A Tech CEO's Big Lie: How $20 Million Vanished

A tech CEO from Nashville is in hot water. Marcus Cobb, the boss of a startup called Mozaic Payments, is accused of tricking a private equity firm out of $20 million. The startup claimed to have an app for sharing music royalties, but it didn't work. The money was gone by 2025. Cobb and his co-founder lied about the company's success. They showed fake financial reports and made up customer stories. The investor believed them and gave Mozaic $20 million. But the money didn't go to growing the business. Instead, it paid for fancy trips and parties. By early 2025, the money was almost all spent. The investor found out and pulled the plug. Mozaic collapsed, and now Cobb is facing serious charges. He was arrested and released on bond. His lawyer and the investor haven't commented yet. This story raises questions about trust in tech startups. How can investors protect themselves? What red flags should they look for? And what happens to the people who lose their jobs when a company collapses?