Key facts
- Two AI startups, both named Soar, are in a dispute over the name.
- Stanley Virgint's Soar, in development since December 2024, offers AI travel companion services.
- Henry Langmack and Alex Slater's Soar, launched in May 2026, offers AI flight-booking services.
- Langmack's startup reportedly raised a $1 million seed round at a $10 million valuation.
- Virgint claims his startup's app has been available on Apple's TestFlight since January 2025.
- Langmack and Slater claim Virgint's Soar had not launched when they began their venture.
A dispute has emerged between two artificial intelligence startups, both operating under the name Soar and focusing on travel services. Stanley Virgint, founder of the AI travel companion startup Soar, claims that Henry Langmack and Alex Slater's newly launched AI flight-booking service, also named Soar, is a direct copycat. The conflict highlights the intense competition and challenges in branding within the crowded AI sector.
Virgint stated that his Soar startup has been in development since December 2024 and has secured $350,000 in early funding from investors including former Expedia CEO Erik Blachford. He asserts that his app has been available on Apple's TestFlight platform since January 2025. However, Langmack and his co-founder Slater, who launched their Soar in May 2026, claim they were unaware of Virgint's venture until shortly before their own launch. They stated that Virgint's Soar had not yet launched and that Langmack was still on a waitlist when they developed their product.
Langmack and Slater, who reportedly raised $1 million in seed funding at a $10 million valuation, have been aggressive with their marketing, utilizing a branded Cybertruck and Lamborghini. Virgint expressed frustration, calling the situation a "nightmare" and "a blatant rip off," and stated that the rival startup's presence was beginning to affect his company's reputation. The dispute underscores the difficulty for AI companies to establish a unique identity and market presence.