OSOM, the company formed from Essential’s ashes, is apparently in shambles
Lawsuit alleges that OSOM’s founder misused company funds to pay for Lamborghinis and his racing hobby
JoriPress
- OSOM’s former Chief Privacy Officer has filed a lawsuit against the company, specifically targeting the actions of its founder and CEO, Jason Keats.
- The lawsuit asks the Delaware Court of Chancery to compel OSOM Products, Inc. to grant the plaintiff access to the company’s books and records.
- The former CPO seeks these records to prove that the company’s founder misused funds to pay for his racing hobby and lavish lifestyle.
Back in 2017, a startup named Essential released the Essential Phone, a device that was celebrated for its design and long-term software support but otherwise received mixed reviews and sold poorly. When Essential shut down in early 2020, many of its former employees came together to form a new venture named OSOM Products. After two product launches, it now appears that the company is in shambles, with a former executive alleging that the founder has been misusing company funds to pay for two Lamborghinis and his lavish lifestyle.
OSOM Products rose from the ashes of Essential in late 2020. Its founder and “Chief Hooligan,” Jason Keats, wanted to build something new without the involvement (and associated baggage) of Essential’s previous founder, Andy Rubin. The company hired several people who previously worked at Essential, including camera engineer Nick Franco, programmers Gary Anderson and Jean-Baptiste Théou, and marketing officer Wolfgang Muller.
