Toyota Considers Major Investment in Toyota Industries: A Potential $42 Billion Buyout in the Works?
- Rahaman Hadisur
- Apr 28
- 3 min read
Hadisur Rahman, Jadetimes Staff
H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Business
A Canadian tech entrepreneur and his company are facing serious accusations from former clients around the world, who allege they paid tens of thousands of dollars for services that were never properly delivered.
Josh Adler, founder of software company ConvrtX, is accused by customers in countries from Scotland to the southern United States of accepting payments up to $245,000 (£184,000) without providing the promised websites and apps. A BBC investigation, involving interviews with more than 20 former employees and clients, reveals allegations of repeated failures to deliver, requests for additional payments, and a pattern of intimidation when clients raised concerns.
In a letter to the BBC, Mr. Adler’s legal team categorically denied the allegations, claiming they were "false" and "incited" by a former client currently facing a lawsuit from ConvrtX. They further described Mr. Adler as a "highly ambitious" businessman who built a "very successful" company, asserting that the "vast majority" of ConvrtX's 340 clients were satisfied with the services provided.
Founded in 2019, ConvrtX claims to be a "world-leading venture studio," boasting of helping over 700 entrepreneurs through business planning, pitch development, and tech builds. However, internal documents reviewed by the BBC suggest that despite billing more than $5 million to over 280 customers between 2019 and 2023, genuine success stories were rare.
Key Findings:
• Multiple clients said they spent their life savings on services that were either non-functional or grossly incomplete.
• Former customers faced legal threats after lodging complaints, and some reported receiving inappropriate communications from company representatives.
• Testimonials on ConvrtX’s website were fabricated, including one using the image of a famous influencer without consent.
• ConvrtX falsely claimed affiliations with respected publications like Forbes and Harvard Business Review, both of which denied any relationship.
Client Experiences and Allegations
"Amy," a single mother from the UK, reported paying $53,000 for an app to connect individuals with potential surrogates. After years of delays and mounting requests for more money, she says she was left only with a basic website. Following a formal complaint, the UK’s Financial Ombudsman provisionally ruled in her favor, recommending a partial refund.
DeShawn Womack, a truck driver from Georgia, says he paid over $50,000 for an app that developers later admitted was never technically feasible. Similarly, Scottish businesswoman Gemma Martin claimed that ConvrtX attempted to withhold her project deliverables unless she signed a non-disclosure agreement a demand she refused.
Meanwhile, some clients like Steven Marshall and Ayesha Imran reported being threatened with legal action after seeking refunds. Ms. Imran’s name was even falsely used in a glowing testimonial on the ConvrtX website.
Corporate Culture and Leadership Criticism
Former senior employees describe ConvrtX under Josh Adler’s leadership as chaotic, with high staff turnover and a culture focused more on Mr. Adler’s luxurious lifestyle than customer satisfaction. Witnesses recount him bragging about expensive cars, hotels, and tropical retreats while his company allegedly failed to fulfill its basic contractual obligations.
Lawyers for Mr. Adler assert that while he was "inexperienced" when starting the business at 21, his actions stemmed from ambitious standards, not malice. They claim staffing issues arose when employees failed to meet expectations.
New Developments
After the company faced growing complaints, ConvrtX’s website was disabled earlier this year, and Mr. Adler attempted to rebrand the business. Until contacted by the BBC, he was promoting new eight-week entrepreneur "bootcamps" for $159, making further unsubstantiated claims about the number of lives he had "positively impacted."
Despite the mounting accusations, Mr. Adler’s legal representatives maintain that he and ConvrtX are the true victims of defamatory attacks.
Σχόλια