Runlayer is suing Rippling, accusing the company of taking its product idea after evaluating Runlayer’s Model Context Protocol gateway.
TechCrunch reports that Rippling looked at the startup’s MCP gateway product and then decided to build a version internally. MCP gateways help companies manage how AI systems connect to tools and data sources, a fast-growing need as agent deployments spread.
The dispute shows how quickly infrastructure around AI agents has become strategically valuable. A gateway can sit between models and business systems, enforcing policies, managing permissions, and limiting risky tool calls.
The lawsuit does not settle whether Rippling copied Runlayer’s work; that will depend on evidence and legal proceedings. But it highlights a practical reality for AI infrastructure startups: integration ideas can become targets for larger platforms once customers show demand.