Former clients of a Canadian tech entrepreneur are voicing their frustrations after investing substantial sums of money into his company, only to find their dreams of launching start-ups dashed. The entrepreneur in question, Josh Adler, is the founder of ConvrtX, a software company that allegedly failed to deliver on promised services despite clients paying upwards of $245,000 (184,000). Reports from around the globe, including testimonials from individuals in Scotland and the southern United States, reveal a troubling pattern of unmet expectations and unfulfilled contracts.

Our investigation has uncovered testimonies from over 20 ex-customers and employees who claim that Adler continued to solicit additional funds while providing inadequate services. In a letter addressing the allegations, Adler's legal representation refuted the claims, stating they stem from a singular former client who is currently facing legal action. They describe Adler as an "inexperienced" entrepreneur who nonetheless managed to establish a successful venture in a short time, asserting that the majority of his clients were satisfied with the results.

Founded in 2019, ConvrtX has marketed itself as a "world-leading venture studio," boasting that it has assisted over 700 aspiring entrepreneurs in launching their businesses. The companys offerings include crafting business plans, creating pitch documents for investors, and developing custom websites and applications. On its promotional materials, ConvrtX claims to have received a five-star satisfaction rating and to employ 70 staff members across the UK, US, and Canada, with Adler currently managing operations from Dubai.

Leaked documents suggest that ConvrtX has generated more than $5 million (3.8 million) in sales from over 280 clients between 2019 and 2023. Yet, insider reports indicate that there have been few success stories among those clients. Our investigation revealed alarming instances where clients claimed they invested their life savings only to receive non-functional products that fell far short of what was promised. Additionally, some customers reported receiving legal threats after lodging complaints, while others shared experiences of inappropriate correspondence from a company lawyer.

One specific incident involved Amy (a pseudonym), a 37-year-old single mother from the UK, who spent $53,000 (40,000) in 2021 for a website and app for her non-profit organization aimed at connecting individuals with fertility challenges and potential surrogates. Amy expressed her frustration over being misled for two years, as she ultimately received only a basic website, while Adler continued to solicit more funds. In a particularly disheartening move, Amy received a text from Adler showcasing his lavish lifestyle while she struggled financially due to her investment.

After seeking assistance from her bank, the UKs Financial Ombudsman Service provisionally recommended a refund of $39,000 (30,000) to Amy, though she is still waiting for final confirmation. In a review conducted by two expert software developers, evidence suggested that ConvrtX had indeed breached its contractual obligations to Amy, stating that the work she received was insufficient and could not be salvaged. In response, Adler's legal team maintained that she did receive deliverables including a functional website and mobile app.

Concerns have also been raised about the company culture at ConvrtX, as former employees described a high turnover rate and an environment where inexperienced contractors were frequently hired and fired. Several ex-employees characterized Adler as immature and unfit for leadership, recounting instances where he flaunted his wealth and lifestyle during company meetings, while also pressuring teams to meet unrealistic client demands.

One former client, DeShawn Womack, expressed feelings of betrayal after investing over $50,000 (37,750) in an app that was supposed to enable users to recover lost data from their devices. After two years of payments, he received only a prototype and was left disillusioned by the lack of progress on his project. Womack claims that when he inquired about the app's functionality, he was told by a ConvrtX employee that the project was fundamentally flawed from the start.

Similarly, Gemma Martin from Dundee shared her own disappointing experience after spending over $35,000 (26,000) for services to develop her tarot card reading business. After expressing dissatisfaction publicly, she faced threats from ConvrtX, which demanded she sign a non-disclosure agreement before releasing her website. Martin reported receiving inappropriate remarks from a company lawyer during attempts to resolve the issue. In her case, ConvrtX lawyers insisted that they had fulfilled their obligations by providing a mobile app and source code, despite Martin asserting that these were incomplete and unusable.

Steven Marshall, another former client, reported feeling "thoroughly disappointed" after requesting a full refund for services that failed to meet his expectations. He recounted receiving threats from ConvrtX's compliance officer, who warned him against sharing negative feedback about the company, labeling it as defamation.

Further complicating matters, several fake testimonials for ConvrtX have been discovered, including one attributed to Ayesha Imran, who never authorized the positive remarks. Her experience highlights the lengths to which the company allegedly went to fabricate positive client feedback. The BBC's investigation also revealed that images of influencers were used without consent to promote ConvrtX, raising questions about the companys marketing ethics.

As the situation continues to unfold, Adler and his legal team vehemently deny the allegations against him and his company, framing themselves as victims of defamation and claiming that they had only received a minimal number of complaints. The case has raised significant concerns about ethical practices in the tech startup industry and the responsibilities of entrepreneurs towards their clients.