Rippling co-founder Prasanna Sankar has recently made headlines for reasons beyond the tech world. The Indian-origin entrepreneur, currently based in Singapore, is facing a messy and highly public custody battle with his estranged wife. In a dramatic series of social media posts, Sankar has accused his wife of harassment, infidelity, and filing false police reports — while also alleging she kidnapped their 9-year-old son.
These explosive claims have turned the spotlight not only on his personal life but also on Rippling, the billion-dollar software company he helped build.
Who Is Prasanna Sankar?
Prasanna Sankar (also known by his full name Prasanna Sankaranarayanan) is best known as the co-founder of Rippling, a workforce management software firm currently valued at approximately $10 billion. Before launching Rippling, Sankar gained experience in top global tech firms. He interned at Google in 2006 and later worked for Microsoft Canada, establishing a solid background in software engineering and product leadership.
Born and raised in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Sankar graduated with a degree in Computer Science from NIT Trichy where he also met his wife.
A self-described competitive programmer, Sankar was once ranked #1 in India on TopCoder, and is a two-time Google Code Jam and ACM ICPC world finalist. In short, his credentials in the tech space are both impressive and well-documented.
Rise of Rippling
Founded in San Francisco, Rippling quickly gained attention in Silicon Valley for its innovative approach to HR and IT management. The platform helps businesses automate payroll, benefits, device management, and more all from a single dashboard.
Rippling has been praised for simplifying complex onboarding processes and offering companies a one-stop solution for employee management. Under Sankar’s co-leadership, the company grew to unicorn status and raised significant funding from top venture capitalists.
With Rippling’s value now estimated at over $10 billion, the company is considered one of the most promising players in the HR-tech market.
A Battle Turns Public
In March 2025, Prasanna Sankar posted a thread on X (formerly Twitter), accusing his wife of having an affair and filing fake police reports including allegations of rape, domestic abuse, and kidnapping. According to him, she used her influence with local authorities in Singapore to harass him as their divorce proceedings unfolded.
He also alleged that she kidnapped their son and cut off contact. As a response, Sankar posted screenshots of her conversations with her alleged partner and stated that the allegations against him were fabricated to gain leverage in the custody case.
While legal proceedings in family disputes are usually kept private, this case quickly gained public attention due to Sankar’s status and the severity of the accusations.
Public Reactions and Search Trends
The controversy sparked massive public interest. According to Google Trends, searches for Rippling began spiking on March 23, with the highest volume coming from Indian states like Karnataka, Goa, and Telangana. Related queries like “Rippling founder wife” and “Rippling CEO” saw sharp increases, showing how rapidly the story spread across digital platforms.The sudden spotlight has brought unexpected attention to Rippling, especially from non-tech audiences who had not previously heard of the company.
LinkedIn and Crypto Ventures
In addition to his role at Rippling, Sankar’s LinkedIn profile shows that he also founded 0xPPL, a decentralized social network aimed at crypto communities. Since January 2023, he has reportedly been active in developing blockchain-based platforms that align with privacy and decentralization principles. These interests reflect a broader shift in the tech world, where several Silicon Valley entrepreneurs are diversifying into crypto and Web3 projects.
Final Word
The ongoing battle between Rippling co-founder Prasanna Sankar and his wife has now moved far beyond private courtrooms and into the public eye. As accusations fly and legal processes continue, this case serves as a reminder of how personal lives and professional reputations can become deeply entangled especially in the era of social media. For now, Sankar remains an active figure in both tech and public discourse. Whether this controversy will impact Rippling’s image or operations remains to be seen, but one thing is clear the world is watching closely. If you’re interested in more global tech developments, read how Starlink got PTA approval but might remain out of reach for many.