up your computer and smartphone with all the software needed to do your job.

But a new company is being formed to alleviate those ubiquitous pain points.

The startup is the brainchild of Parker Conrad, the controversial co-founder and former CEO of Zenefits, who has been accused by his former company of creating a stealthy piece of software to sidestep state regulations in California.

Conrad isn’t commenting, but multiple sources have said his company’s mission is to allow new employees to sit down on day one with devices that are pre-loaded with all the necessary technology (Box, Slack, Concur, health insurance portals, etc.). Moreover, the devices would be configured and permissioned for the particular employee. Kind of a mix between Zenefits and Okta—and possibly competitive with both of them.

As has been previously reported, Conrad is working on the stealth startup with Prasanna Sankar, former director of engineering at Zenefits. The business model is expected to continue evolving, as one source referred to the startup’s current status as “embryonic.”

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter

One big question is if Conrad, who has effectively been accused of fraud by Zenefits investors, would be able to raise venture capital funding for his new effort.

“I think he’ll be able to find money if he wants it,” says one source familiar with Parker’s plans. “He built something really impressive with Zenefits, and then made a terrible error in judgment. He should be able to convince VCs that he’s learned from that mistake and that he can build another company without the problems.”

About the Author
By Dan Primack
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

AIchief executive officer (CEO)
Microsoft AI boss Suleyman opens up about his peers and calls Elon Musk a ‘bulldozer’ with ‘superhuman capabilities to bend reality to his will’
By Jason MaDecember 13, 2025
12 minutes ago
InvestingStock
There have been head fakes before, but this time may be different as the latest stock rotation out of AI is just getting started, analysts say
By Jason MaDecember 13, 2025
5 hours ago
Politicsdavid sacks
Can there be competency without conflict in Washington?
By Alyson ShontellDecember 13, 2025
6 hours ago
InnovationRobots
Even in Silicon Valley, skepticism looms over robots, while ‘China has certainly a lot more momentum on humanoids’
By Matt O'Brien and The Associated PressDecember 13, 2025
8 hours ago
Sarandos
Arts & EntertainmentM&A
It’s a sequel, it’s a remake, it’s a reboot: Lawyers grow wistful for old corporate rumbles as Paramount, Netflix fight for Warner
By Nick LichtenbergDecember 13, 2025
12 hours ago
Oracle chairman of the board and chief technology officer Larry Ellison delivers a keynote address during the 2019 Oracle OpenWorld on September 16, 2019 in San Francisco, California.
AIOracle
Oracle’s collapsing stock shows the AI boom is running into two hard limits: physics and debt markets
By Eva RoytburgDecember 13, 2025
13 hours ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Economy
Tariffs are taxes and they were used to finance the federal government until the 1913 income tax. A top economist breaks it down
By Kent JonesDecember 12, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Apple cofounder Ronald Wayne sold his 10% stake for $800 in 1976—today it’d be worth up to $400 billion
By Preston ForeDecember 12, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Success
40% of Stanford undergrads receive disability accommodations—but it’s become a college-wide phenomenon as Gen Z try to succeed in the current climate
By Preston ForeDecember 12, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
The Fed just ‘Trump-proofed’ itself with a unanimous move to preempt a potential leadership shake-up
By Jason MaDecember 12, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
For the first time since Trump’s tariff rollout, import tax revenue has fallen, threatening his lofty plans to slash the $38 trillion national debt
By Sasha RogelbergDecember 12, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Apple CEO Tim Cook out-earns the average American’s salary in just 7 hours—to put that into context, he could buy a new $439,000 home in just 2 days
By Emma BurleighDecember 12, 2025
1 day ago
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.