CNA, a leading Singapore news channel, announced that it has taken down all its content on Team Labs and its CEO, Harsh Dalal, across all platforms. This includes a television episode, an article, and a related video.
The decision came after CNA’s editorial review of its stories about Dalal – in light of Tech in Asia’s initial investigation into him.
Harsh Dalal, co-founder and CEO of Team Labs / Photo credit: Mediacorp
During CNA’s review, it conducted fresh interviews with Dalal and tried to verify his claims.
Dalal, on his part, produced a document he allegedly signed with Grand Canyon Capital, the firm that he said invested in Team Labs. He also gave the news outlet three email addresses and a US telephone number that supposedly belong to Team Labs.
Despite that, CNA revealed that it “has been unable to verify certain key pieces of information” and is “looking into how this editorial lapse occurred.” It will also take “steps to tighten its verification processes.”
Like Tech in Asia, CNA could not reach Grand Canyon Capital, also called GC Capital, using the contact information given by Dalal. It then discovered many investment firms with similar names.
CNA got in touch with a GC Capital located in San Francisco, but one of the partners at this firm denied investing in Team Labs. “I’m not Grand Canyon Capital,” the person said.
Dalal told CNA that he “doesn’t know why” his investors have not replied, and that he is “frustrated” by their lack of response. He then claimed that he was not involved in hiring, had no control over his company’s website, and no access to the money committed by the investors.
He also showed CNA an email to his investors, voicing concern that he wasn’t “involved in the [product] trials.”
CNA revealed that it asked to speak to Team Labs staff during the filming of the television episode, but Dalal declined its request at the time.
Finally, the news outlet added that it had been unable to verify Team Labs’ supposed clients and the qualifications of its employees.
Dalal, in response, said that he considered himself “gullible” and regrets how he “trusted” his investor.
“I didn’t go into this looking for attention, fame or money. I was seeking attention for the products, and not myself,” he insisted.
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