[lpapez]

Can't you simply fill that gap on your resume with something made up? "Self employed", "freelancer", "stealth startup", "confidential employer" etc.

How would the companies ever know?

[Philpax]

They'd presumably ask for more details and/or references, at which point you would be hopelessly enmeshed in a web of lies of your own making.

[BoneShard]

They will run a background check listing all your past jobs, with the exact title you had, and start-end dates.

[grosswait]

Hard to verify self-employment