Lurid lawsuit against Silicon Valley startup Upload barely dents its image

San Francisco

AT Upload, the parties never seemed to stop. The startup began by hosting impromptu gatherings to promote virtual reality (VR) as the next big thing. It quickly became an entertainment and news hub for the VR industry, hosting hundreds of events. The crowds were young and eager to network. Models did demos, and the liquor flowed.

The freewheeling atmosphere was not restricted to the evening hours. There was a "rampant sexual behaviour and focus" in the Upload office that created "an unbearable environment", a former employee, Elizabeth Scott, said in a lawsuit filed in May.

Ms Scott said in her suit that the Upload office had a room with a bed "to encourage sexual intercourse at the workplace". It was referred to as the kink room. Men who worked for the company were described in the suit as fr…