# MCP startup Runlayer accuses Rippling of stealing its product idea

_Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at 8:00 AM EDT · Capital · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

![MCP startup Runlayer accuses Rippling of stealing its product idea — Primary](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/gavel-messy-legal.jpg?resize=1200,675)

Runlayer, a startup that offers a secure Model Context Protocol gateway, has filed a lawsuit against HR software startup Rippling, according to the complaint seen by TechCrunch.

Runlayer says in the complaint that Rippling's evaluation involved nearly a year of intensive engineering collaboration. But in the end, the two could not agree on a price, so Runlayer ended the product trial. Shortly after that, Runlayer alleges that a Rippling insider texted Runlayer founder and CEO Andrew Berman to inform him of a project internally to build essentially a clone of Runlayer.

Runlayer claims in the suit that Rippling's product must have been based on the startup's intellectual property and therefore constitutes trade secret misappropriation, unfair competition, and breach of contract. Rippling has confirmed to TechCrunch that it is indeed launching its own MCP gateway, though a spokesperson denies Runlayer's allegations about misusing its IP.

## Sources

- [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/28/mcp-startup-runlayer-accuses-rippling-of-stealing-its-product-idea/)

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Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/mhSjr-WXiBTiBlq97lqNL8
Retrieved: 2026-07-29T12:29:55.534Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)